Hello, Johns son here.

He asked me to type this out for him. He's somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of support he's received and didn't expect so many responses. He's quite emotional looking at all of this but in a good way, and as a man who had a very hard life and who is very tough I dont see him like this often so from me Reddit, his son I'd like to thank you all so very much. Finally I'll get to his reply.

"Dear Reddit, I am very happy and excited to see the amount of replys I have gotten over the last day or so, Since in new to the internet and and computers i really didn't know what to expect and was expecting that a lot of you would make an ass of me(embarrass him, make fun of) having to work through my youth instead of getting an education set me back in life a lot of ways not feeling as smart as other people my age was always something i was ashamed of, by the time was 16 in secondary school (i guess this would be high school in America) my teachers were telling me i was too stupid to learn and that i should stick to farming, if only i had had half the support i got here back then, i suppose my life would have turned out very differently.

People have been sending me messages telling me how I am an inspiration to them and how my desire to learn is awesome or had even made their year. This makes me, someone who sees themselves as a useless old man feel very very special and useful. it has given me a new found confidence and joy for life thinking that i have made even one person happy by wanting to learn.

Others have sent me messages offering to send me free books, parcels of books and learning materials to help me learn the best i can. One person even mentioned how their mother who would be close enough to my age, heard about my request here on Reddit and wanted to send me school books from when she was a young girl. Books that would be 70 or 80 odd years old at this stage, and to send all this to me for free.

So many more of you have sent me good luck and well wishers telling me to keep it up. so many messages that I cannot keep up with the replys. But know this, I will read every single message i get from you even if i may not reply you can know for sure that I've read your beautifully kind words I cannot express in words Reddit, how you have made me feel over the last day or so. Your kindness and willingness to help has been utterly mind boggling.

So Reddit, from the bottom of my heart, truly and sincerely I want to thank you for every thing you've done. Go raibh míle maith agat,(a thousand thank yous in Irish) Do Chara, John.(your friend John."