The Cork-born goalkeeper has had quite an eventful year after welcoming his first child with his childhood sweetheart, Eimear Murphy, ahead of the 2026 World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Group F, Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary 16/11/2025
Hungary vs Republic of Ireland
Ireland’s Caoimhin Kelleher celebrates after the match
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Caoimhin Kelleher has had an impressive career so far. From growing up in Cork to playing for Liverpool FC, the Irish sportsman has continued to play for his home country, leading up to the 2026 World Cup with his position as the Ireland goalkeeper.
Here are some things you might not know about the goalkeeper:
- Born on November 23rd 1998, the now 27-year-old is the youngest of five siblings, all with sporting backgrounds in football and hurling.
- He was raised in Blackrock, Cork and attended Presentation Brothers College.
- Caoimhin Kelleher will have the support of his long-term partner and newborn baby behind him as he prepares for the World Cup play-offs.
- The goalkeeper announced his engagement to his partner, Eimear Murphy, last summer, with whom he had been together for many years. The couple grew up in Cork and became childhood sweethearts.
- Eimear is an accomplished Irish dancer, with Caoimhin taking a few steps to improve his coordination on the pitch. He told LFC: “My girlfriend is very good at Irish dancing, so I’ve been trying to learn a bit of that. I used to do it at school back home, so I’ve been trying to pick it up because I want to learn it again.”
- The pair welcomed their first child together when his Brentford boss broke the news: “Kelleher was notably absent from the team, which raised eyebrows among reporters. When questioned, Andrews revealed that Kelleher and his partner had welcomed their first child and that he wished them all the best.”
- Caoimhin made his Senior Ireland Team debut in June 2021 following his initial team announcement in 2018, after making his first Champions League and Premier League appearances with Liverpool.
- Liverpool FC made a successful 21 million euro deal with Brentford to send the Irish goalkeeper away after playing with them since 2019.
- Caoimhin has said he may never ride a bike again after an accident in 2019, when he broke his wrist, setting him back from progressing with the team sooner.
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