What a Difference a Day Makes: The Happy Pear's Stephen Flynn on a detox that changed his life

Stephen Flynn – one half of the Happy Pear – talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how a chance remark in Leaving Cert, a summer of boozing in Europe and a decision to do a marathon combined to create a change that went beyond lifestyle.

Stephen Flynn of the Happy Pear: "Giving up alcohol, there were uncomfortable moments — I had to change how I socialised. It forced me not to go out on Saturday nights."

When I reflect on key moments in my life, 24 hours that had a significant transformative impact, I think of signing up to do a marathon when I was 21. My best friend, Garreth’s dad, Tommy Kelly, was turning 40 — it was 2001.

I was like, not a bother, I’m all on board — but this was three months before the marathon in October. Myself and my twin brother, David, were finishing college and we went travelling around Europe, and I forgot to train. In Europe we’d drunk enough alcohol to poison someone and when we got back we thought we really should train for this marathon.