In 1973, the Women's Football Association of Ireland was established[2] and in the same year on 13 May the Republic of Ireland made their official international debut, 's hat-trick securing a 3–2 win in an away friendly game against Wales.[3] They made their competitive debut on 19 September 1982 in a 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifier, also against Scotland. This time the Republic of Ireland lost just 3–0. On 2 October 1982 the Republic of Ireland gained their first competitive win when they defeated Northern Ireland 2–1 in an away game in the same competition. After losing 10–0 to Sweden in a Euro 1993 qualifier, the FAI did not enter a team in the 1995 competition.[4] This defeat against Sweden remains the team's biggest defeat.
During the 2000s the Republic of Ireland enjoyed some minor successes. In 2000 they won the Celt Cup – a four team tournament that also featured Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.[5] In their 2005 UEFA Women's Euro campaign they also won their second level group, finishing above Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta. This would have secured promotion to the elite group of nations which competed directly for qualification to major tournaments, had the two level system not been scrapped for the next qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland also won their group at the 2013 Cyprus Cup, finishing above South Korea, South Africa and Northern Ireland.
In April 2017, the squad demanded better treatment from the FAI and threatened to boycott a home match against Slovakia.[9] They wanted a higher match fee, and broken time payment for amateurs missing work.[9] They claimed that they had to share with underage teams the tracksuits they wore travelling to and from away matches, and change out of them in airport toilets.[9] The boycott threat was lifted when agreement on improvements was reached.[10]
Throughout their history the Republic of Ireland have played their home games at various grounds. The most regularly used have included Dalymount Park, Tolka Park, Richmond Park and Turners Cross. They have also played occasional games at Belfield Park, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Flancare Park and in Arklow. However, since September 2013 they have played all their home games at Tallaght Stadium.
^Fan Hong, J. A. Mangan (2004). Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. Frank Cass Publishers.
^Ryan, Eoin (10 May 2020). "Trailblazers - When Dundalk Ladies represented Ireland". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2020. When the WFAI was established in 1973, almost a full three years after the Corinthians clash, Gorham scored a hat-trick in the Republic of Ireland's first officially recognised women's international - a 3-2 victory away to Wales.
2 (10 December 2021)[1]
Wales 2–3 Republic of Ireland 
Georgia
Sweden 10–0 Republic of Ireland 
Denmark 
14'
Australia 
Slovakia 
Vera Pauw
Eamonn Darcy (1984–1985)
Colin Bell (2017–2019)[18]
Vera Pauw (2019–)[19]
Slovakia and 
Georgia on 25 and 30 November 2021, respectively.[20]
Reading
Celtic
North Carolina Courage
FC Köln
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2015
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