Organisers hope festival will make spirited return

At a time when numbers of those availing of addiction services are up, Gearoid Teevan believes events providing an outlet free from drugs and alcohol deserve more support.

Gearoid and his wife Lorraine are the driving forces behind the Healing Spirit Festival along with a community group called Drummany Spirit, a reference to the organic farm which provided the idyllic setting.

However they regrettably had to cancel this year’s event which was scheduled for this Bank Holiday weekend. The couple had staged two artistically successful festivals at the Milltown venue, but had also incurred a significant financial loss.

Gearoid notes the recent news headlines documenting a spike in demand for addiction services. For example the Rutland Centre, one of the country’s leading addiction treatment centres, reported a rise in cocaine in their annual report for 2023, and the highest ever demand for ‘bed nights’, reflective of the need for comprehensive addiction treatment and support services.

“All these conversations are happening, and yet the one conversation that should be happening is preventative measures,” says Gearoid.

Gearoid’s own journey from addiction to recovery had provided the inspiration for the Healing Spirit Festival. Reflecting on this Gearoid observes: “We’re human beings, we need that social connection and when that’s broken, it’s very easy to get hooked on a substance to fill that void and it leads you down a very destructive path.”

Creating room for social connection is where Gearoid saw the true value of Healing Spirit Festival.

“It was providing the sacred space on this land, that’s truly so peaceful and tranquil, where people will get that connection. It could help them gain a different outlook on life and in turn not lead them down an addictive path.

“The fact that it’s no alcohol, no drugs it brings a new buzz to their experience and lets them understand that there is potential to enjoy a social event in a totally sober and clear-minded atmosphere.

“That’s where the break through will happen for people. You don’t necessarily have to be in addiction in order to experience that.

“I’ve had conversations with people who would like to go somewhere and not feel like they have to have a drink in order to be in the surroundings. That event offers that.

“I honestly thought it was going to be better supported.”

He is grateful to those who did support them, to the local businesses to helped out and their neighbours who supported them, especially Daniel and Amanda Brady and family.

The third instalment of the Healing Spirit had confirmed the return of Liam Ó Maonlai as the musical headliner and a host of talks which included national treasure Michael Harding and celebrated writer Shane Connaughton. Yet the slowness of advance ticket sales made the couple fearful they could endure another significant hit. As such they “couldn’t commit” to seeing it through.

Gearoid suspects that their unique selling point of being drink and drugs free also proved a setback in ticket sales. Equally the ongoing cost of living crisis possibly impacted, as did the Irish summer. Weather had played havoc with the 2023 festival, and Gearoid believes that dampened demand for advanced sales.

“Weather is so unpredictable, and they want to see what the weather is going to be like [before buying tickets],” Gearoid surmises.

Torrential rain forced them to reschedule Healing Spirit from August to early September on health and safety grounds.

Despite this year’s setback, Gearoid is nevertheless hopeful the drug and alcohol free event will return next summer.

“We are going to have a conversation with the local authority and see if there is another avenue to explore funding,” said Gearoid.

They will also stress to their large social media following that if they want Healing Spirit 2025 to take place they will have to confirm their support by buying tickets in advance.

“I’d ask everyone who really feels strongly they want to be there to commit and purchase a ticket - that’s how simple the whole process is. You commit to it and we’re able to run it.”