Longford business gets going again following devastating fire
Tom Groarke of Groarke Bros, Ballymahon: 'We never seen anything like it before'
Following the shock of watching their business premises being destroyed in a devastating fire, Groarke Brothers Hardware and Agri Supplies in Ballymahon are back trading once again.
Tom and Declan Groarke could only look on in horror as flames ripped through their premises at Terlicken, on the R-392 Ballymahon to Lanesboro road, on Wednesday, June 26. However, and resiliently, they’ve bounced back.
Tom told the Longford Leader: "We are back up and working again. The building was burnt and we set up in the back yard in another unit. So we are working and trading as is.
“We don't know the source of the fire however right now we are just trying to move on. There is no point wasting any time."
Several units of the local fire service brought the blaze last month under control and the silver lining is that nobody was injured.
Tom remarked, “Thankfully there were no injuries. When it happened during the day we were in shock. We had never seen anything like it before."
Peter Hanley Motors, who operate next door to Groarke Bros, posted a photo on Facebook wishing the brothers well as they re-opened their business. "Our neighbours @groarkebros are back in business, just adjacent to their old location! Be sure to drop in and support the lads."
This encouragement and, indeed, the overwhelming support of the entire community after the fire, meant a lot to the brothers.
Tom said, "Hanley Motors are a great neighbour and were a great help to us, they were willing to help in any way they could.
He added, “People have started to come back in and buy again and we are trying to all get going again. The unit is currently being made again. Hopefully the steel will be up soon and we will get things moving bit by bit again."