Ireland defender Niamh Fahey has confirmed her international retirement after 17 years in the green jersey.
The Liverpool defender won 115 caps for her country, with the last of these coming in the disappointing Euro 2025 play-off defeat against Wales in Dublin at the end of last year.
Fahey was part of the squad that qualified for a major tournament for the first - and to date only - time as the Girls in Green made it to the World Cup in 2023. She started all three games as Ireland failed to emerge from a group containing Canada, Nigeria and hosts Australia.
The Killanin native's senior-level debut came against Portugal in the Algarve Cup in 2007 and it took her just short of 15 years to earn her 100th cap, which came against Poland in February 2022.
She scored one goal for Ireland, which came against Georgia in June of the same year, while she was awarded the FAI Senior Women's International Player of the Year on three occasions.
After 17 years in green, from my debut to cap 115 for the Ireland Women's National Team, I have been on a journey beyond expectation and it has been a huge source of immense motivation, privilege and pride.
A sincere thank you to all the people who have been on the journey with me and helped me in so many aspects; Friends, neighbours, teachers, coaches, colleagues, managers, team-mates, fans and many more. Your support, investment, passion and belief has pushed and inspired me in every way possible.
To my family, who have been a core support and sounding board throughout, I would not have achieved what I have without you. I can't thank you enough for everything, especially my parents Marjorie and Richard. There have been countless highs and lows, but the feeling of elation and satisfaction en route to qualifying and representing our country on the world stage at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 will live long in the memory.
I look forward to watching and supporting the team and the future generations to come in what is only the continuation of more memorable moments at the highest level for our Women’s National Team.
The 37-year-old former Salthill Devon, Arsenal, Chelsea and Bordeaux player will continue her club career with Liverpool.
