Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HUMANS OF DUBLIN is a photography project run by Peter Varga, and inspired by the famous Humans of New York Facebook page.
On Monday, the page posted this photo of an older man named Bill. Sitting on Dun Laoghaire pier, Bill shared a deeply personal story.
In the back garden we used to grow tomato plants, but she died about 18 months ago so I stopped growing them. She was a month younger than me, and I was already surprised that she passed away before me, so I was just waiting for my turn.
A few months later my neighbours arrived with a box of tomato plants, about 12 little sprouts, and he said they’re not giving up on me. I was looking down at these little sprouts and thinking how the hell I’m going to plant them if I can’t even bend down anymore. Anyway, I thought I’d give it a try! I spend half the day in the glasshouse planting them. They’re about 16 inches high now, and the tomatoes are beautiful on them. I started to grow these new ones as well, what do you call them? Cherry tomatoes…To be honest with you, I didn’t think I’d see Dun Laoghaire harbour again, but my son and his wife forced me out here. They went for a walk, but they bought me a tea and an ice cream, and now that I’m here, I feel happy.
So far, it has been liked more than 16,000 times and shared hundreds more.
Hundreds of people have commented on the post, sharing their own stories of loss and grief.
“Its like reading something my Dad would have said when my mam died,” wrote one.
“Your wife would indeed be proud of you and the beautiful tomatoes still growing,” added another.
One man wrote: “I’m lucky enough to know Bill (and Anne) well and have done most of my life. Lovely man and a great neighbour.”
Many, many people have encouraged him to keep growing the tomatoes. Sometimes the internet can be a beautiful place.
You can like Humans of Dublin on Facebook here.
Photo republished from Humans of Dublin with permission. Originally published on DailyEdge.ie by Michael Freeman.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
that’s a lovely story. reminds me so much of my own da since my ma passed away.
it’d bring a tear to a glass eye.
I’ve been crying every day since Irish Water was set up.
Coddler, there is a time and a place and this isn’t it.
It’s a troll impersonating Coddler
Coddler you are an absolute dose!!
When it’s about the government or f@c€ing Irish Water you cut and paste a load of shyte but when it’s something genuinely ‘human’ you make a short sneery comment.
What a pr1ck you are Coddler
It’s not Coddler! God I feel like his spokesperson. He’s been trolled
felt like crying halfway, comforted meself saying all is well that ends well, he is happy at the end, that matters….
Colin, And what a gobs hi te you are if you can’t work out that this isn’t Coddler.
baz, what have you done with coddled?
*Coddler
rashers, do you think coddler may finally have gotten to the blueshirts? they’re trying to put people off reading the comments coddler posts
F*ck off Coddler….
Respect your elders.
There was a case on ’999 what’s your emergency’ on More 4 on Monday night where the emergency services were called by an 86 year old man in desperate need of help after his wife had a seizure. By the time they arrived it was too late and she had died on their couch just as they were preparing for bed. They were married for 66 years. It made me think that we should tell our loved ones how much we love and appreciate them every once and awhile because we don’t know when or where our departure gate is going to be called.
I was watching the irish version of that a few years back and they played the actual phone recording of guy in his late 30s who found his wife unresponsive in their bedroom. The operator was giving him instructions for cpr while he was on loudspeaker. The pain and emotion that I heard in his voice send an awful wave over me, even now I’ve a lump in my throat at the thought of what if that’s me someday making that call. love those who are dear to you and tell them every day how much you love them!
Very heart warming story. Good man, Bill, try to keep going.
Nice to see something nice for a change but quite sad that people who genuinely love each other and spend their lives together have to part
nice story, fair play to his neighbours they sound like genuinely nice people.
What an absolute cock cobbler is
John if you read the rest of the comments you would know that his account was hacked.
Loads of photographers is jumping on this ‘humans of….’ bandwagon these days. Same in Sydney. It’s annoying. Get some originality.
lead the way so
Nice to see Bill Doran again,The last time i saw Bill was at my Exhibition of Barber shops.
I spent many a day photographing Bill and his brother at work in their barber shop,it had wonderful interior with the walls covered in post cards from all over the world, along with the chairs where the Pearce brothers had there last hair cut in 1916.
have your say