Saoirse Noonan, the prolific Celtic striker, is making waves both on and off the field, excelling in football while managing a successful clothing brand with the support of her family. With an impressive tally of 23 goals in 21 appearances for Celtic this season, the former Cork Gaelic footballer is also the driving force behind Freedom Official Clothing, a brand she launched during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite her entrepreneurial success, Noonan’s top priority remains her football career. Earning a fourth senior cap for Ireland during this international window would be a personal milestone. She expressed her excitement after receiving a call-up from new Ireland manager Carla Ward ahead of the Nations League double-header against Greece. Noonan had proactively reached out to Ward, inquiring about areas she needed to improve in order to earn her recall.
“She got straight back in touch and we jumped on a call and it went from there,” the 25-year-old recalled, emphasizing her determination to secure a spot in the squad.
Noonan joined Celtic last summer from Championship side Durham and has since made a significant impact. However, she acknowledges the financial realities of women’s football, recognizing that players do not yet earn life-changing salaries.
“I think as a female footballer, you are not making money that is going to change your life, unfortunately. I think one day people will be,” she said. “So, I started Freedom Official Clothing during Covid.”
Her business venture received a boost from the Sky Fund, a Sky Ireland bursary designed to support Irish players in their academic and business endeavors. Running a fashion brand has not only provided financial security but has also helped Noonan build confidence beyond the football pitch.
“For me, it was more a sense of knowing I couldn’t always rely on football,” she explained. “But it was about an identity. At times, you don’t want to be known as just Saoirse the footballer. I liked it when people said, ‘That’s your brand,’ and I could say, ‘Yeah.’”
Noonan finds joy in seeing people wear her brand, especially when they are unaware that she is behind it. “I love when friends wear a jumper and someone compliments it without knowing it’s mine. That’s really warming,” she added.
Balancing professional football and a growing business is no easy feat, and Noonan admits there are not enough hours in the day to dedicate equal time to both. However, she credits her family for keeping the business running smoothly.
“My stock is back in Cork and it all runs from there. My family does all the hands-on bits while I try to do little things when I can,” she said. “I wish I could put more time into it, but for now, it’s more of a hobby because my focus is elsewhere.”
Despite her current focus on football, Noonan is mindful of her brand’s long-term potential. “I’m conscious of growth and want to keep developing it little by little so that when I finish playing in 10 or 20 years, I hope it will still be there to come back to,” she concluded.
As Noonan continues to shine on the pitch and build her brand, she exemplifies the power of perseverance and versatility, proving that success can be achieved in multiple arenas.
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