SIGNIFICANT DIOCESAN CONFERENCE ADDRESSES
THE ISSUE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE & YOUNG PEOPLE

The anxiety felt throughout the country at the increasing problems associated with alcohol abuse and young people was palpable at a recent conference held in St. Patrick's College, Cavan, on Saturday 28 September 2002, which was attended by approximately 300 people from throughout the diocese of Kilmore and beyond.

Photo by Brian Mulligan The conference, entitled 'Towards Changing The Culture - Alcohol Abuse & Young People' was organised following representations made to the Diocesan Pastoral Council from the Diocesan Social Issues Committee through the Council of Priests in Kilmore. A Conference Arrangements Committee under the chairmanship of Seán Coll from Bawnboy, spent nearly two years organising the event. The other committee members were Liam de Paor, Cavan; Sr. Marie Fitzgerald, Ballinamore; Dean David Godfrey, Cavan; Mrs. Shirley Kingston, Royal School, Cavan; Mrs Marie Monaghan, Knockbride; Paul O'Dowd, Ballyhaise; and Thomas Small, Belturbet. The conference was a unique event as it was the first such event organised through the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Council. It was also unique in the sense that it was co-sponsored by the two main churches in the diocese with the support of Bishop Leo O'Reilly and Bishop Kenneth Clarke with financial assistance from the North Eastern Health Board, Cavan County Council, the Northern Provincialate of the Mercy Order, and the North Western Health Board.

The guest speakers included Brian Lenihan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health & Children; Rev. Gillian Wharton, Chaplain & Head of Religious Education at Rathdown School in Glenageary, Co. Dublin and a former Youth Officer with the Church of Ireland in the Archdiocese of Dublin; Rev. Micheál MacGreil SJ, former lecturer in Sociology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and current Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association; John Lonergan, Governor of Mountjoy Jail in Dublin; and D.J. Carey, the well-known Kilkenny senior inter-county hurler. Lucy O'Mordha from Cavan was the M.C. for the day.

Bishop Leo O'Reilly opened the conference and referred to the fact that the title of the conference was based on the conviction that there had to be a radical change to society's attitudes to drink, to drinking, and to getting drunk. He said that future generations would not forgive us if we do not do something to stop the terrible abuse of children and young people that is taking place in our society because of the promotion and consumption of alcohol.

Minister Lenihan pointed out that against the backdrop of the fastest growing economy in Europe, Ireland had the highest increase in alcohol consumption among EU countries during the past decade. Quoting from a recent survey, he said that half of Ireland's young people began experimenting with alcohol before the age of 12 and that by the time they reached the 15-16 age group, 50% of girls and two-thirds of boys were current drinkers - some of them consuming large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis. He referred to the alarming rate of binge-drinking and drunkenness in that age group. The Minister outlined the alcohol awareness campaign currently being run by the Health Promotion Unit at the Department of Health & Children, 'Less is More - Its Your Choice' as well as the Responsible Serving of Alcohol Programme.

Rev. Gillian Wharton spoke movingly of experiences she has had in relation to the abuse of alcohol by young people. She said that we do not need to change the culture of alcohol abuse among young people but we need to change the culture of alcohol use and abuse in Ireland throughout every age, class, and area, at home and in the pub. 'It is not something our young people have invented. It is what we have passed on to them. No one section of society can even attempt to correct it. It requires government, parents, schools, pubs - their owners and staff, and all of us to look at the alcohol culture we are in and to change it'.

Fr. MacGreil, in his address, said that 'change' and 'culture' were central concepts in the theme of the conference. He said that these concepts were wisely chosen and lay at the root of the emerging social problem of alcohol abuse among young adults and youth in our society. He pointed out that culture underpinned human behaviour just as our behaviour reflected our culture. 'Since role models play a very important part in determining young people's behaviour, there is need to re-examine the over-emphasis on alcohol in adult recreation. The State's permissive role in regulating the sale and promotion of alcoholic drink also requires re-examination', he said.

In a wide-ranging and captivating speech, John Lonergan addressed the issue both as a parent and as someone involved in the Prison Service for over thirty years. He said that parents and adults were role models but there was more to the issue of alcohol abuse and young people than culture, than role models and the law. He asked why did young people need to drink and drink to excess. 'Unless we address that issue', he said, 'I think we are going to lose it completely'. He said that he believed if there was no alcohol allowed, people would still get it. 'Young people create their own culture. It is a personal culture and it is one that is very difficult for us adults to break into.' The problem of indulgence and over-indulgence in alcohol, he suggested, may also be about rebellion. He said that it was difficult to change culture and that it is a slow, frustrating process with opposition and insecurity around. It was also his opinion that peer acceptance was a very big factor and that young people found it difficult to say 'No'. He regretted the fact that Guinness had become the main sponsors of the All-Ireland Hurling Championships and commented that we have sold out for money. He said that it was wonderful to see people getting enjoyment out of something that was non-alcoholic and non-drugs related. He spoke of his experience in Mountjoy who 'had more talent in the top of their little finger than the rest of us and there was immense satisfaction in making contact with that person and helping them realise their real talents'. He concluded his address by saying, 'It is about a little recognition, a little bit of humanity. It is about opening doors and giving people an alternative.'

D.J. Carey said that abstinence from alcohol had been of great benefit to him personally - both as a hurler and also in terms of providing him with the physical resilience to overcome a recent serious illness. He proved to be a great role-model for the many young people present at the conference and he was surrounded by many of them afterwards looking for his autograph and also for advice on how to be good sportspeople.

During the afternoon, a number of workshops were held on a variety of themes, including These were facilitated by representatives of the Community Addiction Service in Monaghan, Foroige, Young Pioneers, the Aisling Project in Ballinamore, the No-Name Club, Rev. Paul Whittaker and his team from Portadown, and Gene Murphy, former Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer in Cavan.

Following the workshops, there was an interesting panel discussion chaired by Patsy Lee of Northern Sound in which Garda Michael Mulvey, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Cavan; Sr. Patricia Allen from the Accident & Emergency Department at Cavan General Hospital; Patricia Griffin, the well-known athlete from Ballinamore; Jacqueline Maloney, a solicitor form Cavan; two students from the Royal School in Cavan, and D.J. Carey participated.

In his closing remarks, Bishop Kenneth Clarke thanked all those involved in organising the conference, those who addressed the delegates, facilitated the workshops, or who helped out in any way. He said that he was coming away with a number of key points from the conference which he summarised as follows:

  1. Addiction and Affluence - we live in an addictive culture and it is interesting that the dramatic rise in teenage drinking has coincided with 10 years of unprecedented affluence in Ireland. Teenagers have more money than ever before.
  2. Culture in Crisis - if 30% of 15 year-old boys are deliberately getting drunk at least three times a month and 40% of adults in Ireland are consuming alcohol at levels damaging to their health, then we are in a culture of crisis. We need to understand why young people are doing it. Is it just peer pressure or peer acceptance? Are there deeper issues which relate to identity, feelings of significance, value, and self-worth?
  3. Transition and Transformation - the Church is called to be an agent of transformation in a culture which is in transition. Alongside parents, teachers, social workers, community workers and all who care, we can make a difference. We can make an impact. We can be an influence in changing the culture. He summarised these three points by pointing out that the first letters of each key point spelt 'ACT' which was the key to the future.
It was encouraging to see a large number of young people present representing both parishes and second-level schools in the diocese. Also noteworthy was the presence of a large number of public representatives at the conference along with parents, teachers, clergy, pastoral council members and others concerned at identifying the complex issues relating to alcohol abuse and young people. The conference was the focus of much media attention locally and nationally as well.

It is planned to run another similar conference at a future date to determine if any moves have been made towards changing the culture in Ireland and locally.

A video of the conference proceedings has been produced and a conference report is also being compiled. Anyone wishing to obtain copies should contact Seán Coll, 'Carraghmoyle', Mullaghmore, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan, for an order form.

Photographs by Brian Mulligan.