LIMERICK will be the venue for this year’s annual Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous which will be held in the Castletroy Park Hotel on February 7, 8, and 9 with an open meeting on Sunday 9 at noon.
There will be more than 50 meetings throughout the city and county with a meeting somewhere every night for people in need of support.
The organisation is self-supporting and survives by the voluntary efforts of the members, with no fees other than a collection at the end of meetings of €2 to cover teas and coffee and the use of the venue.
“Meetings usually take place in Social Service Centres, Church basements/halls, School halls, Community halls etc and we are forever grateful to all these facilities who have accommodated AA down through the years and continue to do so,” a spokeswoman said.
“AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
“The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. ”
One member, Louise, shared her experience.
“I was not a fall down drinker, did not start out as a regular drinker. I had a good job, I did not skip work, no matter what state I was in.
“Often, my knowledge of the drinking session was somewhat hazy, and my knowledge of getting home was also hazy, I ended up in strange places, places I would not have been in if I had been sober.”
After failed attempts to quit, Louise went to a psychiatrist for help and he asked if she would consider AA.
” I was appalled and frustrated that this was his best idea. However, I reluctantly agreed to try.
“For a long time, I asked myself what I was doing there, the only thing that kept me going, was the people in there had not drank and were quite happy within themselves. I was not in that position, I was discontented, unhappy, blamed everyone and wanted to keep drinking, and I did not like being told what to do.
“However, I did not drink, I hung in there when some days I wanted to die. I finally accepted I was not able to drink normally, which left me feeling bereft.”
Louise says she got past that and has now been sober for twenty years.
“Alcoholics come from all class of societies, in all shapes and sizes, some are well off, some are not so well off, some drink until they die, others give it up every now and then, and they convince themselves they can give it up any time, until they try.
“It is difficult to give up drinking on your own for a sustained length of time. I know I tried it. I am intelligent, articulate and you would not know that I was alcoholic. But I know it, and so do my family.”
There is a phone helpline available at 085 2406867 for anyone who wishes to talk to another alcoholic about their drinking. This number is given in the Limerick Post Newspaper each week.
Full details and a list of meetings can be got at www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie
