CATHERINE WILLIAMSON SAOIRSE WELLAND PODCAST INTERVIEW
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When Leamington’s Catherine Williamson embarked on her new podcast, Gobsmacked! little did she anticipate how much it would reignite her own buried emotions. In this series, she introduces us to some of the guests which have most inspired her.
This month we meet Saoirse Welland from Leamington. Listen back to Saoirse’s podcast interview here: Saoirse Welland - Gobsmacked!
This month marks a deeply personal anniversary for Saoirse Welland – it’s three years since she saw the world – and herself – clearly for the first time.
As a recovering alcoholic at the age of just 29, every day Saoirse is forced to face the demons of a life that has fuelled her addictive personality – and which ultimately nearly killed her.
It was witnessing the death of her little brother Tiarnan that proved to be the catalyst for the years of self-destruction to follow – battling the excesses of drink or drugs as well as an eating disorder, against a chaotic backdrop of grief, trauma and family disunity.
At 7am on December 1st 2011, and just two days before his 12th birthday, Tiarnan was struck by a car as he crossed the road to catch
his school bus on the A423 between Southam and his home in Farnborough.
“Adrenaline kicks in and I just dropped everything and ran to him,” said Saoirse. “I took off my cardigan to keep him warm but I knew in my heart that he was gone. I was screaming down the phone to 999. They asked me to check his pulse and I just remember passing the phone to this bystander. I couldn't bring myself to do it.
“I don't remember seeing car lights so we put it down to a freak accident and I guess I've just got to accept it for what it is, but his reflector jacket that he would normally wear was in his bag.”
“I remember the phone ringing later on and it was the orthodontist confirming Tiernan’s appointment. I just remember saying ‘he’s dead.’ Trinity Catholic School held a vigil that day which I attended but the days afterwards are a massive blur.”
FIGHTING ADDICTION
Saoirse has worked hard on herself, taking nourishment every day from a new-found clarity as she reflects on the life of addiction that’s gone before. She can barely recall a time when she wasn’t lying and deceiving to feed her habit or releasing a wrecking ball on her relationships, while consuming upwards of a litre of booze a day.
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ENTERTAINMENT CATHERINE WI L L IAMSON
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