THE Louisburgh community has rallied around its local show chairman Tommy Bennett and his family, who lost their home in a fire last March. An online fundraiser, set up by his niece Shauna Bennett, aims to raise €75,000 and will run until December 8th.

Tommy, a popular figure in the Irish Draught and agricultural show worlds, had attended the Horse Sport Ireland stallion inspections in Cavan as usual, just days before the fire took place. Neighbours and Westport Fire Brigade units were soon on the scene, however the house was destroyed.

“On March 29th, my uncle Tommy, his wife Sue and daughter Georgina woke in the middle of the night to a disastrous fire that claimed their family home. Thankfully they escaped the house, but they have lost their home and all their belongings,” Shauna told The Irish Field this week.

“The local community of Louisburgh have worked hard to set up an online fundraiser to support Tommy and his family rebuild their home and belongings. The Bennetts have experienced losing everything they own, from teacups to items of huge sentimental value. It’s devastating. They are restarting from scratch and need your help.”

Tommy has served as chairman of Louisburgh Horse Show since the show was revived back in 2007. Due to this summer’s bad weather, the show had to be cancelled this year, another knock for Louisburgh, a coastal community with a population of around 400.

As well as being a popular outing for generations of Mayo families, Louisburgh Horse Show was also where then-Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring T.D first spoke about making funding available to the country’s 130-plus agricultural shows at the official opening of the 2017 event.

The Louisburgh locals hope the fundraiser will be a similar lifeline to the Bennett family. “If you can support this family it would be greatly appreciated and it will go a long way in this effort to support Tommy, Sue and Georgina. You can donate online by using the following link: www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/BennettFamilyFund or if you wish to donate directly to the bank account.

“I’d like to thank anyone in advance for any donations on behalf of the Bennett family and the community of Louisburgh,” added Shauna.