Double All-Star winner and former Armagh Footballer Oisín McConville was in Laois recently as part of Laois Connects week run by Laois Sports Partnership to promote posititive mental health throughout the county.
Barrowhouse GAA Club hosted this exceptionally successful event where Oisín kept a packed crowd captivated with a brutally open and honest account of his experiences of gambling addiction.
During his address, where a pin could be heard dropping, Oisín recalled the dark days he experienced when he was totally caught up in a cycle of compulsive gambling before he eventually realized he needed help in getting himself out of the situation.
He told the audience of a time when he had secured £20,000 from a local business man for a joint business ideas, which Oisín went immediately to the local bookie office and lost the entire amount of money on one horse race.
He also told of how he does not share the same memories of the great sporting achievements as his Armagh teammates who won the All Ireland Final as he was totally consumed with gambling during that period of his life, something he now regrets.
Oisín commended Barrowhose GAA on the very positive and prominent Health and Wellbeing Programme which is run in the club.
They have adopted the phrase “How ye Now?” to encourage people to always be aware of how people are feeling and encouraging members to acknowledge their feelings.
Oisín admitted that a gambling addiction is much harder addiction than drugs or alcohol to notice as there are not as many outward signs, however he did warn people not to lend any money to someone they suspect may be developing a problem.
Oisín’s address wrapped up a very successful ‘Laois Connects’ week where communities around the county were encouraged to get out and connect with their communities, get active and most importantly not to feel ashamed about speaking about their mental health.
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