Updated at 2.20pm
FIANNA FÁIL SENATOR Ned O’Sullivan has been speaking publicly for the first time about his private battle to give up alcohol.
The Kerry politician says he made the decision around a year ago, and didn’t intend to take a drink again.
Speaking to Radio Kerry this afternoon, O’Sullivan said he had had a turbulent year: he’s also recovering from a bad accident earlier this summer.
O’Sullivan was in hospital in Cork for around five weeks after breaking 12 ribs when he fell in the shower at a hotel in Killarney, when he was on a weekend break.
He also punctured a lung in what he said was a heavy fall, and was treated in intensive care for a time.
Speaking to host Deirdre Walsh on the Talkabout programme today, the politician paid extensive tribute to his medical team.
Asked whether there was a concern the injury could have killed him, O’Sullivan said it “might have been a bit of a worry” at some stage, but that he wouldn’t have been aware of it.
He’s now back at his desk at Leinster House – and though he’s not yet fully recovered he said he was looking forward to the new political term and that, with an election in the offing, there was a “great buzz” about the place.
Battle to quit alcohol
The 64-year-old senator revealed he had also given up alcohol in the last 12 months.
After some “ups and downs” he managed to do so with the help of his family, he said.
“It wasn’t suiting me any more.”
His energy had been flagging before he made the decision to quit for good. He was dealing with a heavy workload at the time, he said.
”I found that I wasn’t effective enough.”
O’Sullivan said he was “really in a good place” now “certainly mentally”.
“I’m 64, and I was a very happy drinker for about 44 years,” he told the presenter.
And while he had enjoyed his drinking, ”I’m enjoying my sobriety now”.
He had immersed himself in party duties since making the lifestyle change, he said – taking on a major role in Fianna Fáil’s successful Carlow-Kilkenny byelection campaign, and focusing on fundraising.
Asked whether he missed the drink, he replied:
“Not now. I missed it in the beginning.”
He added that he had a “new outlook on life” since making the change.
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