Big Kildare Interview — From the floodlights to the spotlight: Rathangan girl stars in World Cup TV ad

Dancing, singing, drama, and Gaelic football — these are just a few of the talents displayed by Rathangan native Elsa Moynihan.

You may have seen 10-year-old Elsa, who will enter into Fifth Class in September, before: you see, she is the face of Sky’s latest TV ad for the upcoming Women’s World Cup!

Elsa is a member of Vicky Barry Performing Arts and also plays in the backs of the Under 11 Gaelic football girls team in Rathangan.

Speaking about how she got the role, Elsa’s dad, Ray, told the Leader: “When you attend Vicky Barry, you can if you want, become a member of their Talent Agency too.

“I received an email a couple of months ago to see if Elsa would like to audition for an upcoming ad for a ‘football campaign’, but we had no idea who is was for or what it was about.”

Elsa added: “Dad told me that there was an ad coming up that the people making the ad wanted me to audition for it.

“He printed off the scenes and scripts. Dad videoed me on his phone doing an introduction of myself, then two scenes and then a video of my football skills. They said either football or Gaelic (football), so I did Gaelic.”

“Dad sent it in and we heard nothing back for a week and then they gave me a recall; I had to do some more scenes.”

Eventually, Elsa secured a Zoom meeting with the Director and Production crew.

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She explained: “I was talking to them for a while and then I had to do a few more live scenes with them.

“Dad then got an email a few days later to say I got it.”

Elsa continued: I was jumping around all excited. I then had to go for a wardrobe fitting where I had to try on loads of different clothes.

” It was so much fun and everyone was so nice... It was only then that I was told the ad was for SKY and the Women’s World Cup.”

Elsa was also informed by the production crew that there around 2,000 girls auditioned for the role she nabbed.

When asked about her love of football, Elsa replied: “Dad and I are big Liverpool fans, and my favourite player is Mo Salah.

“I don’t play football though, just Gaelic Football for the Under 11 girls team in Rathangan, but snce meeting the Irish Womens Team, I’ve become a huge fan.

“Dad brought me to the Zambia game and we’ve tickets to go see them play Northern Ireland when they come back from the World Cup. My new favourite players are Katie McCabe and Aine O’Gorman.”

Elsa then said that the shoot took a total of three days to shoot: the first day was with the Irish team at their training ground, the second day was in a house in Templogue, and the third day was in Kilnamanagh with their local football team and in front of the Katie McCabe Outbelieve mural.

“There will be different versions of the ad during the world cup with extra scenes,” she added.

When she was asked why she thinks it’s important to have a Women’s World Cup, Elsa said: “I think it’s important as it gives girls and women confidence to play in competitions like the men do and do just as good a job.

“I saw on the news that the first game of the world cup between Ireland and Australia had to be moved to a bigger stadium. I think this shows how popular ladies football has become.”

She also said that she has a lot of confidence in the Irish team: “I saw them against Zambia and they were so good.

"I watched loads of their games on YouTube and they are always getting better. You can tell they work really hard in practice and they have a great squad going to the World Cup, and Vera Pauw definitely brings the team together."

Elsa further said that she will be watching it with all my family — "My Nana will be on the phone as she has become a huge fan since I told her all about them," she added.

PROUD DAD

Commenting on his daughter’s success, dad Ray said: "We are extremely proud of Elsa; it is still surreal watching TV and she comes up during the ads.

"We never realised it was going to be this big.

"She got on so well with everyone involved in the ad and they looked after her so well. They still keep in touch with her."

He continued: "She has made unbelievable memories that will last a lifetime. She has become a huge fan of the team and is constantly looking up facts and videos on the team.

"It would be amazing if the team did really well in the world cup.

"The Women’s team have created a real family fan base and go out of their way after games and training sessions to sign autographs, take selfies and talk to their fans... it feels like the Jack Charlton era all over again.

"'Come on you girls in green!'"