I'm not sure if this is the right sub for this question but I figured it's worth a shot. My mother's family (i can give those ancestors' surname if it will help) moved to the US from Ireland after they accidentally caused a fire at some point in the late 1800s/early 1900s. We always heard about this "horrific fire" in stories growing up. They came from either Ballyferriter or Dunquin.
As the story goes, they found a barrel of oil washed up on the shore either in or near their home village, presumably from a shipwreck. Feeling generous, they brought it back to their cottage to split it with their neighbors. About half of the small village was in the cottage divvying up the oil when an ember from the fire ignited the barrel, causing a massive fire that killed everybody in the house. The death toll was monumental for the area. When the surviving family members moved to the US, they eventually found out that the fire had been so bad that the story had been printed in some major US newspapers.
Years later, my grandfather found a newspaper clipping of the story somewhere, made a copy, and sent it to my mom, but she lost it. We've been on a search to find out more specific information about this event, which we believe was one of the main driving points in the emigration of that side of my family, but we've been unable to find anything.
If you know any way to find more information, it would be so helpful. if you've read through all of this, thank you so much!! Any help would be beyond appreciated
UPDATE: My Mom found a digital copy of the article she lost, found here. It occurred in 1870. It seems as though my family (it was the Moran lineage referenced here) was involved, but not those who owned the home. Peig has the story (and an actual name of my ancestors!) but this news story seems to be more detailed. Thanks for the help!
This passage from Peig, the autobiography of storyteller Peig Sayers, may be of interest in this regard. The relevant section (p. 116):
"What happened to them? Or what set the house on fire at all?"
"People were backward at the time, child, and they knew noting at all about paraffin or any other kind of oil. Tadhg Óg and another man came across a barrel of paraffin washed up on some beach and they brought it to Tadhg Óg's house because his was the nearest to the cliff-top. It was a small house with only one door and the day they were dividing the oil a crowd of people arrived with jugs to get some of it. As it was being poured into the vessels some of it spilled on the litter on the floor and some time later a person lighted a rushlight to see if there was much oil left in the vessel."
"Alas, when he threw down the rush, the sudden blaze the litter and the barrel made as they exploded together came like a burst of thunder and lightning. Those who were able-bodied and were near the doorway got out by some means or other. A husband was outside while his wife was inside being burned alive; she was calling wildly for 'Séamas!' When he heard her he didn't care whether he lost his life or not, for she was the loveliest woman in Dunquin and the mother of his two children, so he tried to force his way through the flames to save her! Alas, neither he nor his wife ever again came out—nor many more like them."