William Patrick Bermingham was an Irish firefighter and campaigner, who founded ALONE, an organisation highlighting the plight of old people living alone.
11 Facts About Willie Bermingham
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Willie Bermingham attended St Michael's School, Inchicore, followed by Capel St Technical School, Dublin.
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Willie Bermingham had several jobs before joining Dublin Fire Brigade in 1964, members of which provide Dublin's emergency ambulance service.
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In 1977, Willie Bermingham founded ALONE, an organisation highlighting the plight of older and forgotten individuals, sometimes living in squalid neglect, in Dublin.
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Willie Bermingham wrote Alone: an account of some old people discovered in Dublin in 1978, Alone again and Alone once more.
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Willie Bermingham worked on a voluntary basis for ALONE whilst continuing to work in Dublin Fire Brigade.
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Willie Bermingham personally visited 3,500 elderly people and lobbied vigorously for more coordination of policies relating to the elderly.
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Willie Bermingham suddenly became ill in late February 1990; he died from cancer on 23 April 1990 in Dublin.
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Willie Bermingham's funeral was held at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
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Willie Bermingham is buried at St Mary's cemetery, Lucan, Dublin.
11.
Willie Bermingham received a People of the Year award in 1979, and in 1985 he was awarded the International Firefighter of the Year award.