An Irish family have been left devastated after their home was burned to the ground following a suspected lightning strike during Storm Franklin.
Tony and Margaret O'Shaughnessy were in their house in Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick with their two children when Storm Franklin wreaked havoc on their home.
"We were there around 3:30pm, and there was an almighty bang that shook the house," he told the Irish Independent.
"The electricity went out, and then ten minutes later I smelled smoke," Tony told the Irish Independent.
The father went to investigate and found the blaze was stemming from beneath a hatch to the attic.
Tony then ran downstairs to get a fire extinguisher but said it made "no difference at all" to his attempt to put out the fire.
Margaret called the emergency services, but at that stage, the smoke had filled the entire home.
The family escaped the property but were unable to save any of their belongings.
Several units of the Limerick Fire and Rescue service from nearby Newcastle West, Foynes and Rathkeale, attended the scene but, despite their efforts, were unable to save the house.
The strong winds caused by the storm hindered the fire brigades' efforts as they were unable to erect ladders, and the gales redirected the water they used to put the fire out.
Tony said: "It was an ideal climate for a fire. We were in the middle of the storm and we just watched the house burn to the ground.
"It was heart-breaking to watch.
"We had no roof left. There's nothing left."
Fortunately, the fire didn't spread to any neighbouring houses or buildings due to their rural location.
However, other neighbours reported incidents from the lightning strike.
One neighbour said their landline telephone "flew off the wall", while another said their wall socket turned black.
The family are left in shock and will stay with neighbours as they figure out where to go from here.
Tony said the house was insured but is concerned that it could take years to rebuild due to the escalating cost of construction.
To help them with their ordeal, friends and neighbours have started a fundraising drive on GoFundMe in which more than 400 people have donated close to €22,000 so far.
The GoFundMe appeal reads: "On February 20th 2022 at approximately 3.30pm Margaret (Naughton) and Tony O' Shaughnessy Ballyhahill, Co.Limerick, discovered a fire in the attic of their family home.
"Within minutes the fire was out of control and in a very short time the attic and roof were engulfed in flames.
"Thankfully Margaret, Tony, Adam, and Evan escaped uninjured. Their other two sons Jack and Finnan were away in college at the time.
"The fire services did their utmost to control the fire but due to weather conditions and the severity of the gale force winds of Storm Franklin, their home was completely destroyed. The family left with only the clothes on their back and watched their home and all their personal belongings go up in flames.
"Funds raised will be used to rebuild their home.
"All your donations are greatly appreciated."
