'The nation holds its breath' Tipperary's fond memories of World Cups past
Ireland may have missed out on World Cup qualification this year, but the Premier County has fond memories of previous tournaments
World Cup fever has gripped the globe these past weeks.
2010 host nation South Africa kicked off proceedings against the 2026 host nation, Mexico on Thursday evening, June 11 2026 in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in what was a direct repeat fixture of the opening game of the 2010 edition of the tournament.
The 2010 World Cup is one that holds a somewhat foul taste for some Irish football fans. Many will remember vividly where they were when France’s Thierry Henry handled the ball to control it from going out of play, before playing it in to William Gallas for an extra-time winner, sealing Ireland’s fate, and ruling them out of contention for a place at the first edition held on African soil.
Irish supporters have waited 24 years for an appearance on the greatest stage of men’s international football, a penalty shootout loss to Spain the last time the boys in green would play at the tournament as of today.
Many football fans across the country are yet to watch the team play in a men’s FIFA World Cup at all.
For many however, the memories of the iconic run to the quarter finals of the 1990 tournament in Italy in June still loom large.
That same month, Nelson Mandela visited Tipperary, hippies had set up a commune in Cappamurra Bog, and a bomb threat was called in to the Tipperary Star office from Nenagh, yet the main headlines were dominated by the Irish national team’s exploits in Italy.
Draws in the three group games against England, Egypt, and then-reigning European champions the Netherlands were enough to see them through to the round of 16, for a knockout clash with Romania in Genoa.
A penalty shootout saw the nation hold its breath, with Daniel Timofte missed the only kick of the shootout as the Irish moved on to a quarter final match-up with host nation Italy.
‘Toto’ Schillaci would break the hearts of the millions watching up and down the country, with his sole goal enough to send Jack Charlton’s army home.
The world came crumbling back down to reality at that moment, but for two weeks in June, the sky was the limit for Irish football fans.
The squad would have to wait four years before exerting their revenge on the Italians, a 1-0 win courtesy of an early Ray Houghton goal enough to see them off in the opening round of Group E.
A loss to Mexico and a draw with Norway brought the group stage to an end, with Ireland progressing in second place, but a round of 16 clash with the Netherlands proved to be too much, with goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk sealing the fate of the Irish team and bringing the festivities to an end at home.
The country would have to wait another eight years before the next Irish appearance at a World Cup, having missed out on a spot at the 1998 edition in France.
Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy dominated the headlines prior to the 2002 tournament, but the stories could not dampen the spirits of the Irish supporters once the games kicked off, as draws with Cameroon and Germany and a win against Saudi Arabia set up a round of 16 clash with Spain.
A late Robbie Keane goal would draw the game to a penalty shootout the Irish couldn’t overcome, and after ten kicks, the green army was sent packing from Korea, in what would be the most recent time to date that the Irish men’s team would grace the global stage.
Tipperary has not been immune to World Cup fever over the years, if anything having more of a reason to get behind the team, with the mother of Arsenal legend David O’Leary coming originally from Marlfield, just outside Clonmel, and Niall Quinn’s family hailing from Thurles.
O’Leary permanently etched himself into the Irish sporting history books during that 1990 tournament, as he stepped up to take the decisive penalty in the shootout against Romania to send Ireland through to the next round, prompting RTÉ’s George Hamilton to utter his iconic “the nation holds its breath,” line.
Quinn represented the Republic of Ireland at the World Cups in 1990 and 2002, sending the local populace in Thurles into a frenzy during.
Quinn’s parents Billy and Mary originally came from the Thurles area, with Billy coming from Rahealty and Mary from Condonstown.
The local link kept fans in Tipperary captivated throughout the tournament, with the Tipperary Star reporting on June 30, 1990 that: “When Niall got the goal poor old Dick Quinn almost got his back broken with the amount of back slapping he got in Tom Dunne’s pub above in Friar Street,” referring to Quinn’s goal against the Netherlands in Palermo.
Reports from the time outline Quinn’s family’s presence in Tipperary during the game, with drinks being served on the house following his sister Rosalie’s arrival at their local pub in Killenaule.
One man at the time said the scenes witnessed upon Quinn’s goal were greater than the cheer felt following Tipperary’s victory in the 1987 Munster hurling final replay in Killarney.
One person recounted that the celebrations were such that it took a few seconds after the ball had gone in to realise it was Quinn who had scored, leading to further pandemonium.
Peake Villa FC hosted regular viewing parties in Hayes’ Hotel for the matches to raise money for underage teams, which boasted an attendance of roughly 200 for each game.
Some Tipperary men also made the trip to Italy for the tournament, with one Littleton man, Michael Quinn, flying the Clonmel tricolour in Palermo.
The World Cup dream may have eluded Irish supporters for a sixth consecutive time this summer, but looking back on the qualifier against Hungary in November last year, and the elation shared by Irish supporters during the moment of Troy Parrott’s last-minute winner, the spirit of the fan base hasn’t dampened, and the fire is still there, even for those who did not get to experience the excitement of the previous editions.
For now, Irish fans can relax and enjoy the competition as a neutral, or show support for another nation, if they so please.
Newer Irish fans have of course gotten a glimpse into what supporting the team on a major stage is like with our appearances at the 2012 Euros in Poland and Ukraine, and the 2016 Euros in France, which gave us Robbie Brady’s iconic late winner against Italy in the group stage to set up an enthralling encounter versus the eventual runners up France.
Many will remember the ecstasy they felt upon seeing Brady putting the ball past Hugo Lloris in the second minute of the game, giving us the hope that we may cause a major upset against the tournament favourites, before a second half Antoine Griezmann brace brought us back down to reality, while also showing us that the unwavering support from the 1990s and 2000s remains strong.
Before we know it, we’ll be playing host to the 2028 European Championships.
Here’s hoping we will be given another chance to embrace the pandemonium.