Locals 'in shock' after farmer dies in Galway house fire

A farmer, aged in his 60s, has died following a house fire in the vicinity of Moylough in north Co. Galway.

A statement from the Gardaí said: “Gardaí attended the scene of a house fire in the Moylough area, Co. Galway, in the early hours of Saturday, July 11, 2020.

“The alarm was raised at approximately 5:00am. Fire services attended the scene and extinguished the fire. The body of one male, aged in his 60s, was discovered deceased in the house,” the statement added.

The scene was examined by local scene-of-crime officers and the local coroner was notified. Investigations are ongoing, but it is understood that foul play is not suspected.

Separately, a local councillor confirmed to AgriLand that the deceased, Pat Kenny, was a sheep and cattle farmer. He had lived in the house alone. Kenny is survived by three sisters.

Councillor Michael Connolly said that he had met with neighbours of Kenny, and noted the state of shock in the local area.

“He was a good neighbour and a good friend to all who knew him,” Connolly remarked.

The councillor explained that workers for an agricultural contractor noticed that the house was on fire when they were going out to work at around 5:00am.

The contractor workers notified the fire service, and tried to intervene themselves, breaking down the door of the house. Sadly, at that stage, the fire had already spread extensively.