Women's association football in the Republic of Ireland
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Women's association football in the Republic of Ireland is governed by the Women's Football Association of Ireland. The WFAI organizes and manages the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, the FAI Women's Cup and the Women's National League as well as various county and regional leagues and junior cup competitions. The most notable county league is the Dublin Women's Soccer League. Organised women's association football has been played in the Republic of Ireland since at least the late 1960s and the national team has been active since 1973. Notable Republic of Ireland women's association footballers include Katie Taylor, Stephanie Roche and Emma Byrne. In addition to representing the Republic of Ireland at full international level, Taylor is also an Irish, European, World and Olympic boxing champion. In 2014 Roche was a FIFA Puskás Award nominee. Byrne is a prominent member of the Arsenal Ladies team.
| Women's association football in the Republic of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| |
| Country | Ireland |
| Governing body | Women's Football Association of Ireland |
| National team | Republic of Ireland |
| National competitions | |
Timeline
| Year/Season | Key events |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Benfica, one of the oldest women's association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland is founded in Waterford |
| 1967 | UCD play Dublin University in an early intervarsity women's game.[1][2] |
| 1973 | The Women's Football Association of Ireland is established.[3] On 22 April the Republic of Ireland women's national football team make their debut in a 10–1 defeat against Scotland. |
| 1982 | The Republic of Ireland make their competitive debut on 19 September in a European Competition for Women's Football qualifier. They lose 3–0 to Scotland. |
| 1982 | On 2 October the Republic of Ireland win their first competitive game when they defeat Northern Ireland 2–1 in a European Competition for Women's Football qualifier. |
| 1983 | Thomond College win the inaugural Intervarsity Cup, the women's equivalent of the Collingwood Cup.[4][5] |
| 1991 | The WFAI affiliates with the Football Association of Ireland.[6] |
| 1994 | Elm Rovers become first Dublin Women's Soccer League champions.[7] |
| 2000 | The Republic of Ireland win the Celt Cup.[8] |
| 2002–03 | Shamrock Rovers became the first women's team to represent the Republic of Ireland in Europe. |
| 2005 | The Republic of Ireland win their second level group in their UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualification campaign. |
| 2007 | Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant play for Arsenal in the 2007 UEFA Women's Cup Final. They are the first two Republic of Ireland women's players to feature in a major European cup final. Ciara McCormack had been an unused substitute in 2003. |
| 2010 | The Republic of Ireland U-17s finish as runners-up in the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and as quarter-finalists in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[9] |
| 2011–12 | Peamount United become the first Republic of Ireland team, including men's team, to qualify for the knockout stages of a European competition.[10] They also become the inaugural winners of the Women's National League.[11] |
| 2013 | The Republic of Ireland win their group at the 2013 Cyprus Cup. |
| 2013 | Stephanie Roche's goal for Peamount United goes viral on YouTube[12][13] and is nominated for a FIFA Puskás Award.[14] |
| 2014 | The Republic of Ireland team win their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualify for the semi-finals.[15] |
| 2014–15 | Raheny United become first Republic of Ireland club team, including men's teams, to win their group in a European competition. |
List of teams
Women's National League
Timeline
League member Former member Future member
Dublin Women's Soccer League
Premier League
| Team | Home town/suburb | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Bray Wanderers | Bray | Carlisle Grounds |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park |
| Sporting Kilmore | Coolock | Oscar Traynor Road |
| Monaghan United | Monaghan | Gortakeegan |
| Peamount United B | Newcastle, County Dublin | Greenogue |
| Raheny United | Raheny | St Anne's Park |
| St Francis | Baldonnel, County Dublin | John Hyland Park |
| St Catherine's | Walkinstown/The Liberties, Dublin | Walkinstown Avenue |
Major League
| Team | Home town/suburb | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Albion Rovers | Monasterboice | Muireachs Park |
| Cabinteely | Cabinteely | Kilbogget Park |
| Drimnagh Celtic | Drimnagh | |
| Eureka Kells | Kells, County Meath | Dublin Road |
| Lakelands | Stillorgan | |
| Leixlip United | Leixlip | Leixlip Amenities Centre |
| Peamount United C | Newcastle, County Dublin | Greenogue |
| Templeogue | Templeogue |
Mayo Women's Football League
Premier Division - 2025 season