“We are not Irish because we were or were not born in Ireland but because Ireland was born in us" - that's the message from the FAI’s outstanding St Patrick’s Day video.
The video, featuring four internationals across the age grades, celebrates the global and diverse backgrounds that make up the Irish nation.
Underage internationals Anselmo Garcia-McNulty and Conor Coventry, and senior players Courtney Brosnan and Chiedozie Ogbene, speak about their pride at being Irish and representing their country.
Ireland under-19 international Garcia-McNulty, who was born to an Irish mother and Spanish father in Seville, spent every summer as a child in Ireland.
He wears his Irishness very close to his chest, having represented the country all through the age grades while at Real Betis and, now, Wolfsburg in Germany.
“I grew up in Spain but I always had that Irish feeling inside my body because my mam, even since I can remember, she is always speaking about Ireland,” he says.
“I’ve been in Ireland every summer and I love the love the country, the culture, everything, so it’s an honour to play to play for the country and represent it.”
Coventry is the captain of the Irish under-21s and came through the ranks at West Ham United with former Irish international, now of England, Declan Rice.
He says: “I’m born in East London. My favourite thing about being Irish is our ‘never say die’ attitude and how we embrace being the underdog.
“I’m proud of being Irish above anything else. I was brought up Irish by my nan and grandad, who lived five doors down.
“My nan, who was born in the Liberties, would cook for me every night. My grandad, from Ringsend, would tell me stories of Ireland and Dublin.”
Brosnan, who moved from West Ham to Everton last summer, has established herself as Ireland’s number one in recent years.
She started twice as Vera Pauw’s side finished third in the Pinatar Cup in Spain last month, beating Wales in the play-off game.
“I was born and raised in New Jersey in the United States, but it means the absolute world to me to represent Ireland,” she says.
“Especially for my family, there is really no words to express that feeling of getting to put on that shirt and go out on the field.
“To be able to represent a country that is so small but has so much pride and passion for where they’re from, there’s really nothing like it and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Lagos-born Ogbene became the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland when he lined out against Hungary in Budapest last summer.
The Rotherham United wideman has gone on to make four more appearances, scoring twice in the World Cup qualifying wins over Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
Chiedozie: “It is always a proud moment for myself, my family and the people around me when I’m given the opportunity to represent this great nation.
“Representing your country is the summit every kid wants to reach, and I am so privileged to be living that dream.”
