Dunne delighted to ride rollercoaster into Irish squad
"It's not totally first day of school," said Jimmy Dunne, as he faced the media in Dublin following his call-up to the Ireland senior squad for this week's UEFA Nations League play-off with Bulgaria.
The QPR defender has been here before, of course, called into the Ireland set-up by previous managers going back to Martin O’Neill in 2018.
And yet, the County Louth native has yet to see any game-time on the pitch with the senior side; his last action in the green jersey coming for the Under-21 selection.
Tipped for stardom, Dunne was playing with the Manchester United academy as a ten-year-old and remained at the club until he was 19, when he signed for Burnley.
A run of loan spells would follow before Dunne finally made his first-team debut at the Turf Moor club in 2020, making his Premier League bow a few days later, where he scored on his maiden appearance in the top flight.
That was about the high point at Burnley and the following summer, Dunne would sign for Queen’s Park Rangers in west London.
And that’s where he has remained, and thrived for the Hoops, cementing his place in the heart of the defence, playing over 150 times throughout the last four seasons.
Happy in a three or a four, comfortable in the middle or at right-back, Dunne’s versatility will certainly be appreciated at international level where chopping and changing from match to match is a perennial headache for all who manage.
Dunne’s secret weapon, however, could be his charismatic personality; he had the room in the palm of his hand within seconds of opening his mouth following training on Monday.
Open and honest with plenty of time for humour, whether putting his hand up for a role on the left wing, or at number 10, claiming to covering 11 kilometres per game as a right back this season, before quickly backtracking, while adding some dark humour by saying it would not have been ideal declaring for Northern Ireland – his granny is from Enniskillen – considering his Dundalk upbringing.
"My career has been an emotional roller-coaster," said Dunne. "I got released by Man United at 18/19 and 12 months later I was playing Conference Premier football so it was one extreme to the other.
"I felt I’d a lot of catching up to do but I feel like I am where I deserve and should be at this stage in my career. The older I get, I'll continue to strive and strive for Premier League and, if it’s late, it’s late, but hopefully I will get there."
Jimmy Dunne has settled straight into the Ireland squad
When that international knock came, Dunne was ready and willing to answer the call, and despite being 27, he feels that his position in defence will offer longevity further down the line and has never given up hope of representing his country.
"He's been at some games, I think I did well in the games which obviously helps," said Dunne, when asked about his interactions with Heimir Hallgrimsson.
"He wants to get a good atmosphere and feeling into the camp and he's mentioned my character to me a couple of times, so he obviously values that as much as he does the football side of things.
"He seems to value character. I've grown in experience over the last few years. QPR has given me that platform to get loads and loads of games, I've grown in experience and confidence.
"This group has chopped and changed a lot over the last couple of seasons but hopefully he values the character and experience as much as the football
"Just be myself," he added, when asked about integrating quickly with the senior squad.
"I know some of the guys, it's not totally first day of school. I've played with and against some of the guys. I'm very close to Robbie; Robbie Brady was the first one to text me when he saw I was in the squad, he was absolutely delighted for me, so I feel quite close to the group already."
Dunne’s story is one of spirit and determination, and it is a characteristic inherited from his father Eamonn, who unfortunately passed away late last year.
The Kerry native overcame traumatic injury as a child before representing Louth in Gaelic football, while coach to his son throughout his childhood days.
"My old man was a school teacher/GAA coach. He was my manager really, as much as a father," said Dunne.
"I know everyone’s family situations are difficult, and it was probably tough being away from my family from 15 years of age. That changes family situations and losing him midway through the season was complicated, but he’d be very, very proud to see that I’m back involved in this camp and I’m very lucky, I’ve got a really good family behind me, a really good parish behind me, and I’m sure they’ll be very proud.
"My father’s story was a story of resilience as well. His story was that he got hit by a car as a kid and he had an unfortunate leg injury, and he actually wore shinpads playing for County Louth. He was probably the only GAA player to ever wear shinpads.
"I’m very proud. I think that GAA culture is something that sticks to a lot of the soccer lads as well coming through. So yeah, I’m very, very proud."
The QPR defender has been here before, of course, called into the Ireland set-up by previous managers going back to Martin O’Neill in 2018.
And yet, the County Louth native has yet to see any game-time on the pitch with the senior side; his last action in the green jersey coming for the Under-21 selection.
Tipped for stardom, Dunne was playing with the Manchester United academy as a ten-year-old and remained at the club until he was 19, when he signed for Burnley.
A run of loan spells would follow before Dunne finally made his first-team debut at the Turf Moor club in 2020, making his Premier League bow a few days later, where he scored on his maiden appearance in the top flight.
That was about the high point at Burnley and the following summer, Dunne would sign for Queen’s Park Rangers in west London.
And that’s where he has remained, and thrived for the Hoops, cementing his place in the heart of the defence, playing over 150 times throughout the last four seasons.
Happy in a three or a four, comfortable in the middle or at right-back, Dunne’s versatility will certainly be appreciated at international level where chopping and changing from match to match is a perennial headache for all who manage.
Dunne’s secret weapon, however, could be his charismatic personality; he had the room in the palm of his hand within seconds of opening his mouth following training on Monday.
Open and honest with plenty of time for humour, whether putting his hand up for a role on the left wing, or at number 10, claiming to covering 11 kilometres per game as a right back this season, before quickly backtracking, while adding some dark humour by saying it would not have been ideal declaring for Northern Ireland – his granny is from Enniskillen – considering his Dundalk upbringing.
"My career has been an emotional roller-coaster," said Dunne. "I got released by Man United at 18/19 and 12 months later I was playing Conference Premier football so it was one extreme to the other.
"I felt I’d a lot of catching up to do but I feel like I am where I deserve and should be at this stage in my career. The older I get, I'll continue to strive and strive for Premier League and, if it’s late, it’s late, but hopefully I will get there."
Jimmy Dunne has settled straight into the Ireland squad
When that international knock came, Dunne was ready and willing to answer the call, and despite being 27, he feels that his position in defence will offer longevity further down the line and has never given up hope of representing his country.
"He's been at some games, I think I did well in the games which obviously helps," said Dunne, when asked about his interactions with Heimir Hallgrimsson.
"He wants to get a good atmosphere and feeling into the camp and he's mentioned my character to me a couple of times, so he obviously values that as much as he does the football side of things.
"He seems to value character. I've grown in experience over the last few years. QPR has given me that platform to get loads and loads of games, I've grown in experience and confidence.
"This group has chopped and changed a lot over the last couple of seasons but hopefully he values the character and experience as much as the football
"Just be myself," he added, when asked about integrating quickly with the senior squad.
"I know some of the guys, it's not totally first day of school. I've played with and against some of the guys. I'm very close to Robbie; Robbie Brady was the first one to text me when he saw I was in the squad, he was absolutely delighted for me, so I feel quite close to the group already."
Dunne’s story is one of spirit and determination, and it is a characteristic inherited from his father Eamonn, who unfortunately passed away late last year.
The Kerry native overcame traumatic injury as a child before representing Louth in Gaelic football, while coach to his son throughout his childhood days.
"My old man was a school teacher/GAA coach. He was my manager really, as much as a father," said Dunne.
"I know everyone’s family situations are difficult, and it was probably tough being away from my family from 15 years of age. That changes family situations and losing him midway through the season was complicated, but he’d be very, very proud to see that I’m back involved in this camp and I’m very lucky, I’ve got a really good family behind me, a really good parish behind me, and I’m sure they’ll be very proud.
"My father’s story was a story of resilience as well. His story was that he got hit by a car as a kid and he had an unfortunate leg injury, and he actually wore shinpads playing for County Louth. He was probably the only GAA player to ever wear shinpads.
"I’m very proud. I think that GAA culture is something that sticks to a lot of the soccer lads as well coming through. So yeah, I’m very, very proud."
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