Caragh Keane, daughter of famed footballer Roy Keane, recently shared her journey of battling lupus, which left her bedridden for three months, leading her to embark on a health-focused entrepreneurial venture.
At 29, Caragh has successfully launched Superkeen, a range of gut-friendly cereals that are now available in supermarkets across the nation. Her personal health struggles served as a catalyst for developing these nutritious products.
Reflecting on her experience, Caragh recounted how she initially attributed her symptoms to stress. “I was teaching at the time and thought my extreme fatigue was just stress-related,” she explained. “Falling asleep while driving was alarming, but I dismissed it as just being overwhelmed.”
However, her condition worsened to the point where she was unable to move, leaving her confined to bed for about three months. This dramatic shift in her active lifestyle, as she had always been sporty and loved staying active, prompted a reassessment of her health priorities.
‘I was thinking, “God, this is a bit bizarre” But I was just thinking, “Yeah, we’ll see how we go on. It must be stress”.
Caragh Keane (right) has revealed how her father Roy Keane (left) helped her
She launched a healthy cereal after being struck down by suffering from lupus
‘Until I just physically couldn’t move and was essentially bed bound for around three months. So I wasn’t able to teach. And so I was always quite sporty and love being active.
‘So it was a real shock when I just wasn’t able to do those things anymore and that kind of led me to start researching gut health and just overall wellness.
‘I hadn’t heard of lupus before being diagnosed. So it’s one of those things where it was a real shock to hear that.’
Lupus causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue and organs after mistakenly reacting to perceived problems in the body.
One significant way to help treat the auto-immune condition it to eat healthily and Caragh went on: ‘A lot of the time it is the overall like diet, stress management, sleep, which at times I think everyone struggles with different aspects of that.
‘I think for me, a big thing is managing my stress levels. I think I’m a natural overthinker and stress head, but it’s really kind of taught me to just really look at things in my life.
‘I just managed my diet as much as possible, eating real whole foods, nothing processed and really just getting that balance.
‘I think a lot of the time there are really great medications that people rely on for lupus and auto-immune conditions, which are super beneficial.
But her father’s humour has got her thinking positively again, and she has now set up her own brand, SUPERKEEN
‘But I really just did not want to rely on the kind of steroids and a lot of intense medication for the rest of my life.’
Daughter of Man United legend, now pundit, Roy Keane, Caragh says her family have been hugely supportive.
She previously appeared on an episode of the Overlap podcast alongside her father and he showed a softer side.
Reflecting on his family, Roy said: ‘I miss them when they’re away.’
The Manchester City legend has five children with his wife Theresa Doyle, who he married in 1997.
Caragh added: ‘He is the most supportive person but he definitely loves his routine. If that is off-kilter, we know about it!
‘Like if there’s a delivery coming that he is not aware of, oh my, the poor Amazon delivery man!’ with Roy then adding: ‘You would not believe how much we get delivered to the house!’
‘No but he is great. You have your funny moments, don’t you. It’s so good,’ Caragh continued.
Caragh admits she went through a ‘bit of a mourning period’ after her initial diagnosis
Caragh’s healthy cereal brand is now found in national shops and supermarket chains
Roy then recalled the moment Caragh suggested going into business with him, with the pair starting a brand, Superkeen.
He said: ‘When you started you asked me to support you, I said ”Yeah go for it girl”.
‘Then we set up a business meeting… “Can I have some money daddy?” That was the business meeting!
‘I said yeah, take it, whatever you need. It was more than what I thought to get a company up and running, it’s been hard work.’
Caragh added: ‘Do you know what so many people say? He’s a bit of an enigma. But being my dad, he’s just one of the funniest people you will meet. He is so very witty.
‘He’s kind of a unique individual. I’m very grateful to have him, and he’s great to chat to. You’ll always get good advice from my dad.
‘With our Irish background, he’s always very ‘let go of things’ or ‘you’re on a path’ and ‘someone’s looking out for you’. When I’ve been at my lowest, that’s been really helpful.’
