Birr native Ryan re-signs for Athlone Town

Birr native Isabel Ryan has re-signed for reigning Women's Premier Division and FAI Cup champions Athlone Town for the 2026 season.

Ryan joined the club in 2023 and is seen as one of the biggest young talents coming through in the Premier Division.

The former Killavilla United player featured as a substitute for Athlone on the night the club secured a successive Premier Division title with victory over Cork City in Turners Cross.

However, one integral member of the Athlone Town women's success to date will be absent when the club begins the defence of their Premier League title on March 14 next year.

Midfielder Kate Slevin has chosen to focus on her gaelic football career with native county Galway in 2026 and will not feature for Athlone when the new season gets underway.

Slevin featured prominently in the women's first team having joined the club in July 2022 and scored the all important equalising goal in the 2023 FAI Cup Final which Athlone subsequently won courtesy of a penalty shootout to claim an historic victory.

A social media post from the club said Slevin's "character and contributions will be greatly missed in Athlone".

Meanwhile, Ciara O'Neill, who has played at both underage and senior levels for Athlone since 2022, has also departed the club, signing a contract for Peamount United.

There has also been player movement with the men's first team as manager Ian Ryan prepares for a return to collective pre-season training.

Midfielder Aaron Connolly has re-signed for a fifth successive season with the club. Having suffered a serious hamstring injury during the 2025 season, Connolly returned to the team in October and has opted to extend his stay with the Midlanders.

Goalkeeper Andrew Stuart Trainor has also renewed for the 2026 season. The Caulry custodian featured for the first team in the closing five First Division league games of the 2025 season and is also part of the Ireland Colleges & Universities Squad that will play the French Universities on Wednesday at Athlone Town Stadium.

The club has confirmed the departures of former academy players Adam Lennon and Eoin Sheeran following the end of their contracts.

Both players came up through the club's academy with Adam joining the first team in 2019 and Eoin joining in 2022. Adam also had spells at UCD, Treaty United and Wexford before returning to the club on two occasions.