Willie Bermingham
Encyclopedia
Dr Willie Bermingham was an Irish
firefighter
and campaigner, who founded ALONE, an organization highlighting the plight of old people living alone.
Bermingham was born in the Rotunda Hospital
, Dublin, and grew up with his family in The Puc, Inchicore
, before moving to The Nurseries in Bluebell
where the family had a scrap yard. Willie's father Bill and mother Mary (née Dalgarno) reared a family of 3 boys and 4 girls. Willie went to school in Goldenbridge of Inchicore, and loved one of his teachers, Sister Jarlath, in particular, maintaining contact with her until his death.
In 1964, Willie joined Dublin Fire Brigade
, who also covered the Emergency Ambulance Service. He served with them until his death. In 1972 he married Mary (Marie) Kelly, a Roscommon
woman whose family had moved to Chapelizod
and later Lucan. They spent their 18 years of marriage living in Bluebell where they reared 2 daughters and 3 sons.
In 1977, Willie founded ALONE (A Little Offering Never Ends), an organization highlighting the plight of old forgotten individuals, living in squalid neglect in Dublin. This was after he had found several people dead in appalling conditions through his work as a firefighter. He worked on a voluntary basis whilst still holding down his job in Dublin Fire Brigade. Many colleagues came on board as volunteers, and as news spread of the work, the organization grew. Whilst it became a relatively large organization, the focus on people as individuals never changed. The operation was run from the family home in Bluebell where the children took part as soon as their homework was completed. The office only moved from the sitting room weeks before he died.
Willie received a People of the Year
award in 1979, and in 1985 he was awarded the International Firefighter of the Year award. In 1988, he was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate of Law by Trinity College, Dublin
. Willie suddenly took ill in late February 1990 when. He went blind in his left eye from an inverted melanoma
, and six weeks later lost his battle with the cancer. ALONE is still an active charity in Ireland.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and campaigner, who founded ALONE, an organization highlighting the plight of old people living alone.
Bermingham was born in the Rotunda Hospital
Rotunda Hospital
The Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being the The Coombe and The National Maternity Hospital...
, Dublin, and grew up with his family in The Puc, Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
, before moving to The Nurseries in Bluebell
Bluebell, Dublin
Bluebell is a small suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city, approximately 6.5 kilometres south-west of Dublin city centre...
where the family had a scrap yard. Willie's father Bill and mother Mary (née Dalgarno) reared a family of 3 boys and 4 girls. Willie went to school in Goldenbridge of Inchicore, and loved one of his teachers, Sister Jarlath, in particular, maintaining contact with her until his death.
In 1964, Willie joined Dublin Fire Brigade
Dublin Fire Brigade
The Dublin Fire Brigade is the local authority fire and rescue service for Dublin City and the majority of the Greater Dublin Area. It is a branch of Dublin City Council. There are currently 14 fire stations manned by DFB, 12 of which are full-time, the other 2 are part-time or "retained"....
, who also covered the Emergency Ambulance Service. He served with them until his death. In 1972 he married Mary (Marie) Kelly, a Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
woman whose family had moved to Chapelizod
Chapelizod
Chapelizod is a picturesque Irish village preserved within the city of Dublin, Ireland. It lies in the verdant wooded valley of the River Liffey, on the way to the slopes of the Strawberry Beds, below the Phoenix Park. The village is associated with Iseult of Ireland and the location of Iseault's...
and later Lucan. They spent their 18 years of marriage living in Bluebell where they reared 2 daughters and 3 sons.
In 1977, Willie founded ALONE (A Little Offering Never Ends), an organization highlighting the plight of old forgotten individuals, living in squalid neglect in Dublin. This was after he had found several people dead in appalling conditions through his work as a firefighter. He worked on a voluntary basis whilst still holding down his job in Dublin Fire Brigade. Many colleagues came on board as volunteers, and as news spread of the work, the organization grew. Whilst it became a relatively large organization, the focus on people as individuals never changed. The operation was run from the family home in Bluebell where the children took part as soon as their homework was completed. The office only moved from the sitting room weeks before he died.
Willie received a People of the Year
People of the Year Awards
The People Of The Year Awards is an annual show in Ireland organised by the Rehab Group, televised by RTÉ television and hosted by Gráinne Seoige....
award in 1979, and in 1985 he was awarded the International Firefighter of the Year award. In 1988, he was awarded an Honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctorate of Law by Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. Willie suddenly took ill in late February 1990 when. He went blind in his left eye from an inverted melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
, and six weeks later lost his battle with the cancer. ALONE is still an active charity in Ireland.