Woman stubs out habit of a lifetime to take prize

Evelyn Ring

The 58-year-old Dublin woman quit last February but three months later her husband, Noel, 63, also a smoker, suffered a brain haemorrhage and Rose was "that close" to lighting up again.

For two days she had no idea where Noel was because he had no identification on him when he was taken to hospital.

"During that time I was sorely tempted to smoke but resisted the urge. Noel is recovering at home and is doing very well. I am so pleased that I overcame the urge to smoke," said Rose, winner of the Nicorette Quit award.

Nollaig Tubbert, a finalist in last year's competition and a work colleague, persuaded Rose to quit for the sake of her health.

Rose, from Tallaght, was also inspired to stop after seeing the effect on her sister, Kathleen Kelly, who was diagnosed with emphysema after smoking for 59 years. "It was time for me to get sense and quit, while I was ahead," she said.

Just knowing how hard it is to quit has kept Rose from relapsing and that's good because she lives with two smokers her husband and brother-in-law, Joseph Muldowney.

She now hopes to encourage them both to quit. "I would not force anybody to quit smoking because it is so hard. That's why I have stayed stopped because I have no intention of going down that road again."

Rose feels much better mentally and physically since quitting. She has more energy and has seen a big improvement in her skin and overall appearance.

She also saved the 40 a week she used to spend on cigarettes in the post office and this Sunday will be heading off on a well-earned holiday to Lanzarote with her two nieces.

Rose can also look forward to another holiday for two in Portugal later in the year her quit award presented to her in Dublin yesterday by TV presenter Marty Whelan, and chair of this year's panel of judges.

The catalyst for Marty to quit was a letter written to him from his then seven-year-old daughter asking him when he was going to stop smoking and when was he going to die. It took him another two years to quit for good.

The four runner-ups in the awards were John Brophy from Birr, Co Offaly, Christina Grogan from Naas, Co Kildare; Pauline McDonagh from Castlebar, Co Mayo and Michael

Delaney from Leixlip, Co Kildare. All received a prize of a weekend away in Ireland for two people.