Award for Kildare man who is recovering from addiction

A County Kildare man’s battle against addiction has been recognised.

Eric Murphy is winner of the 2024 Christy Dignam Recovery Champion Award.

It was presented by former Kildare footballer Mary Hulgraine, whose battle with alcohol and drugs has also been documented.

Eric, 27, was announced as the winner by Aubrey McCarthy Naas businessman and Chair of SURF (Substance Use Regional Forum).

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It took place during a comedy night at the Moat Theatre in Naas billed as  Stand Up for Recovery Comedy Night. 

Hosted by Keith Walsh from the More Than That Festival, Kildare native Sophia Wren was joined by comics Willa White and Eric Lalor for a great evening of laughs. 

A video message of congratulations was sent in to Eric from Keira Dignam daughter of Christy who the award is named after. She said that his resilience, and determination are truly remarkable, and that he and his family should enjoy what the award represents and that she couldn't be happier to celebrate his achievements.

The comedy night concluded the festival which brought an incredible strength of the human spirit to Naas.  The weekend was about connection, community, and recovery showcasing powerful stories shared during talks, to the joy of the Wellbeing Warrior Challenge and the peace found in a morning walk, every event was a reminder of the strength and resilience in our recovery community.

They laughed, reflected, and supported one another, breaking down the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health. The organisers are grateful to those who joined in conversation, movement, or in the fun, to help make this festival a beautiful celebration of hope and healing.

The organising committee thank everyone who participated, shared their stories, and stood together in the name of compassion and understanding. This helps to create  a future where addiction is recognised as a mental health condition, and recovery is celebrated every step of the way.

Also thanked were Creative Ireland, Kildare County Council and SURF for providing funding for this festival.

Eric is a  former resident of Tiglin-run Jigginstown Manor in Naas and who now works there as a support worker. 

Through counselling, employment opportunities, and educational opportunities, Eric began to rebuild his life, gaining confidence and a sense of purpose.

Eric grew up in Naas with two brothers and a sister, he enjoyed his childhood, he was “very much into football.” 

Eric started drinking when he was 14 years old to “stop the pain or stop the hurt – but that didn’t happen, in drinking I found this elusive effect that blocked out all of the negative stuff, allowing me to be a happy person.“

He explains that in his mid-teens, he developed a problem with drink. He could never control it.

Alcohol led to harder drugs in his late teens which allowed him “to block out the pain, but I was blind to everything else that was happening.”

In the next stage of his journey, addiction grabbed a hold of Eric. He got trapped in a cycle of going in and out of rehab centres. After several homeless hostels, he came into Jigginstown Manor, which provides transitional housing for young adults in homelessness and this was the beginning of his recovery journey.