The Love Island star doesn’t get paid for one of his jobs
11:18, 09 Jun 2026Updated 11:22, 09 Jun 2026
Sean Fitzgerald with Lola Deal on Love Island(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
This year’s Love Island contestants are finally getting comfortable in the Majorca villa, but there’s still much to discover about their lives before the spotlight.
Teacher Sean ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald was amongst twelve singles who joined the ITV programme on day one. He was presented as a primary school teacher who also plays Gaelic Football.
He previously represented Galway’s under-20 squad before progressing to the senior panel in 2022.
Read More: Tommy Fleming ex statement after emotional bombshell interview
Read More: Few Irish people applying for €130 social welfare payment available to large group
Viewers almost anticipate a footballer each series of the dating programme, but Sean distinguishes himself due to his earnings. Unlike other sporting professionals, he receives nothing from his football pursuits.
They do, however, receive government grants to cover expenses such as travel costs and training kit. This likely accounts for why Fitzy balances his roles as a footballer and educator.
But he still earns a decent income in his conventional job as Ireland’s primary school teachers have a starting salary of €45,379.
Whether he’ll return to his day job after Love Island remains uncertain, but it’s clear Fitzy didn’t enter the programme in pursuit of fame.
The 25 year old actually landed a place in the villa after posting a lighthearted TikTok audition video. Prior to the series getting underway, he disclosed: “I was thinking ‘Jeez, I wish I was in there I could liven it up a bit’, so I just went outside, did a bit of a spiel about what I would do if I was in there. It wasn’t actually an application as such, it was just a video kind of messing or whatever saying what I’d do if I was on there.”
Yet the footage captured the attention of the casting producers.
“The next day they actually rang me saying would I want to do an interview, so I didn’t apply or anything,” Fitzy shared. “I said ‘Sure I’ll do an interview’. But I wasn’t really thinking about it much.”
Join Galway Beo’s top stories and breaking news service on WhatsApp.
Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.