Republic of Ireland midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn believes footballers cannot shy away from the spotlight if they want to escalate the growth of the women’s game. The 33-year-old is one of 23 women selected by manager Vera Pauw to represent the Republic in their first World Cup, a monumental moment that has drawn unprecedented attention to the team and individual players. The full World Cup experience comes with corresponding changes off the pitch – more photo shoots and social media followers among them – a fact of life Littlejohn encouraged the players at this Australia and New Zealand-hosted tournament to embrace like England’s Lionesses after their Euro 2022 victory blasted them into their country’s consciousness. Speaking at the Girls in Green’s team hotel in Brisbane, she said: “It’s full on. The other day we were doing pictures and I was shattered, and I kind of felt sorry for the camera guy because I was just dead tired. Hopefully the pictures look OK. “But look, this is it, we wanted to be here and now we’re going to need to embrace the change and manage all the way. I’m not a superstar so I think it’s going to be different for me but it could be different for the likes of Denise [O’Sullivan] and Katie [McCabe]. “Look at other teams. Like, you see the Lionesses, how their lives have probably changed massively. It’s probably been a big adjustment for some of them and I’m sure it’s not always easy. “I’m sure there’s moments where they’re like, ‘oh, leave me be’. Let me go and get a Nandos and leave me in peace please’. But look, that’s where the game’s going and we kind of need to embrace that and learn now to deal and manage situations.” The effects of England lifting the European trophy last July were keenly felt throughout the following 2022/23 domestic Women’s Super League (WSL) season, which according to a league report saw attendances up 173 per cent compared to the previous campaign. All but one of the WSL’s 12 sides broke a club or stadium record during a season that also set the three highest attendance records in the English top flight, including the league record 47,367 who turned out for the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at the Emirates. Littlejohn’s side are now just two sleeps away from their World Cup opener, when they will face Group B rivals and tournament co-hosts Australia in Sydney, and says “you know it’s on party mode back home”. It will be some time before the legacy of the World Cup in the Republic of Ireland crystallises, but ex-Aston Villa player Littlejohn is already starting to notice a shift. The native Glaswegian, who swapped allegiances through her Irish grandparents after representing Scotland at youth level, added jokingly: “It was the Euros last summer. Obviously deep down I’m gutted that England won. “I’m just about over it. It was great for the game there, the WSL. It’s only going in one direction and I think the change that they’ve made is massive, and now you can see the change that hopefully we can all make on this world stage. “It’s just exciting to see. You can even see that, round about the hotel, there’s a few young girls running about with Ireland tops on. I mean I would have never been taken anywhere to a different country to watch a game of football. “I don’t know how these people are getting to do it, but that’s amazing that there’s so many people tuning in and it’s a reality for people now. This can become a job for you. You can go and do this too if you want to do it.”

Tributes have been paid to four young people killed in a crash in Ireland while on the way to exam results celebrations on Friday. Luke McSweeney, 24, his sister Grace McSweeney, 18, Zoey Coffey, 18, and Nicole Murphy, 18, died at the scene in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, after the car they were travelling in struck a wall. They had been on their way to celebrate after the three teenagers received their Leaving Certificate exam results earlier that day. The mother of Grace McSweeney’s boyfriend wrote on Facebook: “Thank you for making my son happy and I’ll do my best to mind him for you.” “You were so good, always trying to help me around the house and you knew how to keep Aaron on his toes,” she added. In the post she congratulated Grace on passing her Leaving Certificate, adding that she knew how much it meant to her. Superintendent Kieran Ruane, of Clonmel Garda Station, extended his sympathies to their families, who he said had appealed for privacy. The scene at Hillview remains closed on Saturday to carry out a forensic examination and Mr Ruane said that heavy downpours would be among the factors that Garda investigators would consider. Local schools in the town opened on Saturday to support students as the community comes to terms with the tragedy. Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar said the nation is mourning their deaths as the minister for education Norma Foley pledged support for students and staff. Members of the community and local politicians expressed their shock at the tragedy, with local TD Mattie McGrath saying that “a time of celebration has turned to a time of devastation”. He said Clonmel had been “left numbed” by the loss and that it would “take some time to recover”, but that the community would rally around those grieving the losses. Local sporting events and the Clonmel Pride parade, as well as other activities in the area, have been cancelled in the wake of the fatal crash. A parish priest has asked the community to look after one another in the days ahead and the minister of education has pledged support for school staff and students affected. Mr Varadkar has said: “We must come together in times such as this” and that the Leaving Cert results night “should mark the beginning of a world of opportunities for young people”. “It’s a milestone on the road from childhood to adulthood,” Mr Varadkar he added. “For young lives, so full of possibility, to be cut short in this way is truly devastating and heartbreaking,” he continued. “The whole nation mourns them. My sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died and the wider community in Clonmel and Tipperary. The thoughts of the whole country are with them, their school and their community.” Education minister Ms Foley said her department will provide support to students and staff in the period ahead. “This is heartbreaking news on what should have been a day of enormous celebration and joy for the class of 2023,” she said. “School communities in Ireland are akin to tight-knit families and I know this morning that staff, students, parents and guardians will be united in their grief and utter devastation at this tragic and sudden loss of life. “The Department of Education, through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), will provide essential supports to staff and students over the coming period. “The grief felt by those affected by the loss of four young lives is acute and we will do all that we can to support them at this sad and difficult time.” Read More Police offer £50,000 reward to find missing mother feared murdered in ‘targeted attack’ Nation mourning after four young people killed in Co Tipperary crash – Varadkar Body found in search for missing 54-year-old woman in Kent

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