Family whose home was destroyed by lightning 'overwhelmed' by community response

The family were sleeping upstairs when they were awoken by a loud bang in their home on Sunday last 

The current state of the Fenton-Toms' family home near Caragh Lake. Picture: Anne Lucey

A Kerry family whose home was completely destroyed by a freak lightening strike say they are "overwhelmed" by the generous response from the local community to a fundraiser established by friends and neighbours.

The Fenton-Toms — Joe, Marie, and their four children Ciara, Niamh, Niall, and Aoife — lost all of their possessions when the “freak of nature” strike hit their home in Muingaphuca, Caragh lake at 2.19am on Sunday. The family are now homeless.