A single-mum-of-two living in Armagh city is reluctantly appealing for the support of her community to help fix the roof of her home after it suffered significant storm damage.
Speaking to Armagh I, the mother – who wished to remain anonymous – said her request is very much a last resort and not something she ever wanted to do.
She lives in a semi-detached house with a flat roof that was previously “felted” alongside her two sons aged 16 and 13. However during Storm Darragh in December 2024, the felt lifted from the roof, leaving the home exposed to the elements.
The woman contacted her home insurance company who, she says, advised her they could not cover the damage as the “wind speeds did not exceed 50mph in the area”.
To remedy the situation she employed a contractor to fit tin sheeting and weatherproof the roof. However, with £2000 paid in labour alone plus the additional cost of materials, she says has now been informed that the job wasn’t fit for purpose.
Rain water continues to stream into her home, leaving the internal ceiling in her eldest son’s bedroom literally crumbling. To keep the floors safe from further damage she has also had to lay out buckets and containers to catch water, with blankets and towels underneath to soak up additional drips.
She said her entire home “stinks of mould” and her son has been resigned to sleeping in the living room despite being given repeated offers of her own bed – which he conscientiously refuses each time.
Thankfully, a co-worker’s husband has come to the rescue offering to complete the job she has previously been quoted £5000 for at just £2000 to cover the cost of materials.
Despite working full-time she is struggling to find the funds, especially on the run up to Christmas. A GoFundMe page has offered her the last glimmer of hope that she may have the work completed in a reasonable time frame without having to save every last penny she has to achieve the total.
It’s quite clearly something that has left her uncomfortable but she said she would be so grateful for any contribution no matter how big or small.
She added: “Anything that comes in will help me. I really don’t mind but it will mean I don’t have to save up for as long and hopefully my son will have his room back.”
If anyone is in a position to provide additional support beyond the GoFundMe page please contact Armagh I directly via info@armaghi.com to be put in touch.
You can make a donation to the fundraiser here.
