PART 1. From darkness into light: Allstar Ronan McNamee opens up on his battle with depression – CREDIT – Cahir O’Kane, The Irish News

Three weeks ago, Ronan McNamee became Aghyaran’s first ever Allstar. In the first part of an incredibly candid interview, he talks about his journey from the depths of depression and his recovery and the pinnacle of sporting excellence. Cahair O’Kane writes…

“Not all those who wander are lost”

JRR Tolkien

YOU will find that quote tattooed on the back of Ronan McNamee’s arm, beneath the faces of two lion cubs. The handwriting is his mother’s. It’s one of five tattoos down his left arm that will eventually become part of a full sleeve. There’s a lion and a wolf, a compass, a map of Ireland. They’re all hidden up in behind the half-rolled up sleeve of his checked shirt. The most recent pokes out through. “This is the Celtic Goddess of War,” he says, pointing to the unfinished art. His performances this year were ravenous. From Patrick McBrearty through Ben McCormack, Dara McVeety, Conor Cox, Brian Hurley and David Clifford, his displays have made him Aghyaran’s first ever Allstar. The idea of such an accolade couldn’t have seemed further removed just under four years ago. Struggling with depression, he had come to the conclusion that there was no way out of the hell that his mind was trailing him through, day after day. He wanted to get away from it all. Football, family, friends, team-mates. Ronan McNamee’s demons wrapped themselves so tightly around him that he wanted to get away from life itself. “It’s mad like… I went and bought a set of knives out of Argos in the Showgrounds in Omagh. “And the process you have to go through in there – you have to pick them, you have to write it down and then you’ve to wait on them. “You can’t go in and buy them and be out in 10 seconds after doing it. I had time, loads of time, to unthink it. “I went to the car park in Omagh Hospital and cut my wrists.” 

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