Louise Quinn

UCD Alumni Award in Sport 2025

BSc 2011

Louise Quinn is the former vice-captain of the Republic of Ireland women’s national football team. In her 17-year career playing at international level, she earned 121 caps playing for Ireland and gained a reputation as a brilliant defender, an outstanding leader and an excellent ambassador for women’s football. She joined the Dublin club Peamount United in 2004 and became the club captain at 16 years old. The club won the FAI Women’s Cup final in 2010 and the 2011-2012 Women’s National League under her captaincy. Louise is one of four players to score a European hat-trick in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She moved to Swedish club Eskilstuna in 2013 and later played for Notts County, Arsenal, ACF Fiorentina and Birmingham City. Louise was awarded a Football Association of Ireland scholarship to UCD and graduated in 2011 with a degree in Sports and Exercise Management. She was named the FAI Senior Women’s International Player of the Year in 2013 and again in 2019. She played the full 90 minutes in all three games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and is currently fourth on the WNT All-Time Top Scorer List with 16 goals, 15 of which were headers. Louise announced her retirement from professional football earlier this year.