A young Dublin man has spoken about his journey through addiction to entrepreneurship, that was inspired by his daughter’s struggles. Now his business helps many families with children going through the same thing
Seán (26), a reformed addict turned businessman, and his girlfriend Clodagh Kelly (24), a native of Ballywaltrim, Co. Wicklow, began their journey into running a business while living in emergency accommodation.
Their business, Goosey Goo, makes affordable hypoallergenic baby clothing, and was inspired by their daughter Éabha (2). While the success of this family-run business marks a major milestone in Seán turning his life around, it has been a long road to reach this tipping point.
A troubled start in Finglas
Originally from Finglas Co. Dublin, Seán was a self-described nerdy kid, who had a tough time at school due to his undiagnosed ADHD and constant bullying. This led Seán on a path of looking to the streets for guidance and set him up for a life of drugs, alcohol and addiction.
At 17, Seán had fell headfirst into addiction.
“I started getting involved with the things that come along with that life and getting involved with things I shouldn’t have,” said Seán. His addiction to cocaine would leave him in and out of stable employment and put in his life in turmoil for years.
His late father also struggled with addiction which left him in and out of Seán’s life during his formative years.
“Nothing could have stopped me going down the path I went down,” said Seán, three years on from the start of his journey into sobriety. He added: “It was my right of passage for me to break the generational curse that was on me and my father.”
While in recovery his old life has come back to haunt him, with Seán ending up in Wicklow District Court on matters that occurred prior to him changing his life around, several times.
Seán Fox and partner Clodagh with baby Éabha. Photo: Goosey Goo
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – August 19th
“I had done so much work to turn my life around, but my past came back to bite me.
“I was living in madness during the addiction, I didn’t care if I died,” Seán added. “I was always speeding, and I deeply regret it because I was putting other people lives in danger.”
Seán does not shy away from the role he played in his downfall, or the consequences that came with it.
“I think the system dealt with me as appropriately as they could. People should pay consequences for their actions. Everyone deserve the right to turn their life around and seek redemption.
“I was lucky enough to meet my partner Clodagh; she believed in me. She has also seen me at my worst.”
Meeting Clodagh and a fresh start
His relationship with Clodagh has allowed Seán “to create a beautiful and happy life for Clodagh and my daughter”.
When Clodagh and Seán moved to Bray in 2022, shortly after the death of his father, it gave him a new beginning and it played a pivotal role in him getting sober.
“Bray gave me somewhere to get away from the madness,” he said. “It was the perfect place to start a new life with Clodagh and Éabha.”
Bray gave me somewhere to get away from the madness
However, this new life began to unravel when a routine dental appointment diagnosed Seán with oral cancer.
The cancer turned out to be benign upon further inspection, but before that discovery was made, Seán was sacked from his job.
“I was told to leave and they needed to hire someone reliable,” Seán said. “I was heartbroken, this was my dream job just snatched away from me.”
Unemployment was the first of many problems that led to Seán and Clodagh becoming another statistic among Ireland’s growing homeless population.
Seán is the oldest of five children and comes from the humble origins of a three-bedroom house in Finglas, a house that was already full when Clodagh and Éabha moved in.
There was so little room that when the threesome first went to stay with Seán’s mother in the old family home, he and Clodagh had to sleep in his car.
Éabha’s eczema sparks business idea
From two months old Éabha had severe eczema, including open wounds. When Seán was employed and Clodagh was on paid maternity leave, they could afford the hypoallergenic clothes needed to manage Éabha’s condition.
“It costs on average of 600 euro every time a child goes up a size and, once we were made homeless, I couldn’t afford it and there were no cheaper alternatives,” said Seán.
Clodagh Kelly and baby Éabha.
The business has been in the works since May 2024, the logistics of trying to start a babywear business from the inside of homeless accommodation proving difficult.
“We spent months researching, endless nights of hard work and learning,” Seán said. “We saved €50 a week from our combined social welfare payments, and I was pushing the business and the concept on LinkedIn and someone from the UAE reached out and donated €4,500. We launched from that day.”
Goosey Goo used social media as a vital part of their arsenal, using it to help promote their products. On the first day of trading they received more than 30 pre-orders.
“I don’t think the addiction had ever left, I think it had just shifted from something bad to something good,” said Seán of how it felt to see those orders coming in.
€12,000 in sales and growing
Goosey Goo has earned €12,000 in sales since they began trading in April 2025. Seán and Clodagh are looking for grants to help scale Goosey Goo grow further, but Enterprise Ireland’s business grant is not available until after 18 months of trading or €30,000 in sales.
When talking about the success that Goosey Goo has been for the young couple, Seán said: “I am still so ashamed of my past and all the people I hurt along the way. I’m so thankful for the community has that got behind us, that includes Bray and Finglas and all around the country.”
Seán hopes for the business to provide a secure income for himself and Clodagh. His goals for Goosey Goo are to “grow and help parents with children with complex skin needs and give them an affordable option, and give back to the homeless community and finally make a social impact”.
A story of hope and transformation
Seán and Clodagh’s journey shows that resilience and determination can turn even the most challenging circumstances into opportunity. From navigating homelessness to building a business that helps families like their own, their story is a testament to the power of change, hard work and hope.
As Goosey Goo continues to grow it not only provides essential support for children with complex skin conditions, but also inspires others facing adversity, proving that even in the darkest moments, a brighter future is possible.