Not drowning the shamrock
Sober lifestyle hailed as more go booze-free for Paddy’s Day
A MOVEMENT known as Sober St Patrick’s Day returns to New York for its 13th year – and the alcoholfree trend is gaining momentum here.
Dubliner Stephanie Meagher set up Babes without Beers and now hosts free events with around 6,000 followers on social media.
The 32-year-old told us: “I had to make a change with my drinking habits as I was using alcohol as an unhealthy coping mechanism.
“We have meet-ups for bouldering which is like rock climbing, sea swimming, yoga, market shopping and day trips to Wexford.
“People are becoming more interested in wellness and looking after their mental health. The mad thing about the sober community is people are up for anything.”
Stephanie is hosting a number of sober events over St Patrick’s weekend, including a mini charity shop crawl and brunch, and a hike to Glendalough.
She said: “The obvious benefit is having more money. Your mental health is better, you’re getting better sleep because most of the time you don’t get good sleep when you drink.
“St Patrick’s Day used to be one of the biggest drinking days of the year, but we want to show people you can have fun without a hangover.”
Cavan native Barry Mccaffrey told how quitting booze unleashed his inner drag queen.
Barry, 31, told us: “I was a year sober on the ninth of January.
“I’ve accomplished so much in a year that I wouldn’t have done if I was still drinking.
“When I gave up alcohol I had loads of time.”
Barry, aka Tess Tickles, recently won one of Ireland’s biggest drag contests, Drag Hen’s Den.
He said: “It’s madness how much alcohol had consumed my life.
“On Friday March 15th we’re going up to a drag show at the Roisin Dubh in Galway in Club GASS – I’ll be sober while performing.
“I have an app on my phone called ‘I am sober’ – people can post into it, the messages remind you that we don’t need alcohol to have a good night. I’m the first
I accomplished so much in a year that I wouldn’t have done if I was still drinking
person on the dance floor. My bank account is healthy too and I wake up fresh-headed and I still enjoyed my night and can drive home.”
Tattoo artist Jessica O’dwyer ditched booze in 2021 and now enjoys new hobbies including pole-dancing and aerial hoop.
Jessica, 29, from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, told us: “On Paddy’s Day I’m doing a flea market in the studio with
tattoos and food. A lot of the girls I work with don’t drink.
“I’ll go into the parade sober, and I’ll be doing a pole-dancing class in Tribe in East Wall.”
After quitting alcohol, Jessica lost 22 kilos and found fitness.
She revealed: “I’ll be three years sober in June. I’m coming up on my two-year pole-dancing anniversary.
“Getting sober I had so much energy.
I only started tattooing when I got sober, I could never commit to it as I was always drinking.
“Being sober has left me more confident and has cleared up my skin – you can still socialise and live an even better life sober.
“I’m going to a sober rave this month too – you can do anything without drink.”