PARENTS Joe and Angela O’Donnell are preparing to mark the 40th anniversary of a fire tragedy in their Letterkenny home, which claimed the lives of their four children and babysitter.
The blaze engulfed their home at 65 Ard O’Donnell on Saturday morning, April 26, 1986.
The children who died were Sharon (14), Joanne (12), Adrian (4) and Kevin (20 months). Noreen O’Donnell (25), from Ballybofey, died trying to rescue the children she had minded as a babysitter.
A 40th anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Fr John Joe Duffy in St Eunan’s Cathedral on Saturday at 4pm. A musical tribute will take place on Sunday.
Ahead of the anniversary, the children’s heartbroken parents spoke to the Donegal News of their unimaginable loss and highlighted concerns about water access for fire crews.
“The pain is always there, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night.
“Sometimes I stand and talk to the (children) when I am looking at their pictures on the wall. But that’s natural.”
Joe and Angela chat down with Sean Murphy for an extensive interview about that terrible night 40 years ago – and how their children and Noreen are always in their thoughts.