World Cup kicks off with TV soccer star Elsa

A young TV star with strong local links has become a pivotal part of Ireland’s World Cup preparations, as young Elsa Moynihan is the main attraction of Sky’s ‘Outbelieve’ ad featuring the national team.

Ms Moynihan, who is 10 years old, has been seen on TV screens across the country as she, like every good supporter of our national teams, has been getting excited for the tournament which kicks off today.

Her mother Lena, née Kearney, is a native of Castlelyons while her father Ray Moynihan hails from Kilworth. Grandparents Marie and Donie Moynihan are also from Kilworth, while maternal grandparents John and Maureen Kearney hail from Fermoy/Castlelyons; the family are, of course, ‘extremely proud’ of Elsa.

Elsa says she was ‘really nervous’ encountering the women’s team initially, where she met them in the make-up trailer. However, she says the girls were ‘really nice’, and she was made to feel at ease with players Aine O’Gorman and Katie McCabe, with whom she shared a number of scenes.