It’s all sweaters and smiles for Suzie and Eddie
Suzie Monaghan is Dublin’s queen of cashmere while her husband, Eddie Goggins, is a successful dentist, writes Andrea Smith
IF Coppers is where people meet each other these days when they’re not on Tinder, the romantic hearts of the 1980s used to frequent basement clubs in Leeson Street into the wee small hours. Suzie Monaghan and her husband Eddie Goggins are typical of a young couple of that time, as they met at Leggs in 1989 when they were 21.
“My friends and I had only arrived and were standing on the steps, when Eddie came over and asked me to dance,” Suzie recalls. “He was a dentistry student and the champagne on offer was crazily expensive, so he got us a jug of orange juice instead, which cost around £15.”
Eddie wasn’t looking for a wife that night and had to gather his courage to approach Suzie, but once he spotted her, he immediately made his move. “Unusually, I didn’t hesitate, because she was clearly the most stunning girl in the place and I knew she wouldn’t be standing on her own for long,” he says. “She was way out of my league, but there was a chance there and I took it.”
Suzie and Eddie chatted for the night, and when her friend Moira asked if she had invited him to another friend’s party the following night, Suzie kicked her under the table because she hadn’t decided if she wanted to bring him. “Unfortunately, Eddie saw me kicking her, and still reminds me of it to this day,” she laughs. Happily, Cinders-Eddie went to the ball, and the young couple became an item. They were together for six years prior to getting married, three of which were spent dating long-distance as Eddie was working in the UK. After their wedding reception was over, they went to Leggs at the end of the night, back to where it all began. It is still open, and these days has a full and reasonably-priced bar!
Suzie is from Leopardstown and is the youngest of Teresa and Tom Monaghan’s four children. Her dad Tom owns Monaghans Cashmere in Royal Hibernian Way, and her beloved mum, whom she describes as “strong, soft and caring” has sadly had Alzheimer’s for 11 years. She is cared for at home, and the family consider themselves fortunate that they can keep her with them. After boarding at Mount Sackville, Suzie did a secretarial course and worked at several jobs, including as a PA in banking and driving the FM104 promotional jeep. She was working in Minnie Peters when she met Eddie.
He grew up in New York until he was 12, and then his family moved to Roscommon, which was a massive culture shock. His mum Ita is from Galway and she had moved to New York to work as a nurse, and met his late dad Michael, whose parents were Irish. Eddie is the second-youngest of their six children, although sadly his brother John passed away in an accident when he was only eight and Eddie was seven. His dad died four years ago and his “amazing” mum now lives in Naas. Eddie went to boarding school at St Nathy’s in Roscommon, and to Trinity to study dentistry. He set up his practice 17 years ago, and it has just rebranded from Cabinteely Dental Care to Dublin 18 Dental Rooms. There are three other dentists and a visiting oral surgeon.
Now both 48, Suzie and Eddie have two children, Hailey 19, and Eddie, 16. Hailey is in first year of marketing and French at DIT, and Eddie is in fifth year at Blackrock College. Becoming parents happened quicker than they had planned, as Suzie discovered she was pregnant when they were married six months and she was in the middle of a diploma in interior design. “I didn’t know how to tell Eddie so I bought a card and literally just wrote, ‘We’re pregnant’ on it and left it on his desk for when he came in,” she laughs.
Suzie worked in interior design for a few years, and was responsible for the redesign of Eddie’s dental practice. She has been working with her dad at Monaghans Cashmere for the past four years. The store was founded by her parents in 1960, with the aim of selling the most luxurious cashmere and woollen garments, and is renowned for the lovely personal touch customers receive, and the high quality of the cashmere.
Suzie has just designed her own women’s sweater range, Suzie Monaghan Cashmere, which she describes as classic with a bit of a contemporary twist. The cashmere comes from the cashmere goat from inner Mongolia. The goats are treated extremely well and the cashmere is sourced by brushing their necks and bellies, where the softest hair grows. Her range has five gorgeous pieces in many colours, and she is looking to expand to baby, interior and male ranges next year.
While life is busy, Suzie and Eddie walk their dogs, Coco and Roxy, together, which allows them to catch up. They also have a date night on Fridays after the busy week. They say they are both stubborn, but Suzie still thinks Eddie is gorgeous and loves that he is humble. “I know he adores me, and he is kind and generous.”
“I’m full of energy, but Suzie steers me,” Eddie chimes in. “She’s a people person, and genuinely has a really great heart and loads of passion. You could never have a dull day with Suzie in your life.” www.monaghanscashmere.ie www.dublin18dentalrooms.ie
‘I didn’t hesitate as Suzie was clearly the most stunning girl in the place’