John and Gabrielle O’Donnell, a beloved elderly couple who tragically passed away in a house fire in Cork city, will be laid to rest this Wednesday. The couple had joyously welcomed a new addition to their family overseas just hours before the disaster struck. Their daughter-in-law Grace had given birth to a baby girl, Hannah, in Qatar’s capital, Doha.
The jubilation sadly turned into grief as the couple’s residence on Lower Glanmire Road in Cork was engulfed in flames. The pair had decades of happy memories in their terraced house, having resided there for the majority of their lives and building a reputation as respected and cherished members of the local community. The couple had roots in Achill Island and were aged in their late 70s and early 80s respectively.
A funeral notice listed their son Mark and John’s sons, Damien and John, as their next of kin. All the extended family will remember the couple with deep affection. The wake will be held on Tuesday at Jerh O’Connor funeral home in Coburg Street, Cork. A requiem mass for John and Gabrielle is scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday at St Patrick’s Church located on their home street of Lower Glanmire Road. The funeral will follow at the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy, Cork.
The fire had erupted unexpectedly at the couple’s home shortly past 11pm on 4th April. The couple was found closely huddled together early the following morning.
Local Councillor, Joe Kavanagh described the community as tight knit and feeling the impact of their loss profoundly. Their son, Mark, an airplane captain for Qatar Airlines, is in his forties. The community fondly remembers the O’Donnells as constant fixtures of the strong sense of community present on Lower Glanmire Road.
The O’Donnells unfortunately only savoured grandparenthood for a brief period – 12 hours of happiness before the tragic turn of events.
Following the outbreak of a menacing fire, local residents were temporarily expelled from their properties as a safety procedure. The Cork City Fire Brigade swiftly arrived on the scene just moments following the warning alert. The inferno is currently under investigation, with initial indications suggesting an unfortunate mishap.