ALONE was founded in 1977 by Dublin fireman Willie Bermingham. Willie passed away 21 years ago but in his too short life he made a massive impact on the attitude towards the needs of older people in Dublin. His work had a major influence on policy makers and his vision continues to inspire ALONE today. The name ‘ALONE’ was chosen as an acronym of ‘A Little Offering Never Ends’, in recognition of the enduring effect of even the smallest act of kindness.
An extract from The Dublin Fire Brigade by Tom Geraghty and Trevor Whitehead, recounts the time Willie was sent into a residence on Charlemount Street in 1977 as a routine part of his job.
“Willie Bermingham described graphically the awful scene he encountered in that chalet on that bitter cold February day. A frail, old man, blind in one eye, lying dead on a wet bed with an old blanket gripped in his left hand, two cold rooms in that timber chalet, no fuel for the fire and no food in the press and he half naked, stiff in his death sentence, alone and in misery”
This was not the first or last older person that Willie Bermingham encountered in dismal conditions of isolation, neglect and despair beyond the imagination of most of the general public. Willie and others launched a campaign to raise awareness of the conditions of the forgotten older people in Dublin. Posters were distributed with bold statements that people in Dublin were dying alone from cold, hunger, loneliness, depression and illness. These statements were accompanied by shocking pictures of real-life situations that Willie and others had encountered.
Click here to watch a video giving a glimpse of Willie at work and the early days of ALONE.
Over the years thousands of Dubliners answered the call and lent their services to the campaign. ALONE has fought to improve conditions for older people on many levels; through direct contact and assistance to older people, by continuing the publicity and awareness raising campaign, and by ensuring that the message of ALONE is communicated at a higher level by challenging statutory agencies; thus representing those with no voice of their own.
From the outset volunteers have been a cornerstone of ALONE. In the early days Willie would host meetings in Wynn’s Hotel with around 14 volunteers in attendance. It is a tribute to the work of ALONE and to the dedication of ALONE volunteers that several of the original volunteers are still actively involved in the organisation.
ALONE are well known and cherished by the community for their work in visiting isolated older people through the befriending service and for providing permanent housing (the first housing complex ‘ALONE Walk’ was built in 1986) and in general, assisting older people in need.
Willie died in April 1990, just a week after turning the sod at ALONE’s housing complex in Kilmainham (now called Willie Bermingham Place). Willie was 48 years of age.
Willie Bermingham continues to be synonymous with ALONE, the impact of his work and profile has ensured that ALONE continues to be remembered and supported by the people of Dublin in particular, but also nationally.
The context of issues for older people in Ireland has changed from the 1970’s and is constantly changing. ALONE aims to respond innovatively to these changes and new challenges as they arise; thus insuring that Willie’s courage and passion to improve the lives of older people continues through our work today.
Willie wrote his own biography not long before his untimely death. It now serves as a fitting epitaph, written in stone at the housing complex in Kilmainham that is the most fitting monument to his memory:
“Willie Bermingham landed at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 29th March, five years before the big snow of 1947.
One of a family of seven with a father -a farmer, merchant, dealer, turf cutter, scrap man or just a hard worker, and a mother- a great woman to milk cows, feed pigs, cut turf or feed the nation.
Educated at Goldenbridge, St Michael’s Inchicore, on the streets, in the bog and at the university of life itself.
Married with 5 children from 17-5 years. Hobbies include hoarding junk and curios and foreign travel.
Joined the Dublin Fire Brigade in 1964 and spent a long time pushing for the pension. Favourite food, good old Irish stew and lots of fish. For breakfast several mugs of tea at work. Also loves to eat lots of red tape to teach the bureaucrats a little manners.”
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.
