'Devastating blow' - Community in the Midlands rallies as fire destroys popular local business

A community in the Midlands is in shock after a devastating fire ripped through a local business premises on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Groarke Brothers Hardware and Agri Supplies premises in Ballymahon in Longford shortly after 5.30pm on Wednesday to tackle the blaze. 

Fire personnel brought the blaze at the premises at Terlicken on the R-392 Ballymahon to Lanesboro road under control and gardaí later confirmed no injuries were reported. 

The Ballymahon and wider Longford community has been left reeling by the incident with an outpour of support for the owners, brothers Tom and Declan Groarke, who are “very much involved in the local community”.

Speaking to Longford Live, Ballymahon councillor Pat O’Toole outlined the shock in the locality.

“The entire community is in shock at what happened really. We wish the lads well, Tom and Declan, to get back in business as soon as possible,” he began. “I know that could take a bit of time as you have to go through the various preliminaries with insurance and all of that type of thing. 

“I can speak for nearly everybody when saying that we wish them all the best and getting back to their business again. 

Cllr O’Toole described the “intense heat” due to the machinery on site and said it was a “silver lining” that nobody was injured. 

“I just passed it on my way home and you can see damage from the heat because the steel seems to have warped. There would have been intense heat with the type of business they are in, obviously a lot of petrol and machinery around. 

“They had quite a few lawnmowers and strimmers there and they'd all have petrol tanks on them

“So it's a devastating, devastating blow. There's positivity in everything and thank God nobody was injured. Staff, customers or anyone who was there at the time. There were no injuries or anything like that, so that's a silver lining.”

Groarke Brothers Hardware and Agri Supplies has been a prominent local business for many years with Tom and Declan gradually building their business. 

“That's the real devastating aspect of it, all your work and your time has gone into building up the business to see it in a matter of a couple of hours being devastated,” said Cllr O’Toole. 

“It's truly a sad, sad occasion but hopefully we will see them back in action again - a good business for local farmers and the whole agri business around south Longford here. They built up a very good, solid customer base and I'm sure that when they come back into business those customers will come back and support them again.”

Tom and Declan are avid supporters of local events, involved in “everything that’s going on in the community”. 

“The lads would be very much involved in the local community and they always come in with financial support every year and we do the collection for the St Patrick's Day parade and different things like that. 

“Everything that's going on in the community the two lads will be there supporting it,” he finished. 

Posting to Facebook, organiser of the Ballymahon Honda 50 & Motor bike fun run, Darren Mulledy, thanked the Groarke brothers for their sponsorship and offered support in the wake of the incident. 

“A huge thanks to Declan & Tom Groarke for coming on board with sponsorship to Ballymahon Honda 50 & Motor bike fun run,” the post began. 

“Tom & Declan are two hard working lads coming from a farming background.They built up a thriving business out the Longford road from Ballymahon.

“Like everyone in Ballymahon, both Mike [Egan] and myself were shocked to hear about fire which has devastated Groarke Bros Business. Thankfully nobody was injured in the fire.

“Lads if there is anything we can do please don’t hesitate to ask. Mind yourselves lads.”