Ireland striker Saoirse Noonan joins girlhood club and Scottish champions Celtic

Saoirse Noonan celebrates her first international goal during an 11-0 World Cup qualifying win over Georgia at Tallaght Stadium on November 30, 2021.

Saoirse Noonan celebrates her first international goal during an 11-0 World Cup qualifying win over Georgia at Tallaght Stadium on November 30, 2021. Credit: Brian F Smyth (ETPhotos)

Ireland international striker Saoirse Noonan has fulfilled a childhood dream as she signed a three-year deal with Scottish champions Celtic.

The Corkwoman, who grew up a Celtic fan, makes the move following a two-year stint with English Championship side Durham.

Noonan, 25, previously had spells with hometown club Cork City and Shelbourne, with whom she won a Women’s National League title in 2021, before joining Durham in 2022.

“It’s a bit surreal for me,” she told the club’s official website. “I was a Celtic fan growing up and all my family are Celtic fans. I can’t wait to get going.

"I thought I’d never get over here. I grew up playing on the streets and went to Cork City and then to Shelbourne. Then I crossed the water to Durham.

“Now I’ve made the move up here to Scotland to Celtic. Celtic’s a huge club and I’m delighted to be a part of it now. To wear the Celtic jersey and go out and play at that level is something any young kid aspires to.”

Former dual-code star Noonan - who represented Cork in All-Ireland gaelic football final defeats in 2018 and 2020 - has reaped the benefits of her subsequent decision to focus full-time on soccer.

Having debuted against Wales in 201t6, she made three appearances during Ireland’s successful World Cup 2023 qualifying campaign, scoring once in an 11-0 win over Georgia at Tallaght Stadium. 

And her immediate goal in a Celtic shirt will be to help the Glasgow club defend their first-ever Scottish Premier League title.

The Ghirls face KuPS of Finland in their opening Champions League qualifier September 4, with the prospect of Gintra of Lithuania or Moldova’s Agarista Anenii Noi to follow.



Noonan added: “'Seeing the girls win the league and going on to play in the Champions League, it’s something I’ve always dreamt of.'

“It’s everyone’s dream and it’s something that I can’t wait to do. I’m Irish. I play with my heart on my sleeve. I bleed green. I’ll give my all, work as hard as I can and hopefully get plenty of goals.”

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