There was a moment in early 2022 when Marie-Claire O’Loughlin’s life changed forever. Like many young people in Ireland, much of the Kilmaley woman’s social life revolved around alcohol and the pub scene.
And, like a growing number of Irish people, she had slowly transitioned, without realising it, from a social drinker to a problem drinker.
Back in those post-covid days, when the country was really starting to let its hair down again, Marie-Claire’s father James intervened and had the difficult conversation that reshaped her life.
Fast forward three years and Marie-Claire’s world has changed utterly. Now living in Dubai, the school teacher has embraced sobriety with zeal, and is now trying to encourage others to give it a try.
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Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and podcaster who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.