Hailing from Meath Square in The Liberties,[2] he won 30 full international caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring once.
[5] He turned professional in November 1970 and became the Republic of Ireland's youngest ever full international at 17 years, 200 days when he came on as a 74th-minute substitute for Don Givens in the 4–1 defeat in the European Championship Qualifier against Austria at Dalymount Park on 30 May 1971.
[6] He made his league debut later that year in the home game against Leicester City on 4 December and gradually established himself in the Coventry first team.
[1][7] A month later, another free transfer took him to Torquay United, Holmes playing 25 games (3 goals) for Bruce Rioch's side.
[1] In November 1983 he moved to Peterborough United, scoring 7 times in 60 games before ending his league career.