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PHOTOS 50 year anniversary of inspirational Limerick Ladies Soccer team celebrated at Civic Reception

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The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick’s first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team honoured with civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick’s first ladies team

By Cian Reinhardt, Editor, and Olena Oleksienko, Journalist

1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team honoured with civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team
Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan, Mayor of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, and Limerick sporting legend Jackie McCarthy-O’Brien. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

The spotlight shone on the 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team at a Civic Reception with Cllr Gerald Mitchell, Mayor of Limerick City and County to mark the 50th year golden jubilee of their historic sporting breakthrough. 

The team were pioneering history-makers, not just as the first Limerick Ladies’ team, but the group won the inaugural League of Ireland Championship in 1973 and also raised the FAI cup in 1975, becoming the first winners of that accolade too. Managed by Frank ‘Junior’ Keane, Limerick won the inaugural League of Ireland championship in 1973, and retained the title 12 months later. In 1975, the team were the first winners of the FAI Cup.


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Among this inspirational group of Limerick women, players furthered their legacy by representing the nation in what was the very first Irish International team for the women’s game, with four players making the panel showing the quality within the Limerick ranks.

Speaking about the “great honour” of the civic reception, Jackie McCarthy-O’Brien, one of the players being honoured told I Love Limerick, “Tonight is a very special night for the team of 1973. What team, you ask? The Ladies Soccer Team. The first Ladies Soccer Team to win the League of Ireland and they just happen to be a Limerick team. Of that team, four of the Limerick girls went on to represent  Ireland in the first ever Irish International.”

McCarthy O’Brien, who was one of the four players to represent Ireland, spoke about a “very special part” of the team, Junior Frank King who couldn’t attend the evening.

“I was only 12 years of age part of that team,” said Jackie, adding, “And a very special part of that team was Junior Frank King. He was the guy that actually started soccer in Limerick and started the League of Ireland. Unfortunately, he’s not well and won’t be able to be here tonight.”

Although King couldn’t attend, Jackie said, “I’m sure there will be a lot of reminiscing and a lot of well-wishes sent to him and his family on this very, very special occasion. 50 years of lady soccer in Limerick.”

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The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick
The 1973 Limerick Ladies Soccer team were honoured with a civic reception commemorating their history-making achievements as Limerick's first ladies team. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.