Willie Bermingham

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. His 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, Bermingham joined Dublin Fire Brigade, who also provide Dublin's 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, Bermingham founded ALONE ("A Little Offering Never Ends"), an organisation highlighting the plight of older and forgotten individuals, sometimes 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 organisation grew. Whilst it became a relatively large organisation, 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 after 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 . He went blind in his left eye from an inverted melanoma, and six weeks later died of the cancer. ALONE is still an active charity in Ireland.

• ALONE website