'Dare to dream' - Katie McCabe hoping to inspire a generation

Katie McCabe hopes girls all over the country will "dare to dream" when they watch the Republic of Ireland women's team break new ground this summer.

All 23 members of Vera Pauw's chosen World Cup squad were presented with their shirts and numbers at a vibrant announcement event at UCD in Dublin on Thursday.

McCabe will captain the side as they aim to rattle cages in their first ever appearance at a major tournament.

She was just 21 when the players made a collective stand over the way they were being treated by the FAI. Things have come full circle in the sweetest possible way.

"Back in 2017 when I was sat there in Liberty Hall with the rest of the girls, I was young, probably naive about what was really going on," said McCabe.

"We had fantastic leaders at the time - Emma Byrne, Aine, Steph Roche. As I got older I started to understand more about how brave it was for those girls to sit there and speak up, to have a voice and be heard.

"We were looking for parity, we were looking for better facilities, our own kit. To go from that to where we are now, heading to our first major tournament, rebuilding our relationship with the FAI... you can only see the benefits through our performances on the pitch."

The McCabe clan will be out in force to support her, both in Australia and in her native Kilnamanagh.

"My mam and dad will be travelling," she added.

"My brother is out there with his girlfriend, they started travelling Australia back in November. My uncle lives in New Zealand, he'll be coming over too.

"The rest of them, it's obviously a long old trip. I've got nieces and nephews so it's not as easy. I know there'll be watch parties going on in Kilnamanagh."

Ireland face co-hosts Australia, Canada and Nigeria in a very tough group