Man who lost parents in Cork blaze hours after daughter's birth tells funeral: 'They were soulmates'

Fire Services at the scene of the blaze Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

A man who celebrated the birth of his daughter in Qatar only to lose his parents in a house fire in his native Cork several hours later has told their joint funeral mass that they were not only each others “soulmates” but his “best friends.”

John and Gabrielle O’Donnell died when a blaze broke out in their picturesque terraced home in Lower Glanmire Road on the outskirts of Cork city on April 4th last.

The elderly couple had been overjoyed that day having been informed by their son Mark that his wife had given birth to a girl in Doha in Qatar. Mark O’Donnell works as a pilot and lives in the country with his wife Grace.

Neighbours had been invited in for tea and cake to discuss the new arrival of baby Hannah. Within hours John and Gabrielle were dead.

Mark told mourners at St Patrick’s Church in Lower Glanmire Road today that four generations of his family had lived in the terraced house in which his “two amazing” parents died. He said that from his great grandparents, to his grandparents to his own mother so many of his relatives had been happily raised in the same house in the Lower Glanmire Road.

“It won’t stop there. We will rebuild it. And the family home and our family history and the many stories of Granny Gay and Granddad John will go on and I will pass them on to my daughter.”

Mark said his parents met in the 1970’s when his father, a native of Achill Island in Co Mayo, was working in Cork in the steel industry. He said once his parents met they were never really apart again.

“Mam and Dad. I couldn’t have asked for better parents. You gave everything and you never asked for anything in return. I am going to raise Hannah in the image of you and make you proud. We will see each other again as death is not the end. It is a reunion of family and friends who have passed.”

Mark said that his parents “never really fought.”

“They were never apart. And indeed they were and still are soulmates. That would be until my dad would come home looking for his pension card and couldn’t find it! He would find it out the garden four days later. My mother would say ‘John you are meant to hide the money not the card. I already have the money.’

“Dad was quiet and Mam was the rogue. One year a cousin Eddie called at Christmas and gave my mother a bottle of wine. It was accepted and brought in to the room and everything was going great. A few minutes late my Mum said ‘Eddie I have your present.’ Eddie left that house with the very same present he came in with!”

He said that John and Gabrielle loved music and GAA. “They both have a Cork and Mayo jersey here today. I did however have the last laugh. My mother has the Mayo jersey and my father has the Cork jersey.”

Meanwhile, Mark described the death of his parents as being not only a huge loss for their family but for the tight knit and supportive community in the Lower Glanmire Road.

He said that he and his brothers Damien and John were extremely grateful for the huge outpouring of support received not only in Cork but in their father’s native Achill Island. He said: “What happened two weeks ago was a tragedy and a shock to us all. It will take time to process and recover from.

“Tragedies like this happen all over the world to many families. You just don’t expect it to happen on your own doorstep. The last twelve days have been extremely tough. I have felt some emptiness and voids but the support and help I have received has been amazing. From family and friends to complete strangers. The list goes on.”

Mark said the large turnout at the mass showed how loved his parents were locally. He thanked gardai and members of the fire brigade for their efforts when the alarm was raised and in the days since the “substantial fire” broke out. He asked members of the congregation to give the emergency services and the gardai a round of applause for their “amazing work.”

He also acknowledged all those who helped them to organise the service in a church where his mother was known to donate flowers. Mourners laughed when Mark noted that that said donations were a source of consternation to his father who was known to say “what happened my plants?”

Meanwhile, the mass was celebrated by Fr Jilson Kokkandathail CC with prayers also being offered by Bishop Emeritus John Buckley. Fr Kokkandathail extended his condolences to all those who loved John and Gabrielle. John was in his early eighties whilst Gabrielle was in her late 70’s.

Fr Kokkandathail said that locals wanted to show their “sympathy, concern and fellowship” at this sad time. He said that a place had been prepared for John and Gabrielle in heaven. We pray for them that they have eternal rest. And we pray for the family that they have comfort and strength.

It was requested during the Prayers of the Faithful that Mark and his wife Grace would be given strength in the days ahead as they grieve their loss whilst raising their “beautiful new daughter Hannah.” Mr and Mrs O’Donnell are survived by their son Mark and John’s sons Damien and John.

They are also fondly remembered by their extended family which includes John’s sister Anne, Gabrielle’s brother Brendan, daughter-in-law Grace, granddaughter Hannah, John’s grandchildren Brona, Eoin and Cormac, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours and friends.

The blaze is being treated as a tragic accident. The couple were located close together a few hours after the fire broke out.

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