Despite living with COPD, ex hurler can still raise a tune..
Exercise & singing helps Eugene Moylan, 76, to cope with his incurable lung condition
Aformer Clare hurler told how living with COPD is not a life sentence, inspiring those with the debilitating lung condition to live fuller lives. 76-year-old Eugene Moylan played on the Clare Senior Hurling team in the late 60s and 70s and never smoked a cigarette in his life.
Eugene was diagnosed with COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, in 2013.
Until recently, the dad-of-three and proud grandad, had led the exercise class for the Clare COPD Support Group, but now they maintain regular contact by phone.
Eugene told the Irish Mirror: “COPD is not a life sentence, but it’s an incurable disease, you’re not going to get better but by doing lots of exercises, you can contain this illness.
“It affects everybody differently, in my case, I was always fit, hurled and I never smoked in my life.
“I got this cough, I couldn’t shake it off, after a second bout of antibiotics the cough was still persistent, I was coughing on a permanent basis.
“I got referred and passed everything except the pulmonary test, that’s how I was diagnosed.
“I hadn’t a clue what COPD was, when the doctor told me what it was I was shaking to the bone.”
Eugene said he had a choice: “Do you give up or do you fight it?”
He chose to live life to the fullest, he adds: “I did the latter, I fought it, and I’m glad I did because I feel better now than I did 10 years ago.
“If you gave up, you’d live indoors
‘‘ The whole thing took off and we performed in University Limerick with North Tipperary and the Limerick COPD groups, it was the best concert mood booster I’ve ever seen in my life.
and life wouldn’t be worth living. I’ve seen people with COPD on oxygen and they have all sorts of ailments and it’s not a nice sight.
“I said I’d do something about this. “I started a fitness programme on my own, walking and fitness and then a good friend phoned me, he had started the whole COPD Clare branch and we are now one of the strongest groups in the country.”
With 45 different people to train at all levels, Eugene insists it’s a joy to give back, adding: “I do all the exercises with the group in Ennis, we’ve never looked back, you tell them do what they’re able for.”
Eugene’s background in fitness, playing for his own village Clare Castle and for the Clare county, not to mention his rugby days with Bohemians in Limerick meant he was an unlikely candidate to contract the illness.
He admits: “I was always a fit man until this thing struck, the doctor was in shock when I told him I never smoked in my life.
“I’d have a few pints with the lads if there was a rugby or GAA match on, I’d be one of the lads, I’m not a stick in the mud.
“I used to bring my grandkids to school and walking from the car to the gate I’d be knackered and that’s how I knew and then the cough, I felt why am I breathless.
“I was shocked and stunned when I learnt what COPD stood for.” Eugene, along with other members of the group, was also involved in the University of Limerick’s Singstrong project, to help people with COPD sing their way to better lung health through vocal techniques and exercises.
Eugene explained: “The whole thing took off and we performed in University Limerick with North Tipperary and the Limerick COPD groups, it was the best concert mood booster I’ve ever seen in my life.
“The singing really helps your lungs, it’s all about breathing from your tummy instead of your chest.
“We have our sing-songs, we go away on our walks, we work in our group and it’s really great”. Eugene also told how COPD patients are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus’, adding: “Covid 19 would be deadly if any of us were to get it.”
The former Intel worker and athlete says he wishes men in particular would be more open regarding health issues.
He added: “I don’t know whether it’s a macho thing but males in particular are very slow to put their hand up and say something’s wrong with them.
“The majority of our group is made up of women, maybe men are afraid to say they have lung problems but they should be more open, we’re in this thing together.”