It was the mid 1980s. I was about 12 or 13. We headed off one summer’s evening to the races in Roscommon, where my aunt and uncle had a horse running called New Inn Express. I brought a fiver with me to back him and he won at a price of 10/1. I collected £55 (less tax) from the bookmaker. I remember a man remarking: “That’s a fair whack of money for a gasún.” It sure was. I was beside myself with excitement, not only winning the money but being in the parade ring to greet the winning horse. I pushed the winnings deep in my pocket and couldn’t wait to bring it back to show Granny. It never dawned on me to repeat the thrill in any of the remaining races. Thank God for that.

I received a Christmas present of Tyrone footballer Cathal McCarron’s book 'Out of Control'. It is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read. He was/is a gambling addict. And as we know every gambling addiction begins with one small bet. His life was one of harrowing chaos. He broke into neighbours’ houses to steal money. He robbed from his father, his mother, his girlfriend, his boss.

And most notoriously of all, he took part in a gay porn movie in London so as to get cash to gamble.

I read Paul McGrath’s book, another extraordinary read about how alcohol all but destroyed his life. But alcoholism is a scourge which we hear about every day.

In comparison, I don’t think we have any idea of the horrendous addiction that is gambling if McCarron’s story, among others, is anything to go by.

Only last week, Galway hurler David Glennon appeared in court in relation to the theft of over €60,000 from his employer to feed his gambling addiction.

McCarron’s account was of a life of destruction and despair, which began and festered in the bookie shop. Now all you need is a smartphone to feed the addiction in silence.

Everywhere you look in sport, gambling is unapologetically in your face.

Premier League soccer is drowning in it. Live TV ads mid-match breathlessly offer odds on who’ll score next. And there is any amount of online firms to choose from. You couldn’t have all these new betting firms without new customers and so, inevitably, new addicts. Then there is “the handicap”, a new fashionable buzz phrase which GAA pundits feel they must mandatorily stitch into championship previews.

Since that first race meeting in Roscommon, I’ve always enjoyed going racing a couple of times a year. I was in Leopardstown after Christmas. I had a few bets, enjoyed a few pints and no better man than me to have a day out like that. We are all entitled to a drink or a bet as long as we are in control.

But I couldn’t help but notice the young lads with the Peaky Blinders haircut and Conor McGregor suits. And I wondered how many of them are gambling big? I’m sure they all know about the dangers of binge drinking. What about gambling? Well the way betting is growingly glamorised in mainstream sport unconditionally compared with alcohol advertising, they’d be forgiven for thinking it’s harmless enough. Well, maybe ask Cathal McCarron about that. CL

Homeless crisis

We have a homeless crisis, with over 8,000 people living in emergency accommodation. But there are no “children sleeping on the streets”. Sadly social media doesn’t refuse populist misinformation and that is what allows political opportunists and hysterical nutcases spout irresponsible lies to an impressionable online audience. Proper commentators and politicians have a responsibility to make this important distinction when discussing this issue on more reputable media platforms.

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