The first women to pull on the Ireland jersey to represent the Women's National Team in official games were reunited on Friday, May 5th at a special event.

As part of the Football Association of Ireland's 50-Year Anniversary Celebrations of Women and Girls' Football, the trailblazing women who first featured for Ireland in 1973 were honoured at The Westin Hotel, Dublin.

Representing eight different counties, the women who helped Ireland defeat Wales 3-2 on May 13th, 1973 and who beat Northern Ireland 4-1 on June 30th, 1973 in Bluebell, Dublin were reunited for the first time in five decades.

At a lunch event, each of the players received a special gift to mark the occasion, which was attended by Minister of State at Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Thomas Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy, FAI President Gerry McAnaney and FAI CEO Jonathan Hill.

Along with the players, there were also a number of key personnel who helped to create the early foundations of women and girls' football at both domestic and international level in Ireland present at the event.

The players will be special guests of the current Ireland WNT at their International Friendly against France on July 6th in Tallaght Stadium - their final home game before FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Wales 2-3 Ireland, 13 May, 1973
Goalscorer: Paula Gorham x3

Goalkeeper: Anne Griffith
Defenders: Nora McHugh, Geraldine Molloy, Sally Bownes, Mary O'Callaghan
Midfielders: Mary Gavin, Carol Carr, Linda Gorman, Margaret O'Connell, Catherine Rafferty
Forwards: Paula Gorham

Substitutes: Teresa Holland, Eleanor Carroll, Geraldine Grace

Selected but couldn't travel: Kathleen Ramsbottom, Ursula Grace

Ireland 4-1 Northern Ireland, 30 June, 1973
Goalscorers: Maureen Stokes, Breda Hanlon, Joan Williams x2

Goalkeeper: Anne Griffith
Defenders: Nora McHugh, Anne O'Brien, Margaret O'Connell, Maureen Stokes
Midfielders: Violet Elliott, Linda Gorman, Eileen Brennan, Breda Hanlon
Forwards: Joan Williams, Paula Gorham

Substitutes: Mary Gavin, Carol Doran, Marian Donnelly, Margaret O'Driscoll, Marion Slattery