Analysis: Ireland's 1978 match against France on home soil stands out for many former WNT players as a highlight of their days in a green jersey
By Helena Byrne, British Library
Tonight, the Republic of Ireland WNT will take on France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in their sixth and final game of the EURO 2025 qualifiers. It's been a difficult run for the Girls in Green, who haven't taken a single point away from the matches. But despite that, they still have a shot at qualifying for EURO 2025 through the playoffs. Last Friday, Julie-Ann Russell ended the goal drought when she found the back of the net for Ireland during stoppage time against England at Carrow Road. The goal was the first scored by the WNT against in England in 46 years and could prove crucial for Ireland in terms of securing a more favourable playoffs draw. Any goals against France tonight could improve that even further.
France are currently ranked second while the Republic of Ireland remains in twenty fifth in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. This is the fourteenth time that the sides have faced each other, and we have never managed to triumph against the French side. We have, however, managed to score one goal against them on three occasions. The last Irish player to get a goal past the French was Áine O'Gorman in 2011.
But Ireland's WNT has a strong relationship with France that dates back to more than five decades, to before there even was an official WNT. Having met on French soil in 1973, the first official home international match against France took place in Tolka Park in 1978. This was arranged after the French Football Federation wrote to the Ladies Football Association (LFAI) requesting an away and home fixture between the sides, preferable in May 1978, followed by a game in France in either 1978 or 1979.
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From RTÉ 2, Julie-Ann Russell scores for Ireland in Carrow Road match against England
This request was discussed at great length at the LFAI Council Meeting on 11 January 1978. However, "due to the lack of finance it was unanimously decided that it would be impossible to fulfil this fixture and September was suggested as an alternative date". The French Football Federation confirmed they would play in Dublin on 23 September 1978.
It was proposed at a later council meeting on 31 May 1978 that 2,000 match tickets and 1,000 match programmes were printed. It was also proposed that the LFAI would write to Ireland's President Patrick Hillery requesting him to meet the teams, but this does not seem to have happened. The records show the LFAI Council meeting held 23 August was informed sixteen players and six officials would travel to Dublin. The French team flew in on the afternoon of Friday 22 September and left on Sunday morning 24 September.
At this meeting, WNT manager Kevin Healy requested that the two London based players, Noreen O’Flynn and Catherine Hynes (listed as Kathleen in the programme) be flown in for the match. Their travel arrangements were confirmed by football manager Pat Noone. Other logistics were discussed at this meeting, like trying to get hold of the Irish and French flag at the match, and a band to play the national anthems. The Council informed that the officials for the match were the same officials from the Bracken Trophy competition. Sean Dowling stated that he "felt it only fair that the referees who looked after all the ladies matches throughout the season should have the chance of an international match".
Read more: What happened when Ireland's WNT first met France in 1973?
The sixteen-player panel for the Republic of Ireland included players from Dublin, Cork, Limerick and London. Margaret Tracey, footballer with Dublin Castle (and sister of Olympic runner Mary Purcell), remembers, "we had our last training session in Phoenix Park and the team was announced. I was delighted that three of us from my club Dublin Castle, myself Margaret Griffin and Paula Mooney, team captain for the match, were in the first eleven. Our manager was Kevin Healy from Bohs, a gentleman and a great coach". This was Margaret's second time to don the Irish shirt "but it was my first time to play any match under lights which created a magical lasting memory".
France is a strong footballing nation. The teams had only met once before in Paris where they lost 4-0. The match was played 10 October 1973 at Parc de Princes. Although the LFAI did reach out to all the press outlets, including RTÉ, coverage in the build-up and after the match was very limited. Five hundred fans turned up to the match which is a considerable crowd considering the lack of media attention.
The day before the match the Evening Press mentioned the match in a summary of events section. It stated, "The Republic of Ireland take on France in a friendly, but a friendly that you can be sure will be very sternly contested… The game is very strong there - and the wearers of the red, white and blue are favourites". The Evening Herald preview of the match ran with the headline "Get Revenge?". Margaret Tracey remembers that playing "under lights made for a great atmosphere for the singing of the National Anthems. The crowd gave us brilliant support, particularly when we went on the attack".
Read more: Looking back on the first UEFA competition for women 40 years ago
The Evening Echo post-match report stated that the WNT "scored a creditable 0-0 draw with France …. Though the game lacked goals it had everything else with plenary of attacking football, and goal mouth incidents". The report named French player Rachel Vilarinho, who played her club football with Stade de Reims at the time, as the player of the match. The Evening Echo also gave a special mention to the Irish defenders Bernie Cassidy and Linda Gorman "who played a stirring game in holding the French outside-right, Vilarinho."
When asked about this match Linda Gorman, who went on to manage the WNT and was induced into the FAI Hall of Fame in 2022, says "a game I have vivid memories of. It was after this game that I really knew our team was improving. Given that Bernie Cassidy and I, both defenders, got players of the game should indicate how good the French forwards and midfielders were". This is a match that stands out for many of the former WNT players as a highlight of their days in a green shirt.
Helena Byrne is a librarian that specialises in web archiving and an independent researcher focusing on the history of women’s football in Ireland. She regularly contributes history segments to FAI Women's National Team match programmes and recently contributed to projects that celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the Republic of Ireland's Women's National team in 1973.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
