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03 Feb 2026
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03 Feb 2026
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The charred remains of St Mary's Church in Derrybeg. Photo: Joe Dunne
Gardai investigating a fire that gutted St Mary’s Church in Derrybeg have rule out foul play.
The Church was destroyed by a blaze in the early hours of Easter Monday.
The local community has rallied around following the devastating scenes after the fire took hold of the iconic building.
A technical examination has taken place and the initial assessment shows that the fire was not started deliberately with the authorities confirming that foul play has been ruled out at this time.
Initially, the site was deemed too dangerous by structural engineers for Garda technical investigators to attend in person.
Gardai deployed a drone to aid in the probe into the fire.
A sizeable Garda cordon erected around the church remained in place with local diversions until Sunday and the site has now been secured.
Seven units of firefighters from the Donegal Fire Service battled the fire, which was first reported at around 4am at the 53-year-old church.
Several nearby properties were evacuated while the flames were brought under control.
Parish Priest Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh said: “It is heartbreaking to see it as an empty shell. There is a wonderful resilience in the people here.”
Separately, a mammoth fundraising effort is underway to help rebuild the Church, which was opened in 1972.
An online GoFundMe has soared to over €118,000 while huge crowds flocked to Teach Phaidí Óig in Crolly on Saturday night for Oíche Tairbhí, a fundraising night.
Musical stars Daniel O’Donnell, Moya Brennan and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh took to the stage to help in the efforts to rebuild the Derrybeg church.
Parishioner Mary Coyle of Coiste Forbartha Dhobair is part of a local committee that has rallied around to fundraise for the restoration of a centrepiece of the parish.
Read next: In pictures: Huge crowd for concert in Crolly to raise funds for Derrybeg Church
“We are a strong people, very resilient,” she told the Donegal Democrat. “It is very important to stay together as parishioners and we will get through this. The Church is so central to everyone in Gaoth Dobhair and it is lovely to see how everyone is working shoulder-to-shoulder to ensure that St Mary’s is rebuilt.”
Gaoth Dobhair-based TD Pearse Doherty added: “There will be a rebirth here - we will see that Church rebuilt from the ashes”.
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