"A very hard day for everybody" says priest after South Ros' fire tragedy

The priest in the parish of Moore and Clonfad said it had been "a very hard day" for the community and in particular for the families of the two locals who died in an overnight house fire near Ballydangan.

A woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s lost their lives in the fire which caused severe damage to the house at Gurth na Sharvogue, near Ballydangan.

"The shock that went through the parish this morning was very palpable among the people, and we're trying to do our best to come to terms with it," Fr Michael Molloy told the Westmeath Independent this afternoon.

"It's a tight-knit community, so it's been a very difficult time for the people, and for the families involved."

He said he had been keeping in contact with the families of the deceased throughout the day.

"We will keep them in our prayers and walk the road with them at this very difficult moment in their lives.

"We can support them and journey with them. It's a very hard day for everybody, but there will be great support in the community for them."

"Any loss of life is awful but loss of life in a fire is very difficult for families to come to terms with. It can be hard to find the words at times," said Fr Molloy.