Celebrating Milestones in Recovery: Rutland Centre’s 2025 Medallion Ceremony Takes Place
Dublin, September 7, 2025 – As part of Recovery Month, the Rutland Centre’s annual Medallion Ceremony took place this afternoon at the National Concert Hall. The intimate and private event welcomed more than 90 recipients, family members and supporters who have reached milestones in their addiction recovery and reinforced the importance of a strong support system in the recovery process. For most, today’s event marked the important first milestone, but some had reached significant milestones of five, 21, and 33 year anniversaries.
The recipient with the most significant medallion was Michael Woods from Co Dublin, who celebrated 33 years free of alcohol and drugs addiction. Michael’s story is one of hope. Following the death of his grandparents and the loss of a friend who drowned, Michael left school at 12. After 14 years of alcohol and drug abuse that resulted in multiple career changes and a broken family, he entered the Rutland Centre full of self-doubt but desperate for help. Today, Michael has a qualification in psychotherapy and is a counsellor at The Rutland Centre.
Michael commented, "When I entered the Rutland Centre, I had no expectations that I would be in such a different place with such a different mindset 33 years later. After 14 years of active addiction, my life was in ruin. It took time but I eventually realised that I was given a second chance by The Rutland Centre. I used to dread entering the Group Therapy Room when I had to talk honestly about myself. Now I help others work through the process of recovery in that very same room."
The Medallion Ceremony offers a unique opportunity for recipients like Michael and their families to reflect on the progress made in their recovery journeys. It highlights the transformative role of the Rutland Centre in helping individuals reclaim their lives from addiction.
This year's ceremony is particularly significant as it provides a space to celebrate the courage and resilience of those in recovery, while also raising awareness of addiction recovery in Ireland during September’s Recovery Month.
Maebh Mullany, CEO of The Rutland Centre, said: " The Medallion Ceremony is a highlight of our year at the Rutland Centre, reflecting the transformative power of dedicated treatment and ongoing support. Each medallion is more than a marker of time—it stands as a testament to the resilience, courage, and commitment it takes to overcome addiction. These ceremonies honour not only the individuals on their recovery journey, but also their families and the community that supports them, reminding us all of the hope and possibility that recovery brings.”
As one of Ireland’s foremost addiction treatment centres, based in Knocklyon, Co Dublin the Rutland Centre continues to provide a wide range of evidence-based services to support individuals and families impacted by addiction.
The Centre will open a dedicated medically supported inpatient alcohol and cocaine detox unit in the coming weeks with capacity to treat 100 people a year. It marks a significant expansion of the range of services on offer by the Rutland Centre.
The Medallion Ceremony also serves as a reminder of the importance of addiction recovery services in Ireland, particularly as addiction becomes increasingly complex with rising cases of poly-addiction and gambling addiction. Recent trends in addiction further emphasize the importance of the Rutland Centre’s services.
In July of this year, the Rutland Centre issued its 2024 annual report, noting that cocaine and gambling addictions as well as complex multi-addiction cases surged during the past year.
· 94% of residential clients completed the full treatment programme.
· 89% of those who moved into aftercare remained in active recovery.
· 88% of outpatient clients also stayed in active recovery.
· 59 people accessed the Centre’s Stabilisation Group following relapse — with over half successfully returning to mainstream recovery.
· 72 concerned persons, including family members and loved ones, joined the aftercare programme, reflecting the wider impact of addiction on families.
· 89% of those who moved into aftercare remained in active recovery a year later.
· 37% of clients presented with three or more addictive behaviours.
· Over 90 people celebrated one full year of sobriety at Rutland’s annual Medallion Ceremony.
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