It’s fair to say that not everyone can be professional footballers like Caoimhín Kelleher and Denise O’Sullivan or represent their country at the Olympics like Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy — but esports offer the chance to compete in a different way.
Esports is basically multiple people and/or teams playing a video game competitively for spectators both in person and online. The players are usually professional gamers and are seen as the top echelon of competitors in the scene.
Irish esports team WYLDE (What You Love Doing Esports) is based in Cork city and was co-founded by Corkman David Cronin and Steve Daly in 2021. The duo initiated WYLDE before competitive gaming established itself as a mainstay in modern day media.
Things levelled up for the esports team in March 2022 as Olympian gold medallist Usain Bolt became co-owner of WYLDE and the trio has helped the brand go from strength to strength since.
One of the most watched esports in the world is , formerlly known as FIFA.
The football simulator game is one of the most sold video games annually and is played by some of football’s best players such as Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer and Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke.
One of WYLDE’s pro players, Ciaran ‘Mr WeLLy’ Walsh has represented both Cork City FC and Ireland in professional gaming so far.
The 23 year old has represented Cork City since 2021.
“I’m from County Monaghan, but I’ve represented Cork City in the eLOI for four years, so I hope the fans of the club have accepted and adopted me at this stage,” he laughed.
Although Cork City is not in the latest version of the franchise, Mr WeLLy will still represent City during the competitive season as all 20 Premier and First Division clubs compete in the professional circuit.
“It’s great to work alongside what I think is the biggest club in Ireland. Look, it’s a pain in a way because I can’t use the badge and kits, but thankfully we play on ’s competitive mode called Ultimate Team, so we aren’t stuck for a club this year,” he said.
Ultimate Team allows players to create a starting 11 and select seven substitutes made up of past and current stars of the footballing world.
It’s possible to create the ultimate northside midfield duo of Mayfield’s Roy Keane with Knocknaheeny’s Denise O’Sullivan who could pass the ball to Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé or the late Péle, while Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk shores up the defense alongside now retired AC Milan centre back Paulo Maldini.
The game mode allows both men and women players to line-out in the same team.
Ciaran said he’s always been ‘quite competitive’ but couldn’t envision himself playing a football game for up to $1m of prize money.
“I’ve always played FIFA. I’ve had every FIFA since about 2007 when I was five years old, so I’ve always played and I’m quite competitive in nature.
“I wasn’t aware as to what could come of it [gaming skillset] until I entered to world of esports,” he said.
“I was always very interested in gaming and I have put a lot of time into it. Now, I’m sure there were times when my parents would have said, ‘Jesus, will you go to bed, Ciaran,” he laughed, “but as thing progressed and turned, like I saw myself on billboards and advertisements on the telly, it was something different.”
“Now, when that idea was communicated to someone like your parents that this is really serious, their idea kind of changes. I’m very blessed that I’ve very supportive parents would support me through anything as long as it was my passion,” he added.
Virtual and real-life football Usain Bolt is not the only sportsperson to invest in the world of esports as former AC Milan and Chelsea midfielder Ruud Gullit founded his own team called Team Gullit while former Manchester United goalkeeper and current Fiorentina man David de Gea set up Rebels Gaming while at United.
“It says a lot about the potential of these tournaments because prize pools are only heading one way, and that’s up. The FC Pro Open this year is worth $1m.
“Even in , there were three World Cups, all worth $1m dollars each.
“I got to represent Ireland in competitions like that, which was a dream come true,” Ciaran added.
The Premier League and League of Ireland are two of several professional football leagues that run a virtual competition.
Similarly to real life, each professional football club in Ireland will assign a professional FC player to represent them in the eLOI.
Ciaran represented Cork City in and he narrowly lost in the final to JP Sleator of UCD, who has since joined WYLDE.
Sleator represented Ireland in the eChampions League in May 2024.
The inaugural Olympic Esports week was held in Singapore last year and saw events such as virtual taekwondo, baseball, chess and basketball take place.
Ciaran hopes that virtual football will become an Olympic esport.
“Esports has been added to the Olympics and that’s a massive driver for myself and WYLDE is to get to the Olympics and fight for our share of gold medals.
“Ireland’s Olympians captured a lot of people’s attention at this year’s Olympics and to think that esports could be a part of that is very exciting,” he added.
Lorraine Lucid, operations manager, said: “It’s incredible exciting to see young people so full of passion and grace us with their skill and passion through various titles and leagues.
“We are passionate about empowering young people and helping them find a purpose. You don’t need to be involved in conventional sport in order to see success.”
Currently WYLDE has 20 competitive players across various titled including , , , and .
WYLDE’s Esports Manager René Bouma believes Usain Bolt’s spirit is felt across the club.
“Usain’s story is so interesting. He used to run bare foot because he came from nothing, and that’s what esports is doing now. We have young players who have a dream and as long as they can pick up a controller or a mouse and keyboard, the world is theirs.”
“Usain loves video games,” René concluded.
