Couple 'forever indebted' to those who came to their aid

HOPE Brennan family look forward to Christmas in revamped home

A Motor Neurone Disease (MND) sufferer and his wife will celebrate Christmas at home this year with their family in new surroundings after dozens of volunteers and businesses rallied around to build and fit out an extension at their Mullagh home.

Andrew and Yvonne Brennan wish to thank all those who came to their aid to see the extension project complete.

“Their generosity, the kindness of people, of strangers, our friends and our neighbours, we cannot thank them enough,” said the couple.

Having received letters from Andrew, the following businesses, tradesmen and service providers responded generously.

Frazer’s Hardware in Kingscourt, O’Reilly’s Concrete, Senator Windows, Flanagan Timber, Kingspan, Xtratherm, Nationwide Tiles, Forbo Flooring, Pronto Doors, Waller Bros Hardware, Adrian Cahill Security, Mannok, Roadstone, Sika Ireland, Des Kelly, Crown Paints, Fleetwood Paint, Dulux and Wilton Recycling all got in touch. There were others too, while WGG Architects, building surveyor Martin Gormley, and Alan Traynor Structural Engineering all stayed with the project to the end.

When Andrew received his devastating MND diagnosis in 2015, age just 31 years, he was given between two and five years to live. To meet Andrew’s future needs, the Brennans were awarded a €30,000 council grant to build a downstairs bedroom, bathroom, and provide a fully wheelchair accessible entrance. They hired a private contractor who completed the project in June 2016.

The couple moved permanently to the downstairs room in Winter 2017 due to Andrew’s deteriorating condition but they found the new accommodation very cold.

“We were sleeping in our clothes, it was so cold,” says Andrew, who developed a serious chest infection.

Having raised the issue with the contractor, in April 2018, the firm carried out remedial works but this did not resolve the issue to the Brennans’ satisfaction.

The Anglo-Celtcontacted the contractor who undertook the original extension project and, in a response issued by the company’s solicitor, they say the contractor was “absolutely satisfied that any work undertaken by them was done to their usual very high standards and in compliance with all regulations”.

Eventually, the Brennans were awarded a further €19,000 grant from Cavan County Council and were determined to rebuild the extension to address issues, writing to companies across Ireland for help.

“This was a final project he [Andrew] wanted to do,” said an emotional Yvonne. “For his comfort, and for us.”

Eight weeks of emergency accommodation at the Lakeside Manor were provided by the council, while the new extension was being built, starting in May of this year and taking five months to complete.

“We would like to thank Farrell Brady and staff at the Lakeside Manor and the biggest thanks to Martin Gormley. We had a queue of people coming to the door. Neighbours, friends... all pitched in to help,” says a grateful Andrew.

He now feels comfortable and secure about his family’s future.

“We have to move forward,” say the couple, who are “forever indebted” to all who rallied to their aid.