We’ve all heard of Bohemian FC, even if you’re not a sports fan. But not only should we be cheering on the men’s team but the women as well.
Bohemians Women have competed in the Women’s Premier Division since 2020 and in 2025 narrowly missed out on the FAI Cup after making it to the final.
2026 will be Fiona Donnelly’s fourth season with Bohemians. She quickly established herself as a key player and was made vice-captain to Rachael Kelly in her first season at the club. She also won player of the year at the end of that first season.
Leading by example from midfield, the Dubliner helped Bohs reach two cup finals last season, a first for the club. A former Ireland youth international, Donnelly came through the youth system at Shelbourne before spending three and a half years with DLR Waves.
VIP Magazine sat down with the Bohemian vice-captain, Fiona Donnelly, to find out about the changing face of women’s soccer.
Hi Fiona! What a year for Bohs. Did you always expect to play football at this level?
From a very young age, I would have always been out on the street with the boys, from five or six. Then, around seven, I started going to sessions. I think I just rocked up and was nearly nagging them to let me in, but that’s where it all kicked off. From the boys I played with as a child, I’m probably the only one still playing football, would you believe it or not. It just came about, then I never really left it.
Did anyone ever tell you to hang up your boots because they didn’t see football as a viable career for women?
From the age of 12 or 13, the girls couldn’t play with the boys anymore, but at the time, the girls’ side wasn’t that popular. I took a year out of football at that stage, and I joined Shelbourne United. I played ever since. But my family has always been so supportive. Everyone is always interested in hearing about your daughter playing football. When someone asks does any of your family members play football, they always assume it’s one of the lads, but they are always delighted to hear that it’s a woman who’s playing at a very high level.
What does it mean for you to be vice captain of Bohs?
It’s great to be a captain alongside Rachael Kelly, she’s a great person as well. And it’s more than a club, it’s a community, so it’s great to be a part of.
Bohs is probably one of the most famous clubs in Ireland at this point. What is it like to be a part of that club?
It’s a great club to be a part of, you get support from all angles not just on the pitch. It’s a very community-based environment and everyone looks out for each other.
What does it mean for you that Virgin Media has come on board to sponsor you?
This is more than a sponsorship — it’s recognition. It acknowledges the work happening across the women’s setup at Bohemians and gives us the support to push our standards even higher. Virgin Media already plays a huge role in bringing Irish football into homes around the country, so having their backing on the pitch too means a lot to the entire squad.
Do you think this will inspire more big names to support women’s football?
You would like to think so, to have such a big brand on board. They showcase the men’s [team], so it would be great to also showcase the women and get that up and running. To even have Virgin Media on board, it’s more than just a sponsorship; it’s recognition, it acknowledges the work that is happening across the women’s side in Bohs, and it gives us more support to push our standards higher.
Do you think there’s been an increase in interest in women’s sports?
Absolutely! Other than the new sponsorships, I think something that showcases it is the crowds. I say last year was our best season for crowds, we were hitting the thousands, and that’s not very common in women’s football. I think it’s absolutely great to see, and for young girls as well!
What advice would you give to young girls and teenagers who feel they can’t stay in sports anymore?
From my experience, our coaches were always telling us to just believe in ourselves and to be our own biggest supporters. You are the one who’s constantly in your head, so just speak to yourself how you would speak to others. And what advice would you give to others!
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How do you think we can get more people interested in women’s sports?
Visibility is the best thing. In terms of sponsorship, they don’t go off the potential of women’s football; they go off visibility. They will come and give their support if they are seen. So I think it’s everybody, not just women, who should support women’s football. I would also say we can showcase women’s football as much as possible across social media. Even the men who support the big clubs should support the women’s side as well. That will go a really long way.
Finally, what advice would you give teenage Fiona?
Oh god! I would tell myself don’t sweat the small stuff, just go with the flow. You play your best when you enjoy it, so always have a smile on your face. Another thing is just take on board as much as the coaches are telling you, you might not know what to do when you meet something later on in life, so take any advice that you get on board.
Virgin Media has strengthened its commitment to the League of Ireland and to the future of women’s football with the announcement of a new partnership with Bohemians FC Women’s First Team. For the 2026 and 2027 seasons, Virgin Media becomes the principal sponsor of Bohemians FC Women’s First Team, with the Virgin Media logo proudly featured on the front of the home jersey.