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RIP Ned

  • 14-03-2013 04:35PM
    #1
    buswankers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 504 ✭✭✭


    This homeless man slept in a doorway around the corner of my work, saw him first 4 years ago & he gave me the fright of my life because I wasnt expecting to see anyone in that doorway. He always stuck in my mind as he reminded me of Santa Claus, passed by on numerous occassions over the years & he was always there - then passed by a few weeks ago & there was wreaths and flowers :mad: I felt such sadness - amazing how a person can have an effect on you although you've never spoken to them. Although he passed away in January his funeral was only yesterday and over 150 people attended. This article was in the Irish Times today so thought I would share it - Ned Delahunty May you rest in peace.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/i-think-in-his-own-way-he-s-galvanised-the-community-he-s-taught-us-about-the-need-for-compassion-1.1325096?page=1


Comments

  • #2
    My name is URL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Nice article... sounds like he was a very independent man despite the hand he was dealt in life.


  • #3
    Gorilla Rising
    Closed Accounts Posts: 381 ✭✭Gorilla Rising


    That's nice and all, but what did those people REALLY do to help him get out of that doorway?

    Typical of people these days, sadly. Buy a few flowers so they don't feel too bad themselves.

    Apologies for being cynical. It is a nice enough story, but part of me just doesn't buy it.

    The poor man will be forgotten about by the 'grieving' tomorrow.


  • #4
    orestes
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    There's a thread about his passing away in the Dublin forum. Seems like he was a pretty well known character in the area. RIP.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056860653


  • #5
    Seachmall
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭Seachmall


    fortune wookiee wrote: »
    That's nice and all, but what did those people REALLY do to help him get out of that doorway?

    You're assuming he wanted help.

    After 20 years of being homeless I'd wager that he was most comfortable fending for himself on the streets.


  • #6
    My name is URL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    fortune wookiee wrote: »
    That's nice and all, but what did those people REALLY do to help him get out of that doorway?

    According to the story; he never sought and wasn't keen on people offering help. What can you do... throw a sack over his head and force him into supported accommodation?

    People have to accept assistance before anyone can supply it.


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  • #7
    Scruffles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 955 ✭✭✭Scruffles


    we never know why he was on the streets or how he treated his family/people in his life before coming homeless but it sounds like the streets had institutionalized him; like it does to so many people,makes it difficult to change their way of life.

    people whinge about hospitals all the time,but at least the fella had spent the last fortnight of his life in a much better warmer setting with a nun to keep him company.
    yes rest in peace to him,he deserves that much for the life he has lived.
    he also deserves it a lot more than the celebrities who get pages and pages of automaticaly posted RIPs, when people never knew them personaly.
    in own view its those who contribute to the community in different ways who have more meaning to the ordinary person.


  • #8
    orestes
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    Scruffles wrote: »
    we never know why he was on the streets or how he treated his family/people in his life before coming homeless but it sounds like the streets had institutionalized him; like it does to so many people,makes it difficult to change their way of life.

    Hard as it might seem to believe, some people genuinely like living on the streets due to the freedom and independence that comes with it. It's not a matter of being institutionalized, some people actually just prefer to live that way. I'm not saying this guy did, and I'm not by any means suggesting that all homeless people want to be there, but if he refused help at every turn maybe he just didn't want it.


  • #9
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Yeah a lot people foam at the mouth at the mere suggestion that some choose to be homeless, but the fact is that some do, like this guy.

    You could argue that perhaps he's mentally ill and needs help, but it's a quality of life issue - is it better to lock him up, living a life where he's constantly battling with doctors and nurses and drugged up to his eyeballs, or to leave him on streets, homeless but at least independent and satisfied with his lot?


  • #10
    antodeco
    Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,722 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


    Nice little write up on him. I always remember seeing him. Always thought he was crazy, it appears not.

    RIP


  • #11
    starlings
    Closed Accounts Posts: 683 ✭✭✭starlings


    orestes wrote: »
    Hard as it might seem to believe, some people genuinely like living on the streets due to the freedom and independence that comes with it. It's not a matter of being institutionalized, some people actually just prefer to live that way. I'm not saying this guy did, and I'm not by any means suggesting that all homeless people want to be there, but if he refused help at every turn maybe he just didn't want it.

    true - every town has "characters" like that. But it's so nice to read how people helped him quietly and respected his pride. And I'm glad he let someone hold his hand before he died.

    Now I think my eye is leaking a bit. :o


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  • #12
    Rastadoyle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 208 ✭✭Rastadoyle


    Flanders?


  • #13
    Uriel.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,059 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    I am not sure why I find this so funny, but reading the article and reading the quote attributed to the nun that the country is "banjaxed" had me in stitches. don't know why. :D

    RIP Ned


  • #14
    P_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,681 ✭✭✭✭P_1


    I remember seeing him busking on Grafton Street with a tin whistle.

    I also find peoples reactions to him living his life in a manner that is outside the accepted norm pretty interesting to say the least.

    If he was happy living on the streets then who are we to judge him for his choice.


  • #15
    vicwatson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,417 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    Travel safely Ned.


  • #16
    Straight Outta Ganton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11 ✭Straight Outta Ganton


    Someone should have given Ned a bed but they didn't and now he's dead.


  • #17
    Setun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,804 ✭✭✭Setun


    Ah, sad to hear he passed away. I remember seeing him while I was studying at NCAD a few years ago, I never had any interaction with him but he was quite a memorable character and well known around the college.


  • #18
    monosnaps
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25 ✭monosnaps


    P_1 wrote: »
    I remember seeing him busking on Grafton Street with a tin whistle.

    I also find peoples reactions to him living his life in a manner that is outside the accepted norm pretty interesting to say the least.

    If he was happy living on the streets then who are we to judge him for his choice.

    He was not a musician you are mixing him up with a guy called Mir who busks on Grafton St mainly playing a tin whistle. Ned could be seen around Thomas Street.

    Mir http://www.flickr.com/photos/diogenes24/4008295843/

    Ned http://www.flickr.com/photos/dubpics/8450513913/


  • #19
    Ruudi_Mentari
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,801 ✭✭✭Ruudi_Mentari


    Ned = Not ted? phew..

    RIP, Ned.


  • #20
    Jimminy Mc Fukhead
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 305 ✭✭Jimminy Mc Fukhead


    Straight Outta Ganton wrote: »
    Someone should have given Ned a bed but they didn't and now he's dead.


    If ned was to have had a bed perhaps it should've been red but only after he had been well fed and had lots of drink inside his head


  • #21
    FoxyVixen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭FoxyVixen


    83 is a fine age to survive on the streets - he was doing something right!!

    RIP to him, remember passing him a few times myself.


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  • #22
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,891 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    Sr. Jane looked after him well


  • #23
    Smidge
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,541 ✭✭✭Smidge


    Makes you think though..
    How a person becomes homeless at the age of 63?

    He must not have been a "wino" given his age and condition.
    Sad as I remember seeing him many times.

    RIP


  • #24
    Ruudi_Mentari
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,801 ✭✭✭Ruudi_Mentari


    Smidge wrote: »
    Makes you think though..
    How a person becomes homeless at the age of 63?

    RIP

    Yeah is a little strange -

    maybe he just felt the urge to get out and see people, having eventually realized life really is short and was making up for lost time.


  • #25
    Napper Hawkins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,903 ✭✭✭Napper Hawkins


    Ah so that's his name.

    I Remember seeing him outside the Spar on Baggot st. one morning, shouting abuse at passers by. What a character. Brilliant.


  • #26
    PG4000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 136 ✭✭PG4000


    Anyone who offered help or approached him out of the blue – care workers, priests or locals – could either get a gruff “thank you”, or else get drowned in a hail of expletives.

    A couple of years ago the girlfriend and I were crossing Dame Street and she saw €20 on the ground and picked it up. She felt guilty about keeping it so decided to give it to the first homeless person we saw.

    Spotted this guy walking toward us and unleashed a barrage of abuse at us when we tried to give him the money, telling us that we were "treating him like a child"!

    One thing I noticed was that he did speak very clearly and not in the manner you'd stereotypically think a homeless man would sound like.

    Definitely a character. RIP


  • #27
    collymcd
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 77 ✭✭collymcd


    PG4000 wrote: »

    Spotted this guy walking toward us and unleashed a barrage of abuse at us when we tried to give him the money, telling us that we were "treating him like a child"!

    No Ned, I'm treating you like a homeless person.

    Such a strange position. The majority of homeless people survive solely on handouts from strangers/government. Without these he'd die in a couple of days. Obviously a man struggling to cope with his own division.


  • #28
    IM0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,390 ✭✭✭IM0


    goodnight sweet prince


  • #29
    starlings
    Closed Accounts Posts: 683 ✭✭✭starlings


    collymcd wrote: »
    No Ned, I'm treating you like a homeless person.

    Such a strange position. The majority of homeless people survive solely on handouts from strangers/government. Without these he'd die in a couple of days. Obviously a man struggling to cope with his own division.

    The Irish Times article in the OP said that Outreach workers had helped him set up and collect his pension.

    Among the reasons for people becoming homeless are addiction, poor mental health and estrangement/escaping abusive situations, so I'd say most homeless people struggle to cope with their own division, and we struggle to find ways to help them with that.


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