Southsiders battle mental illness to succeed in business

TWO Southside men have started their own company and patented a number of products, despite simultaneously battling mental illness.

Anthony Doyle, of Blackrock, and David Doherty, of Booterstown, are the driving force behind DNA Concept Design and both have suffered with mental health issues for a number of years.

The innovative men, along with Professor Anthony Robinson in Trinity College, have developed an insulation material that is being used in a number of different ways, from keeping the water in a kettle hot to saving money on heating costs.

One of the products that the pair have developed combats heat loss through the wall of a house, and they claim it can save up to 35 per cent on energy bills.

The ‘Heathug’ is an insulating material that fits down behind a radiator, to keep the heat from escaping through the wall.

The lads have also designed an innovative kettle, that actually retains heat.

As Anthony, the “creative” one of the pair, explained: “We are also bringing out another product in the next month, a kettle that if you boiled it at 8am in the morning, and then came back for another cup of tea at 10am the water in the kettle would still be hot.

“This kettle saves massively on electricity as it only needs to be boiled once in order to have several cups of tea.”

The lads are hoping that their company will generate enough profits so they can put money back into the Acorn Innovation Centre, another one of their ventures.

The Acorn Innovation Centre provides mentally ill people with support and funding to get business concepts off the ground.

Anthony said that they spent a long time trying to secure support.

 “It’s terrible the way mentally ill people are treated in this country,” he said. “The most important thing you can give somebody in this life is purpose. Take away that purpose and they’re just a shell.”

The men have struggled with their mental health for a number of years. Anthony has been a manic depressive while David Doherty suffers from a condition known as hypomania, which is brought on due to high stress levels.

The men are now leading the way for people with mental health problems and are involved in the Troy Social Club in Dalkey, which provides a relaxing environment for people with mental health issues.

They are currently looking for investors and can be contacted on 0877736639.

REPORT: Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh