Former Celtic defender Eoghan O’Connell has revealed how he was convinced to abandon playing GAA in favour of playing for the Hoops.
Although he never really broke into the first-team at the Bhoys, he did make 13 appearances and lined up alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Now playing for Barnsley in the third tier of English football, alongside former Hoops academy star Luca Connell, the defender has revealed how he had wanted to become a Gaelic footballer.
Why Eoghan O’Connell swapped gaelic football for Celtic
Although he is grateful for the path that football has taken him on, his initial dream was to walk out at Croke Park instead of Celtic Park.
“I was always kind of more of a Gaelic player than a footballer,” he told the Yorkshire Post.
“I moved to Celtic and they almost stumbled upon me and it came really quick and I was never really a fan (of football).
“It was more that a lot of the lads who were going over at my age had always been fans, whereas my (decision) was more of a conversation with my parents along the lines of ‘I might as well give this a blast’ and see what happens.
“Growing up and being in that environment with a Gaelic and hurling background, it’s kind of put me in good stead and obviously I still keep a huge eye on that and my club back home.”
Celtic players and managers with GAA connections
Celtic’s deep-rooted Irish identity has long created a natural crossover with the GAA, and several players have either played or closely followed Gaelic games. Aiden McGeady is among the most notable, having played Gaelic football in Glasgow before committing to soccer, while Charlie Mulgrew and Stephen McManus also had early exposure to the sport.
Kieran Tierney similarly played Gaelic football in his youth, reflecting the cultural influence within Celtic-linked communities.
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Elsewhere, figures like Neil Lennon and Paddy McCourt grew up surrounded by the GAA culture. Given Celtic’s historic ties to Ireland, this overlap is no coincidence, with the club’s players and fanbase frequently sharing a strong connection to Gaelic games and their traditions.
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