Áine O’Gorman is just 34 years old and has already amassed an impressive CV of achievements in Irish football.
The defender made the decision to retire from the international team earlier this year, having secured her 119th cap for Ireland at the Women’s World Cup.
Our November cover star’s career will serve as an inspiration for many young women and girls to come, who aspire to reach the honourable heights of representing our country on the world stage.
Áine sat down with us as part of the November Digital Cover to chat about her route to success via the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, her inspiration and plans for the future.
Starting out
Áine admitted that starting out, she played football because she had an older brother who she used play with at the local pitch.
Having realised her love of the sport young, she quickly moved on to play for Stella Maris with the girls team – marking the beginning of what would be a great football career.
“I suppose, I took up football because I have an older brother and we used to play down at the local pitch in the bog meadow in Enniskerry and in the garden,” Áine said.
“Then I suppose my love of football was properly realised when I was finished playing with the boys and I started playing with Stella Maris with the girls team.
“That’s when I started getting the opportunities to represent representative teams and opportunities to play for Ireland.”
Having made the decision to retire from international football, some would think it was a hard choice to make, however, Áine said there could not have been a better time to step away.
“It actually probably wasn’t a difficult decision at all to be honest,” she said. “I think to reach a World Cup was a dream come true for me and something probably I never thought would happen in my career.
“So yeah, that made it an easy decision, just to go out on a high you know. I’m 34 years of age now with 119 caps and to live the dream was amazing.”
Making it to the World Cup
Áine was part of the women’s international team that made it all the way to the World Cup in Australia.
It’s an incredible moment for any football player to represent their country on the world stage, and the Girls in Green did the country proud.
Speaking about her time playing Down Under, Áine said: “It was amazing that I got to start the second game against Canada, albeit how the result went in the end, and I was just so privileged and honoured to be in that position to get to a World Cup and to take to the pitch as well.”
Eileen Gleeson is currently the interim manager of the Irish team and has won her first three matches. Some believe she could be the long term replacement for Vera Pauw but Áine thinks that decision is yet to be made.
“I know Eileen really really well. I think she’s doing an amazing job and in the first two (now, three) games in charge and she has surrounded herself with a really good team of people.
“I think she’s well qualified for the job and obviously very passionate as an Irish person, so obviously that decision is down to the FAI and to Eileen personally and whether she wants it to take the role on full time.”
Speaking about the team’s chances going forward to represent Ireland at the upcoming Euro 2025 tournament, Áine said:
“It’s dependent on a draw but I think obviously the experience of being at a World Cup is invaluable to the team and playing at high level games.
“There’s a really good opportunity in the nation’s league I think to play possession-based style football and to be able to control the game, so I think the group of players is fantastic and it’s up to them to break the ceiling.”
Highlights
Understandably, the 34-year-old’s favourite memory throughout her career was playing at the World Cup – an experience she won’t soon forget.
“I think my favorite memory has to be going out and representing Ireland at a World Cup in that game against Canada and just taking to the pitch. I’ll never forget singing Amhrán na bhFiann in the opening game against Australia, in Sydney.”
The effects of making it to the Women’s World Cup will have a great impact on the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division in Ireland according to O’Gorman, who said:
“I think we have to really capitalise on the success of the women’s national team with that exposure and the fact that the team reached a World Cup.
“I think since the stand in 2017 at Liberty Hall and that threat to strike, I think the FAI backed us since then and the team got the resources and the platform to perform and obviously the backing of major sponsors coming in, like SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, just to give that exposure and the games being live on RTE.
“Like that first game against Northern Ireland that was in the Aviva Stadium and was nearly a sellout, it was just amazing to see and I think it goes back to that whole can’t see it can’t be it.”
SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division
Áine credits the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division for helping her along the way and for being a launch pad for her career in Irish soccer.
“I think obviously since we have the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, it gave better representation around the league – it strengthened the league, and strengthened the standard of domestic football here in Ireland.
“Obviously Shamrock Rovers coming in this year as the first professional team and the status in the league has obviously helped me along the way.
“I think I’m probably proof that if you work hard and you’re in the league that you can go out on to the world stage and represent your country.”
The benefits of the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division can be seen across the board with the improvements in the opportunities for young women and girls and Áine says there’s even more to come.
“I think there’s more and more opportunities becoming available.
“The growth of women’s football throughout the world is on the up constantly and the amount of young girls that even come out here to Tallaght Stadium to see us play and are looking for autographs and pictures is really heartwarming because I know that’s what inspires the Next Generation.”
Up and coming players
As for any words of advice for any up and coming players who have yet to reach the league, the Irish defender said: “I’d say go down to your local club, there’s loads of girls clubs throughout the country whether they want to play with the girls, or with the boys.
“Make sure you have lots of fun and make loads of friends and obviously listen your coaches and work really really hard and your dreams can come true.”
In terms of what she has planned for the future, fans of the Irish player will likely see her doing more punditry work and even coaching down the line.
“I’ve got my UEFA B culture qualification, so I’ve applied now to do my UEFA A this year and obviously, I’d love to give back to the game of football here in Ireland – to the women’s game because I think the growth has been amazing and I think there’s still a long long way to go.”
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