Just ten days before Christmas, mother and daughter Maisie and Mary Roche were left homeless and with no insurance payout after a fire destroyed their home in Co Kilkenny.

Maisie and Mary's relative John Cotterell has since launched a GoFundMe that is seeing the local community rallying to support the mother and daughter in the face of tragedy.

On the GoFundMe page for the Roches, Cottrell writes: "Around 1pm on the 15th December 2024, Maisie noticed thick smoke coming from upstairs and got out of the house.

"Her family who live near saw smoke coming from the roof and ran to the house where they found Maisie in the front yard.

"They got the dogs out of the house to safety but were unable to retrieve any belongings due to the smoke.

"In a matter of minutes the house was ablaze.

"Both Maisie and her daughter Mary, a teacher, who works in Waterford, are now homeless and left with little but the clothes on their backs.

"Unfortunately, the house insurance recently lapsed, and they are now left with few options to rebuild their lives.

"Both Maisie and Mary are in complete shock, but they have received huge immediate support from family and friends.

"We hope this gofundme page will go some way to improve their desperate situation and give them hope in the run up to Christmas."

At the time of publication on Wednesday, the GoFundMe has raised nearly €29k, quickly closing in on its goal of €35k.

You can visit the "Help Roche family after losing their home in a fire" GoFundMe page here.