'A magical memory': how a 1978 night at Tolka Park went down in WNT history

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