<P> The Republic of Ireland have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on three occasions . They hold the all time World Cup record of most appearances, always advancing from first round . </P> <P> Their first appearance in the finals was in Italy at the 1990 FIFA World Cup . 1990 was also their best performance in a major championship, where they reached the quarter - finals . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="9"> FIFA World Cup record </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th_colspan="7"> FIFA World Cup Qualification record </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Round </Th> <Th> Position </Th> <Th> Pld </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> D * </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> GF </Th> <Th> GA </Th> <Th> Pld </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> GF </Th> <Th> GA </Th> <Th> Position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Did not enter </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 3 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 2 / 2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 2 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 2 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 2 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 3 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Lost Playoff </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> 4 / 4 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 2 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3 / 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 3 / 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 4 / 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Quarter final </Td> <Td> 7th </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2 / 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Round of 16 </Td> <Td> 15th </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 2 / 7 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 2 / 6 Lost Playoff </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Round of 16 </Td> <Td> 12th </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 2 / 6 Won Playoff </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Did not qualify </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 4 / 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 2 / 6 Lost Playoff </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 4 / 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3 / 20 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 129 </Td> <Td> 51 </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> <Td> 188 </Td> <Td> 194 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="9"> FIFA World Cup record </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th_colspan="7"> FIFA World Cup Qualification record </Th> </Tr>

When did ireland last qualify for the world cup
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