Athlone Town’s Kelly Brady has received her first Ireland senior international call-up ahead of the upcoming friendly against Hungary in Spain. LOI Talk’s Scott Buckley sat down with Kelly to discuss her journey to where she is today.
Brady’s football story began at just five years old in New York, where she first played with World Class FC before earning a scholarship at Central Connecticut State University. After three seasons there, she transferred to Ole Miss to complete her college career. Growing up, Kelly looked up to USA National team legend Mia Hamm.
When talking about how the move came about to Athlone Town, Kelly said she “wanted to play at the next level and that’s how I came across Athlone Town.”
A Season To Remember
Joining Colin Fortune’s side at the time in January 2025, Kelly Brady debut season in Ireland couldn’t have gone any better as she played an integral part in Athlone Town securing a historic domestic double for the Midlands side netting 27 goals in all competitions including a hattrick in Athlone Town’s Women’s FAI Cup win over Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium.
Reflecting on the campaign, she said “There were so many highs with this team this year and it would be hard to pick just one” moment from this season but if she was to pick one it would be by “capping the season off by finally getting a hat trick in the FAI Cup against Bohemians”.
The Growth Of The Women’s Game
Speaking about the rise of women’s football not just in Ireland but across the globe, Kelly Brady has witnessed first hand the rapid transformation of women’s football on both sides of the Atlantic. She recalls from growing up as a child “there were not many professional women’s teams in USA or in Ireland”
She goes on to say that she’s lucky enough, I got to grow up with this sport and that it has grown with me as well as there are more and more opportunities as I’m getting older, so for the young girls getting started now it will be even better for them.
Brady was also awarded the women’s player of the year last week as well as receiving her golden boot award and her award for being in the Team Of The Year. When asked about any other stand out performers from this season, Brady chose her teammate Hannah Waesch saying she was “a key piece to our team this year, she covered every blade of grass and did it with a great attitude and a smile on her face. On top of that she is a great person off the field.”
Representing Ireland
Kelly’s experience with pulling on the Irish jersey started early at the age of 16,playing with the Ireland under 19’s, an experience Kelly describes as an “honour to have those caps for Ireland and I had such fun doing it under Coach Dave Connell.”
Talking about her call up to the Ireland senior squad for the upcoming friendly against Hungary, Brady was delighted to get the call up saying she has worked “so hard to get here but the work isn’t done yet and I need to impress now.”
From youth football in the United States to success with Athlone Town and a senior Ireland call-up, Kelly Brady’s rise has been steady, determined, and well-earned and a journey that all kids across the country can look up to and achieve to be like.
Would like to to thank Kelly for her time for this interview and wish her the very best with Ireland and in the future with AThlone Town!