Kilkenny community raise over €50,000 for family after devastating blaze

A big-hearted county Kilkenny community has raised more than €50,000 to help a local family whose businesses were destroyed in a devastating fire earlier over the weekend.

Inistioge farmer Dermot Prendergast and his son John’s contracting business went up in smoke after the blaze broke out on the family farm shortly after midnight on Friday.

Gardaí and the emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later. No-one was injured in the fire and no offences have been disclosed. However, the fire resulted in the loss and damage of machinery, tools, and sheds for both businesses.

Dermot Prendergast is a local contractor who has built up and provided services to local and neighbouring farm businesses over three decades. His son John had also set up his own mechanic business adjacent to his father’s on their family farm.

After the fire, the local community rallied around to help the family in their hour of need. A GoFundMe page set up to help raise funds reads: “Dermot and John are great community men, and to help get these businesses back up and running, this is a way for those who have reached out to donate as they recover from this event. Please show your support and help this family get back on their feet and their businesses back up and running.”

By last night, a total of €50,170 of the €60,000 funding goal had already been raised through 250 separate donations.

*If you would like to make a donation, log on to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-prendergast-family-business