Easkey, County Sligo – Two brothers in their 80s died in a house fire overnight, authorities confirmed December 28, 2025. The tragedy has deeply shaken the close-knit community of Rathlee, where Pa and Seamus cuffe had lived their entire lives.
Local Community Mourns Brothers Lost in Sligo Fire
The deaths of Pa and Seamus Cuffe have left residents of County Sligo reeling,remembering the pair as kind and gentle men.
- Pa and Seamus Cuffe, both in their 80s, were found deceased following a fire at their home in rathlee, near Easkey.
- Emergency services were alerted to the blaze around 11 a.m. on December 28, 2025.
- Post-mortem examinations at Sligo University Hospital will determine the course of the examination.
- Neighbors described the brothers as well-liked and integral members of the local community.
What caused the fire that claimed the lives of Pa and Seamus Cuffe? The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with gardaí preserving the scene for a technical examination. The outcome of post-mortem examinations, conducted at Sligo University Hospital, will be crucial in determining the next steps.
The brothers lived together in their family home in Rathlee, a small area situated between the villages of Easkey and Dromore West. News of their passing spread quickly, prompting an outpouring of grief from those who knew them.
“I just can’t believe it,” said a neighbor, Daniel. “very, very good neighbours, very nice people. Gentlemen. We met them on the road every day since I was a child. We’re all gutted.”
Another neighbor, Michelle Curley, reflected on her long acquaintance with the brothers. “These were two very quiet gentlemen.I know them since I was a small child. I’m just two houses down the road and me and my sister were always in and out to see them. And they were great fun, had a great sense of humour,” she said. “Pa loved his car.He was always out and about, and you can meet him anywhere, but he always had a word for you. But it’s terribly sad for the whole area, because there were two gentlemen and they will be greatly missed. They had a great connection of friends around here, and they were always looked after, you know, and thought very highly of.”
bernie Coggins, who grew up with the Cuffe brothers, shared memories of their regular attendance at the local mart. “They use [to] go to the mart every week, every Tuesday. They were in good health and Seamus just had his cataracts done a few months ago. It’s awful sad. They were a big part of our local community,” he added.
