'It's a forever thing': Trailblazing Limerick entrepreneur engaged to hurling and rugby star

A WELL-known businesswoman from Limerick has gotten engaged over the June bank holiday weekend to a former Connacht rugby star, as they share adorable snaps post-proposal online. 

Kylie O’Donoghue, who is co-founder and director of FemFuelz, a sport nutrition brand with her brother, All-Star hurler William O’Donoghue, is set to tie the knot with her long-term boyfriend, former Connacht rugby player and Limerick minor hurler, Conor Fitzgerald. 

The couple took to Instagram to share the momentous occasion, which saw Conor get down on one knee on Friday, May 30, while exploring the Wicklow mountains together at Lough Tay with their dog, Sonny. 

Sharing a host of professional-looking snaps to her Instagram feed on Sunday, June 1, three days after the engagement, the collection of photos included a black-and-white photo of the two kissing and Kylie flashing her impressive, halo-style engagement ring. 

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She captioned the photos: “It’s a forever thing - 30.05.2025”. The joint post has garnered over 400 congratulations from a range of social media influencers and well-known personalities, to sports stars and broadcasters, such as Bundee Aki and fellow Limerick woman and Today FM host, Louise Cantillon. 

Connacht rugby star Bundee Aki, who is expecting his fifth child with his wife Kayla, congratulated the loved-up pair that is Kylie and Conor, saying: “Congrats you two!”

While in typical Gaeilgeoir fashion, Louise Cantillon, who is married to William O’Donoghue’s fellow Limerick teammate Declan Hannon, wrote: “Ahh! Comhghairdeas libh beirt.” 

Conor Fitzgerald, 27, was a Shannon RFC out-half who also played in an All-Ireland minor hurling final for Limerick. He signed a pro contract with Connacht for the 2019/2020 season. 

A former Ardscoil Ris Munster Schools' Senior Cup star, Conor made four appearances in the European Challenge Cup and a further two in the PRO14. He has reportedly been dating Kylie for over a decade.

William, who is 31 and five years older than Kylie, got engaged to his partner, artist Gemma Cowen, last November. He surprised his wife-to-be by getting down on one knee as she hung a decoration on their Christmas tree in their new home that said "turn around".

William is vice-captain to Cian Lynch this year for the Limerick senior hurling squad, led by John Kiely, who will be facing Cork in what will undoubtedly be a fierce Munster Championship Final this Saturday, June 7, at 6pm in TUS Gaelic Grounds.

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Kylie and William were the first siblings to appear in the Sport for Business 30 under 30 list, which “celebrates rising talent in the Irish sports industry, recognising individuals under the age of 30 who are making a real impact across sports organisations, agencies, and sponsorship roles”. 

They started the business while in the University of Limerick (UL) together and it took off in Covid. The brand sells nutritional supplements for women.

Kylie told Business Plus: “William was always trying to educate me on what I should be taking before, during or after exercise, to fuel myself efficiently.

“Through that inability to find a brand I felt I could relate to came the idea of a female-based supplement brand.”