Casey Howe has gone from the country roads of County Fermanagh to one of the biggest clubs in Scottish women's football — and the 23-year-old is only just getting started.

The Northern Ireland winger joined Celtic in June after leaving Nottingham Forest, and she has wasted little time making an impression at Barrowfield. On just her second appearance for the club, Howe curled a left-footed effort into the net in the 82nd minute to break the deadlock in what finished a comfortable 3-0 win over Montrose in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

"Being just a young girl from Maguiresbridge, it is pretty surreal to do this," Howe told BBC Sport NI. The sentiment is understandable. The journey from small-town Fermanagh to a state-of-the-art training ground in the East End of Glasgow is not a straightforward one, and Howe is acutely aware of how much went into making it happen.

Family sacrifices behind the journey

Long before Celtic or Nottingham Forest were on the horizon, Howe's parents were clocking up serious mileage. Trips to Ballinamallard, Cookstown and Belfast — four or five days a week — were the norm as the fleet-footed forward worked her way through the ranks.

"They wanted to give me the best platform to be the best I can," she said. "They were massive in enabling me to take these opportunities because if it wasn't for them sacrificing a lot of driving, a lot of miles, I wouldn't be here."

Those foundations carried her through spells with Linfield, Glentoran and Sligo Rovers before a prolific period at Athlone Town in the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division caught the attention of clubs across the water. A treble-winning season with Glentoran and promotion with Wolves added further chapters to a career that has already covered considerable ground for someone still only 23.

Celtic's attacking system suits Howe down to the ground

Under head coach Grant Scott, Celtic play an expansive, attack-minded brand of football — and Howe says it suits her perfectly. After spells under more rigid systems, the freedom to drive at defenders and make instinctive runs has reinvigorated her.

"I've played under people in the past where it's almost robotic," she explained. "You have to do this movement, that movement. But to have the freedom to run into different areas or make different movements just makes for an all-round performance, team-wise, because everyone's moving. It makes it difficult to play against."

The tactical environment at Celtic is also pushing her to improve day to day. "It's definitely a big improvement tactically," Howe said. "We're adapting to different styles, getting used to how Grant Scott wants us to play."

Eyes on Northern Ireland legacy

Howe's ambitions stretch well beyond the SWPL. The 14-cap international — who made her Northern Ireland debut at 17 — carries a clear sense of responsibility whenever she pulls on the green shirt, and she wants her generation to leave the programme in better shape than they found it.

"I want to leave the Northern Ireland shirt in a better place than when I came in," she said. "I always want that legacy to continue to build and grow."

She is also conscious of the barriers that still exist for young players from areas like Fermanagh, where top-level facilities are not on the doorstep. The long drives her parents endured are still a reality for many families in the county today.

For now, though, Celtic provides the platform Howe has been working towards her entire career — and that late curler against Montrose suggests she intends to make the most of it.

  • Club: Celtic (Scottish Women's Premier League)
  • International caps: 14 (Northern Ireland)
  • Previous clubs include: Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Athlone Town, Glentoran, Linfield, Sligo Rovers

Frequently asked

Who is Casey Howe and where is she from?
Casey Howe is a 23-year-old Northern Ireland winger from Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh. She joined Celtic in June 2025 after leaving Nottingham Forest.
Has Casey Howe scored for Celtic yet?
Yes. Howe scored on her second appearance for Celtic, curling in a left-footed goal in the 82nd minute of a 3-0 win over Montrose in the Scottish Women's Premier League.
How many times has Casey Howe played for Northern Ireland?
Howe has earned 14 caps for Northern Ireland. She made her international debut at the age of 17.