Hugh Wallace Was Relieved To Be Told He Was An Alcoholic
Hugh Wallace has spoken about the 'relief' he felt to be told he was an alcoholic, saying that it meant he could turn his life around and be given a 'second chance'.
The architect, who is currently on TV screens on Home Of The Year, has spoken openly about his battle with alcohol in recent years and revealed in 2022 that he'd 'fallen off the wagon' during the pandemic.
Speaking on RTÉ Upfront on Monday, Hugh recalled the first time he was labelled an 'alcoholic' by his doctor and how he knows he's lucky that he had the money to get help.
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) March 25, 2024Hugh said: 'I can't describe how stupid I felt at the age of 55 going to the doctor and he, [was] the first person who said you're an alcoholic. At that moment, the relief.
'My family knew what was wrong with me, I know that sounds really stupid and I'm sorry about that, but the relief of knowing that I wasn't going to die, the relief that I could get treatment and change my life around, and that's what happened.'
He continued: 'I was given a second chance at life but I was lucky because I had the money to deal with it. Today, there are no resources. If today you decide you're going to stop drinking you have to be able to have support at that moment and there is none.'
The conversation on RTÉ Upfront came as host Katie Hannon, Kieran O’Donnell TD, and Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, chatted about the plans for pubs and nightclubs to have longer opening hours.
Hugh Wallace on RTÉ Upfront with Katie Hannon. Pic: Hugh Wallace / InstagramMayo GAA star Padraig O’Hora also called for a ban on all marketing of alcohol brands in regards to sports, saying: ‘Just because they put a zero zero sign besides Guinness or Heineken, they are still marketing off sports.'
Speaking about his drinking in 2022, Hugh said he wasn't afraid of using the word 'alcoholic' and has no 'shame' about the label.
Hugh Wallace. Pic: Hugh Wallace / InstagramHe told the RTÉ Guide: 'It gives you confidence. I am an alcoholic. It is a disease. I don't have any shame. Why should I? If you are open and honest it peels off a layer and you don't have to pretend anymore.'
Hugh has also credited his husband Martin with staying with him during his 'darkest' days. The couple have been together for almost four decades and are currently renovating their Dublin home.
Hugh Wallace and his husband Martin Corbett. Pic: Hugh Wallace / InstagramHe previously told Ryan Tubridy's radio show: 'Martin doesn’t give out to me, he acknowledges these things happening and he doesn't berate me. We're 35 years together, he's lived with me during my darker days, my very dark days back eight or nine years ago. He stuck with me, how he stuck with me I don’t know...
'You must hold your hand out to an alcoholic and try and assist them. That doesn't mean you have to be complacent with their drinking. What you're saying is "if you’re going to drink that's fine but you’re not going to affect me".'
