A major fundraiser has been launched to support a popular Killarney man and his family whose home was gutted in the devastating wildfires in California.
Ruairi O’Flaherty, his wife Sidney Pogatchnik and their two daughters, Mirabel and Ellie, suffered the unimaginable loss when the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire, whipped up by powerful winds, destroyed hundreds of homes and scorched close on 14,000 acres of land.
Their good friend, Graham Cruser Marsh, who has set up a GoFundMe appeal to help them, said the kindest and most selfless family he knows has lost everything in the devastating Eaton Fire.
Picture: Eamonn Keogh
A gifted musician and a world class mastering engineer, Ruairi moved from Killarney to the US from where he works with established producers and audio companies around the globe.
“He is looked up to as one of the most thoughtful and talented humans in the audio industry,” Graham said.
Ruairi, originally from Coolgrean Park in Killarney, has worked with Taylor Swift and a number of other superstars and he was the mastering engineer on the Lana Del Rey’s album, Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?, which was nominated for a Grammy award last year.
Graham added that he hopes the GoFundMe appeal– which has already secured pledges of over $73,000 – can help the family to secure new housing, living essentials and cover the necessary expenses they will need to rebuild their home and their lives.
“Anyone that knows Ruairi and Sidney knows that they would never ask for anything.
“I’m asking for all the help from the community, friends, producers, artists and collaborators to come together in this time of need,” Graham added.
To donate go to: https: //www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-oflaherty-family-rebuild-after-fire.
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