'Only for one person I think I’d be in prison': Cork filmmaker shining a light on 'broken' foster care system

Seán Downey aka ‘Swan’, who remembers the frustrations of growing up in foster care and the hurdles he faced, speaking at the Kabin Studios in Knocknaheeney. Pictures: Chani Anderson

An award-winning Cork filmmaker who spent almost a decade in care said he wants to use his talents to shine a spotlight on the “broken" foster care system.

Seán Downey, aka Swan, was the filmmaker behind Kabin Crew’s hit The Spark, which went viral after its launch, racking up an astonishing 2.8bn views.

The track was performed by children aged between nine and 12 from the Kabin Crew in Cork and the Lisdoonvarna Crew — a group of children living in refugee accommodation in the Clare town.

It went on to earn praise from artists like Stormzy, Becky Hill, and Tove Lo, and led to two Grammy longlist nominations.

Seán, aged 26 — who now has his own production company — said he spent eight years in the care system where he was nurtured by a music producer.

“Only for one person who didn’t see me as troublesome, I think I’d be in prison or on the streets begging now,” he said.

I was in foster care from the ages of 10 to 18 and it was very, very tough. But I met someone there who saw talent in me.

“I was in a residential centre at the start, by the time I was there I had 11 cautions. I had to attend a Garda youth diversion project in Tralee and started making music at 12.

“Garry McCarthy, who is the creative director of the Kabin Studio, came up for four weeks in 2012 — it was the first time someone said I was creative, rather than difficult. Adults saw me as a problem; he saw me as a person with talent."

From the age of 12 to 16, Seán developed his musical talents and made videos and music.

“You’re always going to be angry going into care,” he explained, “You will have to get on with it and live with it. I was angry.

“I was very confused, it is very hard to separate your emotions at that age, you don’t understand what you’re feeling.” 

At the age of 15, Seán was hauled before the courts by the State for eight weeks for breaching the in-camera rule — a law that protects the identity of children in care.

Seán Downey is currently working on a short film about the care system called 'Care' and is looking for a producer and production company to come on board to help.

The State launched proceedings after Seán posted a video on YouTube documenting his life in care, which went viral at the time. The State argued Seán was in breach of the in-camera role through the video

“The State dragged me to court over it. YouTube would not take down the video and so as a result I ended up in court," he explained.

“Around this time, we were also just celebrating as a nation 100 years since the Proclamation.

“I pointed out to the judge how hypocritical it was that we were celebrating it literally outside of the court.

“People were talking about that and yet they were treating me differently to every other child in the country. I was not penalised in the end for it.”

After turning 18, Seán was allowed to leave foster care and entered the after-care system.

Despite having his own accommodation and an allowance while attending college — which is part of the criteria for the after-care system, Seán hit a major low point.

One minute you’re in care and then you are out on your own.

“I developed a drink and drug addiction and was getting into fights, I had no clue how to survive on my own. I was not in a good mental state to make any decisions.” 

In a statement, Tusla said: "When a young person leaves care, Tusla’s Aftercare teams work in partnership with all interested parties, in particular the young person themselves, to try to ensure that their transition out of care is supported and guided, and they have the opportunity to reach their potential as an adult."

However, in 2021, he decided to get sober and to try and earn a living off his music.

He reconnected with Garry McCarthy of the Kabin Studio, who was the producer of The Sparks, and the rest, as they say, is Grammy history.

Seán Downey working behind the camera at the Kabin Studios in Knocknaheeney.

“I ended up making the video for that, if me and Garry weren’t put together when I was 12, I don’t know what my life would be now.

“That was that one caring adult. Garry is the person who suggested to me to do this.” 

The Kabin Studio is a community project for young people, which is currently hoping to become a not-for-profit charity.

“It is a fantastic place,” according to Seán. "It’s the northside of cork, and it helps with music videos, acting workshops, a great community space for everyone in the Knocknaheeney end of Cork City."

Today, Seán runs the SwanIGuess Production company, which he started four years ago and helps communities to tell their stories through video.

He also directed and shot the music video that features in the recently released film Christy, which he also helped write the script for.

“At the moment, the company is heavily reliant on client gigs, not the biggest paid jobs. I work with it, and I go from job to job. Now I am really trying to develop my own ideas, and I have a few ideas for a kids TV programme.” 

His passion, though, is to create awareness about the foster care system and engage with young people on the issue. He is currently working on a short film about the care system called Care and is looking for a producer and production company to come on board to help.

A video he recently released detailing his battle with the State aged 15 went viral on TikTok and Instagram, and has convinced Seán of the need to shine a light on the care system. 

He is also calling for a radical overhaul of the Childcare Act 1991, saying it is “outdated” and “does not reflect society today".

When you hear the stories that are coming out of children in care, I do think it is a broken system, but I am lucky that system worked in my favour.

“The story about me in court over the in-camera act – that could have destroyed someone else completely.

“The Childcare Act 1991, is old, how are we telling people in care to live their lives based on a law from back then?"

Tusla said it is actively engaged with the DCDE on "informing both revisions and new innovations within the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025 and we understand that government approval is to be sought before year end".

Seán also said it was “outrageous” that parts of the care system are privatised.

“That to me makes no sense whatsoever, the idea what we are privatising the foster care system, which means we are making a profit from kids in care.

“That is completely wrong, that should not be happening. I would also like to see less of a restriction on the in-camera rule — the idea that a teenager can’t tell their own story until they are 18 is bizarre."

“So many different elements of the system are broken, it needs a complete overhaul.

At the end of July 2025, there were 5,835 children in the care of the State.  At the end of Q2 2025 there were 2,984 young people in receipt of aftercare services. Of these, 2,267 were 18-22 years of age and 194 were under 18 years of age.

In a statement, Tusla – Child and Family Agency said itdoes not comment on individual cases. "When a child or family enters into a relationship with a public service such as Tusla, they are entitled to expect that information generated in that relationship is treated in confidence and remains private. This is critically important in the subject matters which Tusla is involved."

CORK

Your home for the latest news, views, sports and business reporting from Cork.