Community shell-shocked by family's fire deaths

A close-knit rural community was today coming to terms with the tragic deaths of a mother and her two young children in a Christmas Day house fire.

Sharon Whelan, 30, and her daughters Zsara, seven, and Nadia, two and a half, perished in the blaze at their farmhouse close to the small village of Windgap, Co Kilkenny.

Ms Whelan’s uncle, Pat Hayes, said the community had been devastated by the deaths.

“They were lovely kids,” he said. “Two and a half and seven years-old, and the seven year-old would have been well into her school.

“Taking part in the camogie games and there was a very strong bond in the parish through hurling and camogie.”

The blaze broke out at around 9am in the rented farmhouse in the townland of Roscon, near Windgap village close to the Kilkenny/Tipperary border. It is not yet clear how the fire started but gardaí are treating it as a tragic accident and do not believe it was suspicious.

The bodies of the mother and her daughters were removed from the house and taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny city where post mortem examinations were to take place today.

It is believed the three died from smoke inhalation.

Mr Hayes said neighbours tried to break into the house to rescue Ms Whelan and her daughters.

“Close neighbours did rush to the scene to break in and get the bodies out,” Mr Hayes said.

Ms Whelan was described as an easy-going, well-liked woman who was devoted to her children.

“She was a happy, quiet type of girl, easy-going,” Mr Hayes said. "She would have had her full-time job rearing her kids.”

The children’s grandfather brought down presents on Christmas Eve for the children to open on Christmas morning.

Ms Whelan was separated from the children’s father.

“This is a close-knit community,” Mr Hayes said. “There is just a cloud over the whole area. It is just a small parish. People are just going around with a lump in their throat.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Matt Doran said people were devastated by the shocking deaths.

“I was at Mass yesterday morning and the parish priest had just come back and people were just distraught,” he said. “It was an eerie feeling.”

Mr Doran, who also serves as chairman of Windgap Camogie Club and a coach, said the family were well-established in the area and heavily involved in GAA.

Ms Whelan’s father Christy was medical officer at the local club, while Zsara was also involved in the sport.

“She was just a lovely little girl, full of life,” Mr Doran said.

Forensic experts were to begin a detailed examination of the farmhouse today in a bid to determine the cause of the blaze.

Officers had been unable to start yesterday after fire crews warned the building may be unsafe.

Funeral arrangements for Ms Whelan and her daughters have yet to be finalised by the family.