President Higgins welcomes first Ireland international women’s football team to Áras an Uachtaráin
Date: Tue 28th Jan, 2025 | 15:24
Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins this afternoon welcomed members of the first women’s team to represent Ireland in international football to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Present at the event were 22 members of the squads which represented Ireland in the team’s first international matches against Wales and Northern Ireland in May and June of 1973, including captain Nono McHugh and Paula Gorham, who scored a hat trick in the very first international – a 3-2 victory over Wales. Also present was Patricia Broderick, sister of the late Anne O’Brien.
In a statement, President Higgins said:
"It is deeply important that the trailblazers of women’s football in Ireland are appropriately recognised. It is an honour to receive members of Ireland’s first international women’s football team at Áras an Uachtaráin to celebrate their achievements of 50 years ago.
The legacy of their determination and pride in representing their country on the international stage is reflected by all those international players who have followed in their footsteps and sent such a strong example of the quality of women’s football, which we see going from strength to strength including in the landmark qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
I join with all those who have marked the achievements of the squad over the last two years as the 50th anniversary of their achievements have been marked and thank all of the players for their major contribution to Irish sport.”