Events from the year 1990 in Ireland. Incumbents President Patrick Hillery (until 2 December 1990) Mary Robinson (from 3 December 1990) Taoiseach: Charles Haughey (FF) Tánaiste: Brian Lenihan (FF) (until 31 October 1990) John Wilson (FF) (from 13 November 1990) Minister for Finance: Albert Reynolds (FF) Chief Justice: Thomas Finlay Dáil: 26th Seanad: 19th Events 1 January The Northern Ireland Fair Employment Act became law. The town of Ennis celebrated its 750th birthday. Ireland began a six-month European Presidency. 3 April – There was all-party support for the Criminal Justice Bill to abolish capital punishment for all offences and to replace it with lengthy prison sentences (although in practice the penalty for murder has always been commuted in Ireland since 1954). 26 April – The Labour Party selected Mary Robinson as its candidate for the November presidential election. 4 May – The second People In Need Telethon took place. 11 June – The Irish football team began their first appearance at a World Cup Final tournament with a 1–1 draw against England in Cagliari in Italy. Kevin Sheedy scored for Ireland, with Gary Lineker scoring for England. 17 June – Ireland's World Cup continued with a goalless draw against Egypt. 20 June – The Irish Pound coin was introduced into circulation to replace the note of the same denomination. 21 June – The Irish football team completed their World Cup group stage unbeaten and reached the last 16 group with a 1–1 draw against the Netherlands. 25 June – Ireland reached the World Cup quarter-finals by beating Romania on penalties after a goalless draw in the last 16 tie, in Genoa. As of 2022, this was Ireland's best World Cup result 30 June – Ireland were eliminated from the World Cup Final by a goal from Toto Schillaci in the quarter final match against the hosts, Italy, in Rome. 1 July – Half a million people gathered in Dublin to pay tribute to the Irish football team and to former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The football team had reached the World Cup quarter final in Italia '90 before being beaten by Italy, while Mandela accepted the Freedom of the City of Dublin, granted to him two years earlier, at an open-air ceremony outside the Mansion House. 2 July – Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of both houses of the Oireachtas. 11 July – The Criminal Justice Act abolished