Creeslough cafe owner inundated with donations urges people to donate to families instead

Staff at the Coffee Pod worked a 48 hour shift serving rescue workers and media after the Creeslough tragedy last Friday.

In the days since an explosion at a petrol station in Creeslough, Donegal killed ten people, the close-knit community are doing what they can to support the victims' families and each other. The team behind the Coffee Pod cafe, located just kilometres away from the explosion tasked themselves with feeding first responders free of charge following the tragedy, and have since asked people sending money and food to the business to donate to the families of the victims instead. Owner Siobhán Carr told the Irish Times that donations have been sent from everywhere from London to Cork, and thanked people for their kindness.

People are so kind but we are asking them to donate to the Gofundme page instead of giving to us... We only opened our business a year and half ago, it’s a small community where we all know each other. Everybody is rallying round. There’s people coming in here with horrendous news and we’re just trying to help. It is heart breaking.

Coffee Pod staff have also been delivering food, milk and water to nearby St Michael's Chapel, "for everyone who needs it through the night". The morning after the tragedy, journalist Zara King commented on the cafe's "remarkable kindness" as they fed and looked after those tasked with the difficult search and recovery operation. https://twitter.com/ZaraKing/status/1578708993895059456?s=20&t=eY_Z55lFdVLoCbwi_yxYNw Those who wish to can donate to the Gofundme page for the families of the deceased HERE. As it stands, the page has raised over €385,000. Header image via Instagram/thecoffeepod_creeslough READ NEXT: Owners of popular Kinsale pub bid farewell, but promise it's in 'very safe hands'