Cork man's dream to make a film on young people in care

Seán Downey has a big dream: to make a short film inspired by his experiences of the Irish foster care system.

He already has a substantial body of video work. He directed, shot, and edited The Kabin Krew’s massive hit, The Spark.

Downey shadow-directed the hit Cork-set film Christy and worked on The Kabin Crew Christmas Special, which won the Royal Television Society Ireland Award for Best Entertainment.

His latest video, which has more than 160,000 views on TikTok, highlights a significant event in his teenage life.

When Downey was 15 and living with a foster family in Midleton, he created a YouTube video detailing his experience of foster care. Little did he know that he was breaking the law by doing so.

“I wasn’t aware that there was a law that treated kids in care differently regarding telling our stories,” he says.

“When I released the video, it gained attention quickly and was featured on Journal.ie. The Late Late Show reached out to me and asked if I would come on and speak.

“When I notified my social worker, this is when I learned that children in foster care cannot be publicly named, not even by themselves.”

Downey was brought to the court by the State, and after missing eight days of school, he was finally granted permission to leave the video up on YouTube.

His latest video, which has garnered more than a quarter of a million viewers across various platforms, recounts his experiences, and he says he is surprised by how many people are unaware of the laws surrounding children in care.

“Most people aren’t aware of this law. This means the public never gets to hear the positive things that children in foster care do,” he says.

“The only time that we become a national story is when something is wrong. You might hear a news story about a foster kid who did something violent and has run away from home, but why should it all be negative? Why can’t we celebrate the achievements of foster kids?”

Downey, who is now 25, became involved with The Kabin Studio in Knocknaheeny as a child and says the studio’s founder, Gary McCarthy, changed his life.

“If it weren’t for meeting Gary McCarthy at the age of 12, I would not be where I am today. He is a big part of the reason why I am where I am, and why I continue to do what I do.”

The young film-maker was in residential care when he was introduced to McCarthy.

“When I was 12, I had several juvenile cautions. It was decided that I would go to a Garda youth diversion project. They brought Gary McCarthy in every Tuesday for four weeks for a music-making workshop. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I was being looked at as someone with potential. Gary helped me write raps and taught me about recording. I stopped having big outbursts. The minute I felt angry, I would write songs and make music. It changed my life.”

Through discovering this new outlet, Downey moved from residential care and was placed with a foster family in Midleton until he was 18.

Downey stayed in touch with McCarthy, and when he turned 18, he began working with him.

Since then, Downey has worked continuously with the Kabin Studio as a videographer and hosting workshops. He says The Spark, which has gained more than 2.8 billion views online, has given a voice to young people.

“The Sumed Flotilla, which was sailing to Gaza over the last number of weeks, played The Spark on their live stream. What we made in Cork city was bringing hope to people on boats sailing to bring baby formula to children in another part of the world. It shows the magic of listening to young people’s voices and letting young people express themselves.”

Downey says the most important thing anyone can do is to let children be heard.

“When I was 15, I was trying to express myself, and I had my voice almost taken away from me. What happened to me has now travelled across the world on social media. We gave the kids from The Spark the chance to use their voices, and it’s travelling across the world.”

Downey, who has ADHD, autism, and anxiety, says that film is therapeutic.

“Anytime I am facing a difficult moment, I find that making a video about it and coming up with a script and taking it through, setting up my camera and filming is the thing that can help me the most.”

Downey says his short film, Care, will explore the moment when a seven-year-old child thinks he is going out for a regular day with his family, only to realise that he’s actually being taken to foster care. Downey says his experience working on Christy has prepared him to take on his short, but he needs support.

“It was an incredible learning experience getting to work alongside Brendan Canty on Christy. I didn’t have a big background in film. My background is in music videos, but shadowing Brendan allowed me to see how a director’s brain works, and I’m ready to make my first short.

“I am openly inviting collaborators who want to join forces and help me achieve this.

“I shot, directed, and edited The Spark, which was the most viral piece of children’s content to come out of Ireland last year. I’ve proven my track record, now I am trying to find people to help me bring Care to life.”

Discover more about Seán Downey and his videos on social media @SwanIGuess.