Sat. Nov 9th, 2024
‘Explaining gambling to someone who’s not addicted is hard. They say why can’t you just stop?’

Hidden among the units of an industrial estate outside Waterford is Tony O’Reilly’s office, a paragon of order and neatness. The walls are pristine white. The armchairs where he sits with clients as an addiction counsellor are spotless yellow; the rug is a blend of yellow, white and grey geometric shapes. His books are stacked immaculately on the shelves. His partner Darina shares the space as a therapist for adolescents and is responsible for the decor, he says. But it suits him too.

“I like order. Elements of that played a part in the gambling. Elements of that played a part in my recovery as well.”

It is a blend of the calm and chaotic that has shaped O’Reilly’s life. When he was younger, before

By Xplayer