Offaly man's 'second chance' at life to be shown on TV this weekend

An Offaly man who battled severe depression in recent years agreed to tell his story on camera in the hope it might help others going through a similar period of crisis in their lives.

Joe Gallagher, from Daingean, will be featured on the fourth and final episode of the reality TV series Second Chances on Virgin Media One this Sunday (January 28) at 9pm

The show, directed by Birr native Nicky Larkin, is described as taking "seven individuals, who have hit rock bottom, on a journey to find their better selves".

Speaking to the Offaly Independent this week, Joe explained the background to his involvement with the series.

"I went through a marriage separation, nearly four years ago now, which was totally unexpected. I got into a very bad depression and I wasn't in a good place for a long time," he said.

He was referred to the MenPower programme, run by Offaly Local Development Company in Tullamore, which is designed to help men who feel, lost, confused or lacking direction.

"I went to MenPower and learned a lot from it," said Joe. "It's a great programme to go to when you are in that sort of place."

After finishing the course, he got a call asking if he might be willing to take part in Second Chances.

"I was very 'iffy' about it at the start, but I thought to myself it might be a good opportunity to take me out of my shell a little bit and push myself. At that stage, I was willing to try anything to better my cause."

The series, hosted by transgender woman Rebecca Tallon De Havilland, takes the participants through some immersive experiences. In Joe's case, one of these experiences was getting into an ice bath!

"The ice bath was one of those things I kind of had done before I realised it. It was a bit of a shocker to say the least!" he said.

He was filmed at a theatre in Tallaght, taking part in a confidence building exercise, and was also taken to a sensory garden in Carlow.

"The sensory garden was about getting out into nature and rooting yourself a bit to help you calm down," he explained.

"I've suffered from bad anxiety in the last few years, but I'm in a position now where I have the tools to help me deal with stuff."

Joe will be seeing the episode for the first time when it's aired on Sunday, and said he was feeling both nervous and excited about that.

"I saw myself on the ad (for the episode) the other night, and I thought, 'Jesus!' The nerves were kicking in!

"People are ringing and texting me now and again, to ask about it. I'm nervous but excited at the same time.

"I still have a bit of worry about how people might react to it. Some people who know me mightn't even realise what a bad place I was in," he said.

"Hopefully it can show people that, even though you're in a dark place, if you work on yourself you will get there.

"Just hang in there. It might be small steps, but you'll eventually get to your goal. It's not that everything is perfect all the time for anybody, but you can learn how to deal with things better.

"I did everything in my power to give myself a chance to help myself. Because, to be honest, if I didn't do that it wasn't going to end well. A few years ago I just didn't want to exist.

"But I am glad I hung in there and helped myself. I really am.

"There are bad days, and everybody has bad days, but there are good days to come as well. You have to think of things that way," he said.

* Joe Gallagher will be featured on 'Second Chances' on Virgin Media One this Sunday at 9pm.