New home marks final step in remarkable turnaround for young parents who built business while homeless

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Last time I spoke to Seán Fox (26) and his girlfriend Clodagh Kelly (24), a native of Ballywaltrim, Co. Wicklow, they were beginning their journey into entrepreneurship while living in homeless accommodation and still dealing with outstanding issues Seán had before the courts.

Today, life is very, very different for this young couple.

What began as a desperate search for affordable clothing for their baby daughter has grown into a symbol of survival, redemption and hope for Seán and Clodagh. Their business, Goosey Goo, produces affordable hypoallergenic babywear and was inspired by their daughter Éabha (2), who suffers from severe eczema. Since launching in April 2025, the family-run brand has generated more than €40,000 in sales, a milestone that marks a dramatic turning point in Seán’s life.

For Seán, the success of Goosey Goo represents far more than a business venture. Originally from Finglas, Co. Dublin, his early life was shaped by undiagnosed ADHD, bullying and exposure to addiction, sending him down a path of drugs, alcohol and chaos from a young age. By 17, he was entrenched in cocaine addiction, drifting in and out of employment and living what he now describes as a madness that left lasting consequences.

Now four years sober, Seán previously told me how he rebuilt his life alongside Clodagh and their daughter after a period marked by bereavement, illness and homelessness.

The business continued to grow throughout 2025 and in October Seán agreed a large wholesale deal with an Ireland and UK based baby retailer, which committed to taking stock valued at €40,000.

“I felt like this was it, I finally made it,” Mr Fox said.

Shortly afterwards, a researcher for Virgin Media reached out to the couple after reading the previous article, inviting Seán to appear on Ireland AM, one of the country’s biggest morning talk shows, to tell his story.

“It was kind of crazy, I had my dreams come true,” Seán said.

That dream was short lived when the retailer later pulled out of the deal, informing Seán they would revisit the agreement in six months. No explanation was given for leaving the deal on the table.

“I got too excited for my first big deal. I never tied them into a contract,” Mr Fox said, adding that it was inexperience and a big learning curve.

In preparation for the Christmas rush, Seán took on his largest amount of stock in November.

“I got a lot of online support from people just wanting to help a struggling business,” he said.

To stock his traditional sellers and limited Christmas lines, Seán took on €30,000 in debt. To date, he has cleared half of that bill, with €15,000 in sales.

Throughout the expansion, Seán said Clodagh has been his constant support, helping to prepare orders and working in the warehouse while also raising their daughter.

In December 2025, the couple received a call confirming they would no longer be homeless and would be moving into their own property before Christmas. They moved in on December 10, finally leaving behind their life of hostels and emergency accommodation.

“After being homeless for two years and living in dire conditions, our Christmas was saved,” Seán said.

Describing it as a Christmas miracle, he added: “We had a quiet Christmas. We haven’t even left the house. We are just enjoying being in our own space. Éabha has taken huge leaps in her development. She knows she has her own home.”

The couple shared a video capturing their daughter’s excitement as she entered her new home, which has since amassed more than 500,000 views across social media.

Seán said his goals for the New Year remain grounded, with a renewed focus on returning to the basics that built Goosey Goo in the first place. “We will be focusing on the direct to consumer business and solidifying the brand identity,” he said, adding that he hopes to gain a stronger foothold within the Irish market.

A final boost came when Seán secured a place at the Dublin Loves Christmas Market in the RDS, providing a much needed end of year push. “I was struggling. I was living in survival mode for so long,” he said. “It still feels strange to no longer be the homeless entrepreneur.”

For Seán and Clodagh, Goosey Goo remains a work in progress, shaped by both setbacks and successes, but with a stable home, a growing brand and their daughter thriving.