Atkinson played youth football for Rush Athletic and the Metropolitan Girls' League Academy, before spending three years with Enniskerry FC. She signed for
Women's National League (WNL) club
Shelbourne in July 2017. The
2020 WNL season, delayed by the
COVID-19 pandemic, began with Atkinson in excellent form for Shelbourne. Instead of occupying her usual position on the
wing, she had been repurposed as an attacking
left-back. Her goal against
Bohemians was named Goal of the Month for August 2020. In February 2021, Atkinson signed for
Scottish Women's Premier League club
Celtic. She featured in Celtic's
2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League matches, creating an equaliser against
FC Minsk following a solo
dribble down the pitch. In May 2022 she scored an
extra time winning goal in the
Scottish Women's Cup final, as Celtic beat rivals
Glasgow City 3–2. In July 2022, Atkinson and another young Irish player
Tyler Toland both left Celtic. Atkinson then joined English
Women's Super League club
West Ham United later that month. In January 2024, FA Women's Championship side Crystal Palace announced they had signed Atkinson on a contract until 2025. On 10 June 2025, Crystal Palace announced that Atkinson was one of five players set to leave the club. On 31 July 2025, it was announced that Atkinson had joined
Women's Super League 2 club
Sunderland on a one-year contract with the option for a further year extension. She started in the opening game of the
2025-26 WSL2 season, scoring the first goal of the season in the 40th minute of a 4-0 win over
Sheffield United on 5 September 2025. ==International career==