During the Women's World Cup last summer, one of the most remarkable shows of support on Irish soil was the takeover of Dublin suburb Ringsend in support of Abbie Larkin.
The 18-year-old - then of Shamrock Rovers - became the youngest Irish player ever to play at a World Cup when she was introduced off the bench against Australia in the opener.
Meanwhile, over 1,000 people took over Irishtown Stadium back home in Ringsend to cheer on Larkin as she made history. Speaking to Balls.ie and the Irish media this week, Larkin said she could feel the support from across the globe:
I did get videos sent to me after, it was crazy. I didn’t even realise there was that many people in Ringsend at that point!
But no, it was amazing. Obviously the support I was getting from all the friends and families...friends that I had since I was younger and they were there. [I was] like 'you still follow me?' It was amazing.
There’s some people that know me and I don’t even know them! But, again, the support is amazing and I think I’ll always have that.
Larkin has been on the move in the past year. Ahead of the World Cup, she had made a contentious move from Shelbourne to Shamrock Rovers - but her spell with the Hoops was short lived.
Shortly after Ireland's adventure Down Under came to an end, Larkin secured a move to SWPL side Glasgow City - where she says Ireland teammate Emily Whelan has helped her to settle in.
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Abbie Larkin on her summer move to Glasgow City
23 September 2023; Abbie Larkin of Republic of Ireland in action against Demi Vance of Northern Ireland during the UEFA Women's Nations League B1 match between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It has been a whirlwind 18 months or so for Abbie Larkin since she scored her first goal for Ireland in the 9-0 rout of Georgia in June 2022.
Her move from Shelbourne to Shamrock Rovers during the off-season last winter drew ire - some of a particularly disappointing nature - before she decided to step away from her Leaving Cert studies, focus on Ireland's first ever World Cup campaign, and earned herself a move to Glasgow City.
That move to Glasgow only emerged as a possibility after the World Cup, and Larkin says she was encouraged by family and friends to take a leap of faith.
It kind of came up a bit after [Australia].
I really wasn’t in a rush to go anywhere - you know I’m still young and I was enjoying my time at Rovers but...yeah then last minute I was just like why not?
I was just talking to my family and stuff and they were like it could be just a good move to get to play professionally.
Obviously, I took that step from Shels to Rovers which, I felt, was a bit more professional
And then, yeah, I thought I was just ready for the next challenge.
It's easy to forget that Larkin is remarkably still only 18 years old, and it would be forgiveable for anyone of that age to be dazed by all that has come her way in the past year-and-a-half, especially as she handles the pressures of her career overseas, away from her family.
23 October 2023; Abbie Larkin poses for a portrait during a Republic of Ireland women media conference at Castleknock Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
She told Balls.ie and the Irish media on Monday that regular visits from her family to Scotland have helped her to settle in, while her roomate Emily Whelan - a teammate at both club and international level - has been a terrific help in adjusting to Glaswegian life:
I’m actually not that bad because my mom and dad have been coming over quite a bit to Glasgow.
Obviously it’s a short flight which is nice and I got to spend the night at home with my family as well so yeah, I’m not too bad. It might kick in soon enough, but not now.
Emily Whelan's my roomie. She is [keeping an eye on Larkin].
Larkin has been one of the brightest sparks in the Ireland squad ever since her arrival in the squad, and she seems destined to play a crucial role in the years to come.
She laughs when it is put to her that she is following the trajectory of Ireland's captain Katie McCabe in earning a big move overseas so early in her career, and even more when someone follows that she must be expecting a Ballon d'Or nomination down the line as a result.
The biggest fit of laughter, however, comes when she makes eye contact with close friend Izzy Atkinson across the room at the FAI's media day.
The pair are inseparable in camp and, as Larkin says, once they start laughing together they can't stop. She demands Atkinson stand outside the room as she attempts to complete her media duties.
Larkin and 22-year-old Atkinson are not only stars of the future, but stars and heroes to many of the Irish WNT's ever-growing fanbase, and both will hope to feature when Ireland face Albania in the Women's Nations League this Friday.
Kick-off in Tallaght Stadium is at 5:45pm, and the game is live on RTÉ 2.
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