Two Shops Burnt Out

Ballybofey, 1932

A fire, involving the complete destruction of two shops, at an estimated loss of between £7,000 and £8,000, took place in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. The fire was first noticed in Mr McGinty's drapery shop, which connects other shops belonging to Mr Hugh Mulrine, draper, Mr Peter Mulrine, wholesale licensed merchant and Mrs McCarron, fruiterer. Both McGinty's and McCarron's premises were totally destroyed, while those of Hugh and Peter Mulrine were partially destroyed. Large numbers of the town inhabitants, along with members of the Civic Guard, fought the flames.

As Ballybofey and Stranorlar, which adjoins it, do not possess a fire brigade, urgent messages for help were sent to Derry and Letterkenny.

Meantime women joined the gardai in the feverish efforts to fight the flames. A large collection of buckets was soon in commission, and were rapidly filled from pumps they were hastily passed to the scene of the fire by means of a human chain. Shortly after four o'clock - practically an hour after the discovery of the fire - the Letterkenny Mental Hospital Fire Brigade, which had to travel a distance of 15 miles, arrived, followed shortly afterwards by the brigade from Derry, a distance of about 30 miles. Up to late on Sunday night the fire had not been extinguished.

The fire was completely subdued at about 5.30 p.m. All the shops, with the exception of Mrs McCarron's were lock-up shops. She and her three daughters, having been left homeless, were accommodated by some friends in the town. Fearing an explosion in the store of Mr Peter Mulrine, casks of whiskey valued at several hundreds of pounds were removed at great risk.

Prominent among the fire-fighters were members of the Raphoe and Ballybofey Gaelic football teams, who abandoned their match and came to the scene in their 'togs'. Late on Sunday night the ruins were still smouldering, and hundreds of villagers were viewing the wreckage of what had been prosperous business houses.

Anthony Timoney

Jack Gallagher

The late Mr Anthony Timoney, Principal Teacher of St Mary's NS, Stranorlar, was active in the progress and betterment of his beloved Twin Towns. A man held in high esteem and respected by all who knew him, he saw the necessity for a fire brigade in the fast growing towns.

In April 1946, he approached Mr Jack Gallagher (a former City of Derry full-time fireman) and asked him if he would share his knowledge and experience with some of the local men. Mr. Gallagher agreed, and asked a number of local men who were interested. He said: "I chose men who could easily be gathered in the event of a fire, and painters who were used to ladders".

A meeting was held in premises belonging to Con Gallinagh in the Market Yard, Stranorlar. The first members attending that meeting were: Anthony Timoney, Main Street, Ballybofey; Jack Gallagher, Main Street, Stranorlar; Joe Doherty, Main Street, Stranorlar; Cecil Gallagher, Navenny Street, Ballybofey; John Hannigan, Donegal Road, Ballybofey (C.D.R.); Joe McHugh, Navenny Street, Ballybofey; William Thompson, Main Street, Stranorlar.

Glenfin Street, July 2002

According to Jack, there weren't that many fires when the service began...it was mostly chimney fires and haybarn fires.

He recalls a serious fire at Peter Kerrigan's laundrette (formerly Mickey Bradley's garage in Glenfin Street), which the Fire Brigade successfully dealt with.

Jack also remembered being called to a major fire in a single storied thatched house at Dreenan, Ballybofey belonging to Johnny Foy. Although the house was gutted, nobody was injured.

The early equipment consisted of standpipe, key and bar, some canvas hoses, ladders, and later a trailer pump. The trailer pump comprised of hoses, branches, suction hoses, standpipe bar and key and a removable B.S.A. 150 G.P.M. pump. On receiving a fire call, the firemen had to seek the assistance of the County Donegal Railways (C.D.R.) to provide a station lorry to tow the trailer pump to the scene of the fire.

On the occasions that a station lorry was not available, the pump equipment and men were transported in Jack Gallagher's car! Training sessions were held once a week, and Jack trained the men in the use of hydrants, branches and hoses. This equipment was supplied by Donegal County Council.