Niall McNamee has today penned an emotional piece on his gambling addiction, two years on from his last bet.
The Offaly man publicly confronted his addiction and has today opened up on the stress both he and his family were under, but most importantly how has come out the other side.
In light of other figures in the GAA speaking out over their own personal troubles, McNamee’s story is one that should carry a lot of weight for younger people in particular right around the country and a clear illustration of just how the addiction can take over.
Despite living in a four bed house with a €600 monthly rent, he concedes that he couldn’t even afford a loaf of bread as he was gambling the vast majority of his wages.
“For a brief spell in 2007 I gambled on line and can remember winning €8,000 in three days. I lost that €8,000 in one day,” he says.
From breaking down in front of his father in 2009 and constantly deceiving people in attempt to keep his problems under control, or so he thought, the Offaly man knew that something had to give.
“I had done a lot of things I wasn’t proud of and this was eroding away my soul and my spirit,” he conceded.
His story is an incredibly candid account of his troubles, though McNamee adds how his life has changed since he went to the Gamblers Anonymous, the day after his last bet two years ago today.
Here is his blogpost and we hope his story will help those who find themselves in similar circumstances.
