admin“Felt right”- “Dara O’Shea Finally Reveals the REAL Reason He Snubbed Premier League Clubs for Ipswich Town!”
Dara O’Shea is dreaming of a season that ends with Championship promotion and a trip to the World Cup.
Chief Football Writer Stuart Watson sat down with the Ipswich Town captain to discuss his journey, his loyalty, and his ambitions.
O’Shea has endured two tough seasons — relegated with Burnley in 2023/24 and again with Ipswich in 2024/25 — yet his reputation never wavered. Several clubs were interested in bringing him back to the Premier League last summer, but he chose instead to sign a new five-year contract in Suffolk.
“It just felt right from day one,” the Dubliner says. “I’ve always had that sense of belonging here, like this is a home away from home.
“My first taste of Portman Road was the Fulham game right after I signed. I remember sitting on the bench thinking, ‘this is unbelievable’. I’d never experienced a home crowd like that — the support, the atmosphere, everything.
“I quickly became attached to the place. There aren’t many clubs around this area, so the whole community backs Ipswich. It’s amazing.
“Yes, opportunities came up in the summer. But I knew what I wanted for my career. I could see how much room this club has to grow. I wanted to be part of a new group creating our own history. Becoming a stable Premier League club pushing the top teams — I really believe that’s achievable.
“You can see the infrastructure developing, you can feel the ambition from Mark Ashton and the owners. So when the offer for a long-term deal came, it was an easy choice.
“I talked it through with my partner and it made sense. I’m 26, coming off two relegations. I wanted to be part of a project, to get that winning feeling back. The chance to help take this club back to the Premier League really excites me — and I’m putting pressure on myself to help make it happen.”
‘Cristiano Ronaldo then…’
O’Shea expects the question and smiles before it’s even asked.
Over the past week, the Ipswich captain has played a major role in keeping the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream alive — and his battle with one of football’s biggest icons made headlines.
Ireland were 2–0 up in Dublin last Thursday when O’Shea tangled with Cristiano Ronaldo inside the box. The Portuguese star reacted with a frustrated elbow, and after a VAR check, he was sent off. As he left the pitch, Ronaldo mimed a crying gesture toward the crowd. Journalist Piers Morgan later accused O’Shea of “diving like an Olympic swimmer” on his 8.8 million-follower X account.
O’Shea shrugs it off.
“It’s all a bit embarrassing really — from Piers, and from Ronaldo too,” he says. “But that’s football. The game is the game.
“His reaction walking off… it wouldn’t be me, but that’s him. He’s passionate about his country and about himself. He’s been at the top level so long that frustration boils over. We frustrated them all night, and that’s where it came from. Thankfully the referee saw it neutrally.
“People are trying to make me look like the villain. I’ve had all sorts of messages from Ronaldo fans — a bit weird, to be honest. But if you throw an elbow, no matter who you are, you get sent off.
“I don’t know what Piers and Ronaldo have going on. I’ll leave that one there.”
The drama continued on Sunday as Ireland beat Hungary 3–2 in the 96th minute thanks to a Troy Parrott hat-trick — a result that kept their World Cup play-off hopes alive.
“That was my 41st cap and I’d waited 40 games for a feeling like that,” O’Shea says. “I’m a proud Irishman. I understand what moments like that mean for the country. Seeing videos of people back home celebrating almost brings a tear to your eye.
“It takes me back to Robbie Brady’s winner against Italy at Euro 2016. I was there with my mates and my dad. To now be part of a moment like that myself, with lads I’ve played with since I was 14 or 15, is so special. But we’ve done nothing yet — now we have to finish the job.”
Ipswich have averaged two points per game — promotion form — since the transfer window closed. The upcoming run of seven games in 22 days, starting with Wrexham’s visit on Saturday, will reveal more about Kieran McKenna’s side.
“We’re definitely a better team now than at the start of the season,” O’Shea says. “Every day we’re learning, improving, growing.
“We’re in a good place, but not where we want to be yet. There’s a long way to go. Nothing is easy in this league — spending money or having a strong squad guarantees nothing. You have to earn everything.”
To close, O’Shea is asked to imagine lifting Ipswich back into the Premier League and then heading to a World Cup in North America.
“The possibility of both happening drives me every day,” he says.
“Getting Ipswich back to the Premier League and taking Ireland to a World Cup — that would be incredible.
“I’d be a very, very happy man if those two things came true. And I really believe they can.”
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