'Beyond the Game: Stories of Recovery’ in Dungiven
Dungiven Addiction Support wants to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.
What promises to be a powerful event centring on recovery from addiction is set to take place in County Derry.
Organised by Dungiven Addiction Support, ‘Beyond the Game: Stories of Recovery’ will take place in Glór Dungiven, on Thursday, July 30, at 7.30pm.
Hosted by well-known local man, Benny Mullan, the panel of speakers comprises: Oisín McConville, Ciarán Deery and Domhnall Nugent, all of whom have lived with addiction.
Speaking to The County Derry Post, Carol O’Neill, chairperson of Dungiven Addiction Support said the group wanted to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.
“Kevin Lynch Hurling Club have an annual summer hurling camp and they asked us if we would be interested in doing something with them that week. This is why we tried to make it a bit more GAA orientated,” she added.
“Domhnall Nugent played hurling for Antrim. Oisín McConville is a GAA pundit, podcaster and great Armagh footballer. Ciarán Deery is a member of our group and is involved in Slaughtmanus GAA club, and Benny Mullan played minor hurling in his day. We are delighted to have such a brilliant panel.
“Obviously, when you organise something, you hope people will show up. I am a bit nervous.
There is not a family that hasn’t been affected in some form or fashion by some kind of addiction
“We decided to put the minimum age as 14 - accompanied by an adult - because it could be hard listening, some of it but I am sure anyone who is thinking of coming along, will know what to expect. There could be hard-hitting content but I think younger people still need to be aware about addiction.
“Dungiven Addiction Support wants to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around addiction. It is so important to us because there is not a family that hasn’t been affected in some form or fashion by some kind of addiction,” said Carol.
“Especially with Oisín being there, gambling is such a hidden addiction. It is so rife with young boys especially, that is why we thought it was so fitting for home to come,” she added.
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“I am hoping people will bring their 14-year-olds because people need to be aware of what is going on out there and there is so much help available. And, even if the addict isn’t ready for help, there is help for families,” said Carol.
‘Beyond the Game: Stories of Recovery’ panellist Ciarán Deery told The County Post he had attended the inaugural meeting of Dungiven Addiction Support “as somebody who is fresh in recovery”.
“It [drugs] just became a complete obsession of the mind. It took me to hell and back
He added: “I did a video for the group because my story might help somebody else and I was asked then if I wanted to speak at ‘Beyond the Game: Stories of Recovery’.
“I have done a lot of things in recovery out of my comfort zone. I actually work in White Oaks [Addiction Treatment Centre] on a Monday on a voluntary basis helping to facilitate the aftercare programme. I have been doing that since February.
“I am not afraid to tell who I am as an addict. I am not ashamed of it and I never was because it is a tough journey for anybody. I am nervous but also feel privileged and appreciative to have been asked to tell my story of recovery,” said Ciarán, who hails from Tamnaherin.
“My story started from, probably, 12 years of age, when I had the traumatic experience of losing a grandparent. It was the first time I was exposed to death. I also moved to secondary school, to a school I didn’t like and didn’t feel comfortable in because I didn’t know anybody,” he reflected.
“I changed from the person I was before this. I felt vulnerable and unknown and I didn’t fit in and I just didn’t like myself after that. I was bullied at school. It completely changed who I was.
“I started drinking at 15 and I took drugs from 15 onwards, not all the time, then it was recreational use. I sampled different drugs over the years.
“My whole life I was always searching for gratification, somebody to tell me ‘You did great’ but every time someone told me I’d done great, I always looked at it in a negative way. They class it as ‘stinking thinking’. I would never have been satisfied with anything I did.
“In my mid-20s, anything I put my hand to I became addicted. I was addicted to sport. I was addicted to the gym. I was addicted to soccer. I was addicted to money. I loved buying things. It was all the facade of the addict,” said Ciarán, who added that during those years drugs became more prevalent in his life.
“From probably 25 or 26 on there were a couple of deaths in our close friend group within a year of one another and that changed a lot of the friendships. The dynamics of everything changed,” he recalled.
“I started isolating myself from other people. I started working away from home. And, whenever I was away from home, I was able to do what I wanted without the fear of anybody finding out.
“Within a couple of years, I was using drugs every day. And if I wasn’t using them, I was thinking about them and trying to get them.
“It just became a complete obsession of the mind. It took me to hell and back. I ended up having psychosis and kidney failure.
“I was close to death a couple of times. There were a couple of suicide attempts and, no matter what I did, I couldn’t get out of this cycle.
“I got into recovery when I was losing everything. I wasn’t going to work anymore. I had no friends. My now wife was probably on the verge of leaving. Nobody could control me. They all knew what I was doing but they couldn’t stop me, I had become such a convincing liar and it was always somebody else’s fault,” said Ciarán.
There came a day when he didn’t want to get out of bed.
“My mother came to the house and she and my wife said I needed to do something,” said Ciarán, “and that was the day I rang White Oaks and got an assessment appointment for that Friday.
“But, even knowing I was going to a treatment centre to be assessed, the strength of my addiction was such that I couldn't stop using, right up until I went in.
“But, I was actually willing to go to treatment and to change because I was sick of the life. I was in physical and psychological pain. It was absolute hell.
“Since entering White Oaks in October 2022, I have been clean and the gifts that recovery has given me I would have never seen this side of my life. The life I have in recovery is fantastic and I couldn’t have done it on my own,” said Ciarán, who added: “If anybody is struggling, I went to White Oaks and here I am now. Just pick up the phone and contact them [on (00353 74) 938 4400].”
Tickets for ‘Stories of Recovery’ cost £10 for adults and £5 Under 18s. Tickets are available from Kevin Lynch Hurling Club shop every Tuesday 6.30pm to 7.30pm and from Ros Oir Boutique or call: Carol on 07961786569 or Niall on 07803561274.
The event is for Over 14s only. Anyone Under 18 and 14 or over must be accompanied by an adult.