The festive period and new year can be an especially lonely and isolating time for people.
That's according to Monaghan resident, Francis Meehan. According to a European Commission report, the Irish are some of the loneliest people in Europe, with 20% of people surveyed reporting feeling lonely "most or all of the time". The European average is 13%. Francis Meehan from Ardaghy says there are events out there to combat loneliness this Christmas. Speaking on the Joe Finnegan show, he says religion, being proactive, and having a great circle of neighbours helped him through a dark patch.
"Naturally I experienced loneliness but thanks be to God, more or less I'm good now and you keep going on. You just thank God for all you've got. But Radio, meeting people, going to events like the carol service I was at last night. It's all good".
