League of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland
. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division. The league was governed by its members, the clubs, from its foundation to 2006, when it entered into a five year merger with the Football Association of Ireland
. In 2010, its members voted to renew the merger once the current agreement expires. The league has suffered severe financial problems in recent years due to mismanagement and overspending by its clubs. In 2007, it became the first major league in Europe to introduce a salary cap
.
The league includes one club from Northern Ireland
, Derry City
. Derry City formerly played in the Irish Football League, but voluntarily left the Northern Irish league following the 1972–73 season as a result of safety and security concerns. Derry City joined the League of Ireland at the second level in 1985, after a special dispensation from the Irish Football Association
(IFA) and UEFA
. They won promotion in 1987, and remained in the top division of the League of Ireland until 2009, when they were expelled for operating an illegal system of contracts. They were subsequently liquidated
, with a successor club placed in the First Division in 2010.
The League of Ireland is currently ranked 31st of the 53 national leagues under UEFA jurisdiction. The league's most successful club is Shamrock Rovers
, with 17 League of Ireland titles won. They are one of three clubs in Ireland
, with Bohemians
and Shelbourne
, to sport a golden star
above their badge in recognition of winning ten titles. Bohemians are the only club with a non-broken membership of the league since its inception. St. Patrick's Athletic
and Bohemians
are the only clubs that have never been relegated from the League of Ireland Premier Division. The League of Ireland is classed as a summer league as its seasons begin in March and finish in November. The league is currently sponsored by Airtricity
and therefore officially known as the Airtricity League.
were the inaugural winners of the league and the FAI Cup
. The league expanded numerically and geographically during its first decade of existence but was dominated by Dublin's three main clubs, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Shelbourne. Dundalk
became the first club from outside of the capital to win the league, in 1932–33. The 1930s saw another championship victory for a provincial side, with Sligo Rovers
claiming their first league title in 1936–37, while Shamrock Rovers won a further three during the decade. The League of Ireland was dominated by Cork United during the 1940s. The club won five league titles between 1941 and 1946, including three in succession, but resigned from the league in 1948. The following decade was marked by the emergence of St Patrick's Athletic
and the reemergence of Shamrock Rovers. The former succeeded in winning the title at the first attempt, in 1951–52, and claimed a further two in the middle of the decade. The Coad's Colts earned Shamrock Rovers the league title for the first time in fifteen years, in 1953–54, and won two more during the latter half of the decade.
Drumcondra and Dundalk claimed two League of Ireland titles each during the 1960s but Waterford secured their status as the team of the decade with four league titles, including three in succession between 1967 and 1970. Six clubs won the League of Ireland title during the 1970s with Waterford, Bohemians and Dundalk winning two titles each. Athlone Town won their two league titles at the start of the 1980s but the decade was marked by the four successive league titles won by Shamrock Rovers' Four in a row side. That team broke up following the sale of Glenmalure Park
in 1987 and Dundalk and Derry City stepped in to claim the remaining titles of the decade with Derry winning the Treble in 1989, four years after entering the League of Ireland. The 1990s saw the re-emergence of St Patrick's Athletic, as the club secured 4 league championships during the decade, following years of obscurity. The turn of the millennium was marked by the first of five titles in seven years for Shelbourne, a first title in 23 years for Bohemians and the league's switch to a Summer Soccer (March–November) schedule. Cork City denied Shels' a third league title in a row when they claimed their 2nd championship in 2005, defeating fellow challengers Derry City in a last game decider at Turners Cross
. The 2nd half of the decade saw the beginning of the 5 year merger with the FAI and the financial collapse of a number of league winning clubs, due to overspending and mismanagement. Shelbourne were demoted to the First Division after their title win in 2006, while Drogheda went into examinership
in 2008, having won the League of Ireland the previous year. Cork City also entered into examinership in the same year, while its holding company was wound up in 2010. Derry City were thrown out of the League of Ireland at the end of the 2009 season for producing false documents regarding player contracts and thus breaking the League's participation agreement. Bohemians entered a period of severe financial trouble in 2010 after a decade of accumulating massive debts in the payment of full-time players and staff.
was introduced for the first time in the league, replacing the previous method of election.
A third round of fixtures was added to both divisions for the 1987–88 season, replacing the double round robin system. The points system of the league was changed in 1993–94, with 3 points awarded for a win. The previous method of 2 points for a win had existed since the league's inception, excluding two seasons of experimental points systems in the early 1980s. The format remained until 2002–03, when the season was deliberately shortened to ease the transition to "Summer Soccer". The Premier Division was cut to 10 teams while the First Division played only 2 rounds of fixtures. The first season of summer soccer saw the introduction of a fourth round of fixtures to the 10 team Premier Division, while the 12 teams in the First Division played each other on 3 occasions. This is the system currently in place, though these formats and numbers were reversed for 4 seasons, from 2005 to 2008. The system is unpopular amongst the majority of managers, players and club officials within the league, according to a League of Ireland review conducted in 2009.
second qualifying round for champions. The second-placed and third placed-teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. They must go through three two-legged knockout ties respectively in order to enter the second round group phase of that competition. There is a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round slot reserved for the winners of the FAI Cup
. If it were to happen that a cup winner has already qualified for the UEFA Europa League via the league, the cup-win qualification will take prominence and the league-place qualification will be transferred to the next team who finished below them in the league. However, if the case is that the cup-winner has already won the league, that team will take a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, by way of its league win, and the losing team in the FAI Cup final will take the UEFA Europa League spot on offer from that competition.
In 2011 Shamrock Rovers became the first team in Irish footballing history to reach the group stages of the Europa League.
and Hajduk Split
to reach the 3rd qualifying round of the competition. Victories over Swedish
clubs became the main focal points of the progress for a few seasons after that: Cork City defeated Djurgården in 2005, having beaten Malmö
4–1 on aggregate in 2004, while Derry City beat former UEFA Cup
winners IFK Göteborg
2–0 on aggregate in 2006. In 2008–09, Drogheda concluded 3 successive seasons of victories in the 1st qualifying round of European competitions with a narrow defeat to Dynamo Kyiv
.
However, the costs associated with professional football have proven to be unsustainable for the vast majority of clubs involved. Shelbourne accumulated millions of Euro
worth of debt and were relegated in 2007, while Drogheda entered into examinership in 2008 with a deficit of more than €732,000. Derry City were thrown out of the league in 2009 for producing false documents regarding contracts, in an effort to hide their financial position, while Cork City's former holding company Cork City Investments Fc Ltd was wound up in 2010 after an extended period of financial trouble.
that there would be the formation of a new Under 19 Elite League. This giving young players in Ireland the prospect of ultimately breaking into the first teams of League of Ireland
clubs.
rights for the League of Ireland are negotiated by the FAI with the individual broadcasters RTÉ
and Setanta Sports
. RTÉ, who also produce a weekly radio
show covering the League of Ireland, hold the rights to broadcast a weekly highlights programme, Monday Night Soccer
, as well as the rights to live games in the League and FAI Cup
, towards the conclusion of the season. The deal, which is part of the broadcaster's wider contract with the FAI for the coverage of Irish football, runs until 2013. Setanta Sports broadcast live games from the League of Ireland and Setanta Sports Cup
, in addition to the final of the League of Ireland Cup. From 2001 to 2007, TV3 held the rights to broadcast a weekly highlights programme. In 1998, a League of Ireland game was broadcast live on television for the first time.
League of Ireland clubs are obliged to accept and cooperate with the television rights, negotiated by the FAI, under the terms of the League's participation agreement. This leaves the dates and times of certain fixtures in the hands of the television companies, which can impact on match attendances. The 10 clubs competing in the Premier Division received an equal share payment of €20,000 during the 2009 season, while an additional €35,000 was set aside to compensate clubs with six or more fixtures selected for live television broadcast, or four or more live television fixtures held on nights other than Friday. In Australia, the League of Ireland is broadcast by Setanta Sports
.
from 2000 to 2008, when the company withdrew funding. The League of Ireland had been sponsored by Bord Gáis
during the early 1990s. The league had no title sponsor in 2009, but had a number of secondary sponsors including Newstalk and Electronic Arts
. In 2010, Airtricity
signed a three year deal to become the title sponsor of the League of Ireland.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division. The league was governed by its members, the clubs, from its foundation to 2006, when it entered into a five year merger with the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
. In 2010, its members voted to renew the merger once the current agreement expires. The league has suffered severe financial problems in recent years due to mismanagement and overspending by its clubs. In 2007, it became the first major league in Europe to introduce a salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
.
The league includes one club from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
. Derry City formerly played in the Irish Football League, but voluntarily left the Northern Irish league following the 1972–73 season as a result of safety and security concerns. Derry City joined the League of Ireland at the second level in 1985, after a special dispensation from the Irish Football Association
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
(IFA) and UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
. They won promotion in 1987, and remained in the top division of the League of Ireland until 2009, when they were expelled for operating an illegal system of contracts. They were subsequently liquidated
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
, with a successor club placed in the First Division in 2010.
The League of Ireland is currently ranked 31st of the 53 national leagues under UEFA jurisdiction. The league's most successful club is Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
, with 17 League of Ireland titles won. They are one of three clubs in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, with Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
and Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, to sport a golden star
Star (football crest)
In association football, some national and club sides include one or more stars as part of the crest appearing on their shirt, to represent important trophies the team has previously won. Sometimes this is a unilateral decision by the team concerned rather than a privilege earned and sanctioned...
above their badge in recognition of winning ten titles. Bohemians are the only club with a non-broken membership of the league since its inception. St. Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
and Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
are the only clubs that have never been relegated from the League of Ireland Premier Division. The League of Ireland is classed as a summer league as its seasons begin in March and finish in November. The league is currently sponsored by Airtricity
Airtricity
Airtricity was founded in 1997 in the Republic of Ireland and now is a renewable energy company owned by Scottish and Southern Energy...
and therefore officially known as the Airtricity League.
History
The League of Ireland was established as the Free State League in 1921 and consisted of eight teams from Dublin. St James's GateSt James's Gate F.C.
St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery....
were the inaugural winners of the league and the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
. The league expanded numerically and geographically during its first decade of existence but was dominated by Dublin's three main clubs, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Shelbourne. Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
became the first club from outside of the capital to win the league, in 1932–33. The 1930s saw another championship victory for a provincial side, with Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
claiming their first league title in 1936–37, while Shamrock Rovers won a further three during the decade. The League of Ireland was dominated by Cork United during the 1940s. The club won five league titles between 1941 and 1946, including three in succession, but resigned from the league in 1948. The following decade was marked by the emergence of St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
and the reemergence of Shamrock Rovers. The former succeeded in winning the title at the first attempt, in 1951–52, and claimed a further two in the middle of the decade. The Coad's Colts earned Shamrock Rovers the league title for the first time in fifteen years, in 1953–54, and won two more during the latter half of the decade.
Drumcondra and Dundalk claimed two League of Ireland titles each during the 1960s but Waterford secured their status as the team of the decade with four league titles, including three in succession between 1967 and 1970. Six clubs won the League of Ireland title during the 1970s with Waterford, Bohemians and Dundalk winning two titles each. Athlone Town won their two league titles at the start of the 1980s but the decade was marked by the four successive league titles won by Shamrock Rovers' Four in a row side. That team broke up following the sale of Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
in 1987 and Dundalk and Derry City stepped in to claim the remaining titles of the decade with Derry winning the Treble in 1989, four years after entering the League of Ireland. The 1990s saw the re-emergence of St Patrick's Athletic, as the club secured 4 league championships during the decade, following years of obscurity. The turn of the millennium was marked by the first of five titles in seven years for Shelbourne, a first title in 23 years for Bohemians and the league's switch to a Summer Soccer (March–November) schedule. Cork City denied Shels' a third league title in a row when they claimed their 2nd championship in 2005, defeating fellow challengers Derry City in a last game decider at Turners Cross
Turners Cross (stadium)
Turners Cross is an all-seater football stadium located in and synonymous with the district of Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland. It is home to the Munster Football Association, and League of Ireland side Cork City FC....
. The 2nd half of the decade saw the beginning of the 5 year merger with the FAI and the financial collapse of a number of league winning clubs, due to overspending and mismanagement. Shelbourne were demoted to the First Division after their title win in 2006, while Drogheda went into examinership
Examinership
Examinership is a process in Irish law whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure with the approval of the High Court....
in 2008, having won the League of Ireland the previous year. Cork City also entered into examinership in the same year, while its holding company was wound up in 2010. Derry City were thrown out of the League of Ireland at the end of the 2009 season for producing false documents regarding player contracts and thus breaking the League's participation agreement. Bohemians entered a period of severe financial trouble in 2010 after a decade of accumulating massive debts in the payment of full-time players and staff.
Champions
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Championship seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers F.C. Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24... |
|
|
1922–23, 1924–25, 1926–27, 1931–32, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 2010 2010 League of Ireland The 2010 League of Ireland was the 90th season of the League of Ireland. For the 26th season in succession, it was played using a two division format, consisting of the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division. Bohemians were the defending League of Ireland... , 2011 2011 League of Ireland The Premier Division consists of ten teams. Each team plays every other team four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 36 matches.-Teams:... |
| Shelbourne Shelbourne F.C. Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division.... |
|
|
1925–26, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1952–53, 1961–62, 1991–92, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| Bohemians Bohemian F.C. Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11... |
|
|
1923–24, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1974–75, 1977–78, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2008, 2009 |
| Dundalk Dundalk F.C. Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The... |
|
|
1932–33, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95 |
| St Patrick's Athletic St Patrick's Athletic F.C. St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and... |
|
|
1951–52, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1989–90, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99 |
| Waterford | |
|
1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73 |
| Drumcondra | |
|
1947–48, 1948–49, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1964–65 |
| Cork United | |
|
1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1945–46 |
| Cork City | |
|
1992–93, 2005 |
| Derry City Derry City F.C. Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division... |
|
|
1988–89, 1996–97 |
| Limerick Limerick F.C. Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick... |
|
|
1959–60, 1979–80 |
| Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers F.C. Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at... |
|
|
1936–37, 1976–77 |
| Athlone Town | |
|
1980–81, 1982–83 |
| St James's Gate St James's Gate F.C. St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery.... |
|
|
1921–22, 1939–40 |
| Cork Athletic Cork Athletic F.C. Cork Athletic Football Club is a former Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1948 and 1957. They were the successor club of Fordsons F.C., Cork F.C., Cork City and Cork United. When United quit the league in 1948, they instantly reformed as Cork Athletic... |
|
|
1949–50, 1950–51 |
| Cork Celtic Cork Celtic F.C. Cork Celtic F.C. were a Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1959 and 1979 and played their home games at Turners Cross. The club had previously played in the league as Evergreen United... |
|
|
1973–74 |
| Cork Hibernians Cork Hibernians F.C. Cork Hibernians F.C. were an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1957 and 1976 and played their home games at Flower Lodge. In 1971, they were League of Ireland champions.-History:... |
|
|
1970–71 |
| Drogheda United | |
|
2007 |
| Dolphin Dolphin F.C. (Dublin) Dolphin F.C. is a former Irish football club, originally based in the Dublin suburb of Dolphin's Barn. They played in the League of Ireland between 1930 and 1937. In 1935 they were league champions... |
|
|
1934–35 |
Format
The format of the league changed regularly during the first three decades of its existence. The number of teams competing in it varied from eight to twelve, although a double round robin system remained throughout. The 1950s marked the beginning of a period of consistency, as the league persisted with a 12 team format from 1951–52 to 1961–62. Qualification positions for European competitions were introduced during the period. The 12 teamed/2 rounded format was used for most of the 1960s, until 1969–70, when the league was expanded to 14 clubs. This format remained until 1977–78, when an additional 2 clubs were elected to the league. The format returned in 1982–83, following 5 years of the 16 team league, but the 1980s were marked by the introduction of a second tier to the league. The League of Ireland First Division was founded in 1985, containing 10 of the 22 clubs competing in the league. A system of promotion and relegationPromotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
was introduced for the first time in the league, replacing the previous method of election.
A third round of fixtures was added to both divisions for the 1987–88 season, replacing the double round robin system. The points system of the league was changed in 1993–94, with 3 points awarded for a win. The previous method of 2 points for a win had existed since the league's inception, excluding two seasons of experimental points systems in the early 1980s. The format remained until 2002–03, when the season was deliberately shortened to ease the transition to "Summer Soccer". The Premier Division was cut to 10 teams while the First Division played only 2 rounds of fixtures. The first season of summer soccer saw the introduction of a fourth round of fixtures to the 10 team Premier Division, while the 12 teams in the First Division played each other on 3 occasions. This is the system currently in place, though these formats and numbers were reversed for 4 seasons, from 2005 to 2008. The system is unpopular amongst the majority of managers, players and club officials within the league, according to a League of Ireland review conducted in 2009.
Promotion and relegation
Currently, the team that finishes bottom of the Premier Division is automatically relegated to the First Division. Likewise, the team that finishes top of the First Division is automatically promoted to the Premier Division. The teams placed 8th and 9th in the Premier Division face off, with the loser playing the winner of a similar encounter between the teams placed 2nd and 3rd in the First Division, in a two legged play-off. The winner of this match takes their place in the Premier Division the next year. The last placed team in the First Division can potentially play a promotion/relegation play-off against an A Championship side, depending on the final placings in that league.European qualification
The top team in the Premier Division qualifies for the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
second qualifying round for champions. The second-placed and third placed-teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. They must go through three two-legged knockout ties respectively in order to enter the second round group phase of that competition. There is a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round slot reserved for the winners of the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
. If it were to happen that a cup winner has already qualified for the UEFA Europa League via the league, the cup-win qualification will take prominence and the league-place qualification will be transferred to the next team who finished below them in the league. However, if the case is that the cup-winner has already won the league, that team will take a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, by way of its league win, and the losing team in the FAI Cup final will take the UEFA Europa League spot on offer from that competition.
In 2011 Shamrock Rovers became the first team in Irish footballing history to reach the group stages of the Europa League.
UEFA coefficient and ranking
The League of Ireland's UEFA coefficient accumulates to a total value of 8.708 as of 2011. Between 1998 and 2010, the league's place on the coefficent table rose 15 places, the biggest climb of any league in Europe. Its position of 29th in 2010 was also its highest since 1986.- 29
Bosnia-HerzegovinaPremier League of Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the top football league in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the country's most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs with last two teams relegated at the end of every season.... - 30
FinlandVeikkausliigaVeikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name... - 31
Ireland - 32
Hungary - 33
Moldova - Full list
The 2000s
The League of Ireland's coefficient has vastly improved since the late 1990s, but at a cost. The introduction of full-time professional football by a number of clubs and the league's move to Summer Soccer at the beginning of the 2003 season, have aided progress in European competition. Increased fitness levels have resulted from both, while full-time professionalism has retained Irish players within the league, attracted foreign players to the league and generally improved the standard of football. At least one League of Ireland club has progressed to the next round of a European competition in every season for the last 10 years except 2002. Shelbourne and Bohemians signalled the start of the rapid upturn in 2000–01, with wins in the Champions League and UEFA Cup respectively. The 2004–05 UEFA Champions League saw Shelbourne progress past KR ReykjavíkKnattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, , for short KR or KR Reykjavík, is an Icelandic athletic club based in the capital, Reykjavík. KR is the oldest and most successful club in Icelandic football.-History:...
and Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
to reach the 3rd qualifying round of the competition. Victories over Swedish
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
clubs became the main focal points of the progress for a few seasons after that: Cork City defeated Djurgården in 2005, having beaten Malmö
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
4–1 on aggregate in 2004, while Derry City beat former UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
winners IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
2–0 on aggregate in 2006. In 2008–09, Drogheda concluded 3 successive seasons of victories in the 1st qualifying round of European competitions with a narrow defeat to Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
.
However, the costs associated with professional football have proven to be unsustainable for the vast majority of clubs involved. Shelbourne accumulated millions of Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
worth of debt and were relegated in 2007, while Drogheda entered into examinership in 2008 with a deficit of more than €732,000. Derry City were thrown out of the league in 2009 for producing false documents regarding contracts, in an effort to hide their financial position, while Cork City's former holding company Cork City Investments Fc Ltd was wound up in 2010 after an extended period of financial trouble.
Premier Division
| Team | Base | Manager | Stadium | Capacity | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemians Bohemian F.C. Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11... |
Dublin | Pat Fenlon Pat Fenlon Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.... |
Dalymount Park Dalymount Park Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup... |
12,000 | 1890 |
| Bray Wanderers | Bray Bray Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census... |
Pat Devlin |
Carlisle Grounds Carlisle Grounds The Carlisle Grounds is a football stadium in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, situated directly behind the Bray D.A.R.T. station. It is home to Bray Wanderers A.F.C. Its current capacity is roughly 3,000.-History:... |
6,250 | 1942 |
| Cork City Cork City F.C. Cork City Football Club is an Irish football team that plays in the League of Ireland. Founded and elected to the league in 1984 to continue the long tradition of Association Football in Cork, City's traditional colours are green and white with red trim, and the crest is a variant of the Cork... |
Cork Cork Cork may refer to:* Cork Oak, a deciduous tree** Cork , used for bottle stoppers, insulation, floor and wall tiling, and noteboard, obtained from the Cork Oak- Places :* County Cork, a county in Ireland* Cork , a city in Ireland... |
Tommy Dunne Tommy Dunne (footballer born 1972) Tommy Dunne is the manager of Cork City. He is an Irish former football player who played for several League of Ireland Clubs including Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City F.C.... |
Turners Cross Turners Cross (stadium) Turners Cross is an all-seater football stadium located in and synonymous with the district of Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland. It is home to the Munster Football Association, and League of Ireland side Cork City FC.... |
7,485 | 1984 |
| Derry City Derry City F.C. Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division... |
Derry Derry Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"... |
Stephen Kenny Stephen Kenny Stephen Kenny may refer to:*Stephen Kenny , Guantanamo detainee David Hicks' original lawyer*Stephen Kenny , Irish football manager... |
Brandywell | 7,500 | 1928 |
| Dundalk Dundalk F.C. Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The... |
Dundalk Dundalk Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations... |
 Ian FosterIan Foster (footballer) Ian Foster is an English football manager who is currently in charge of Dundalk in the League of Ireland Premier Division... |
Oriel Park Oriel Park Oriel Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Dundalk F.C. Its current capacity is about 4,500 with 3,000 seats. The ground was opened in 1919.-History:... |
5,500 | 1903 |
| Drogheda United | Drogheda Drogheda Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea.... |
Mick Cooke |
Hunky Dorys Park | 2,000 | 1975 |
| Monaghan United | Monaghan | Roddy Collins Roddy Collins Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins.... |
Century Homes Park | 3,000 | 1979 |
| Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers F.C. Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24... |
Dublin |  Michael O'NeillMichael O'Neill (footballer) Michael Andrew Martin O'Neill is a former Northern Irish international association football player, who is now the manager of Shamrock Rovers.-Playing career:... |
Tallaght Stadium Tallaght Stadium Tallaght Stadium is a football stadium in the Southside suburb of Tallaght, Dublin. Shamrock Rovers originally announced details of the stadium back in July 1996... |
8,600 | 2005 |
| Shelbourne Shelbourne F.C. Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division.... |
Dublin | Alan Mathews Alan Mathews Alan Mathews is a former Irish footballer and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division side Shelbourne.-Player:As a player, Mathews played for St... |
Tolka Park Tolka Park Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne... |
10,000 | 1895 |
| Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers F.C. Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at... |
Sligo Sligo Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht... |
Paul Cook Paul Cook (footballer) Paul Anthony Cook is an English former footballer, currently manager of Sligo Rovers in Ireland. He had a lengthy career, playing for a number of clubs in the Football League as a left sided or central midfielder before retiring from the game in 2006.-Playing career:Cook began his career at his... |
The Showgrounds Showgrounds The Showgrounds is stadium in Sligo, which has been home of Sligo Rovers F.C. since the club was formed in 1928.- Biography :... |
5,500 | 1928 |
| St. Patrick's Athletic | Dublin | Pete Mahon Pete Mahon Pete Mahon , is an Irish football manager who is currently the manager of St. Patrick's Athletic .His son, Alan Mahon , played all his career for UCD.... |
Richmond Park Richmond Park (football ground) Richmond Park is a football stadium in Dublin, Ireland. It is the home ground for Irish football team St. Patricks Athletic of the League of Ireland. It is situated in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore... |
5,340 | 1929 |
| University College Dublin University College Dublin A.F.C. University College Dublin Association Football Club known commonly as UCD is the football team of University College Dublin. They play in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1895 was elected to the league in 1979 under the management of Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 2008 season they have... |
Dublin | Martin Russell Martin Russell (footballer) Martin Christopher Russell is an Irish former professional footballer who played in the English Football League for Birmingham City, Leicester City, Scarborough and Middlesbrough... |
UCD Bowl UCD Bowl The UCD Bowl is a rugby union and football stadium in the Southeast of Dublin. It is the home ground of University College Dublin RFC in the AIB All Ireland League and University College Dublin A.F.C. in League of Ireland Premier Division... |
3,000 | 1895 |
First Division
| Team | Base | Manager | Stadium | Capacity | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlone Town | Athlone | Brendan Place |
Lissywoolen Stadium | 5,000 | 1887 |
| Finn Harps | Ballybofey Ballybofey Ballybofey is a town located on the south bank of the River Finn, County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the smaller town of Stranorlar on the north side of the River Finn, Ballybofey makes up the Twin Towns.... |
Peter Hutton |
Finn Park Finn Park Finn Park is a football stadium in Ballybofey, Ireland, the home of League of Ireland Premier Division team Finn Harps F.C., and has a capacity of 7,500 with 400 seats... |
7,500 | 1954 |
| Galway United | Galway Galway Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the... |
John Brennan |
Terryland Park Terryland Park Terryland Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Galway, Ireland, owned by the Galway & District Football League. It is currently used for association football matches and has been the home ground of Galway United since 1977.- History :... |
5,000 | 1937 |
| Limerick Limerick F.C. Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick... |
Limerick Limerick Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the... |
Pat Scully Pat Scully Patrick Joseph "Pat" Scully is an Irish football manager, currently in charge of Limerick in the League of Ireland... |
Jackman Park Jackman Park Jackman Park is a football ground in Limerick, Republic of Ireland located on the Lower Carey's Road, that is home to Limerick F.C. It is regularly used by almost every grade of football in Limerick, from schoolboy to women's international games. The capacity is 2,450. The ground has a single 261... |
3,000 | 2007 |
| Longford Town Longford Town F.C. Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park... |
Longford | Tony Cousins Tony Cousins Tony Cousins is a former Irish footballer and the current coach of League of Ireland club, Longford Town. He is the older brother of Andrew Cousins and first cousin of Tommy Dunne.... |
Flancare Park Flancare Park Flancare Park is a soccer stadium in Longford, Ireland. It is the home stadium of League of Ireland side Longford Town F.C.. Flancare Park has also held numerous international underage matches. The stadium underwent a huge redevelopment at the end of 2000/2001 season... |
6,850 | 1924 |
| Mervue United Mervue United F.C. Mervue United A.F.C. is an association football club from Galway in the Republic of Ireland.In November 2008, they won promotion from the A Championship to the FAI First Division... |
Galway Galway Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the... |
Johnny Glynn |
Fahy's Field | 2,000 | 1960 |
| Salthill Devon Salthill Devon F.C. Salthill Devon F.C. is an Irish football club currently playing in the League of Ireland First Division in the Republic of Ireland. The club hails from Salthill, Ireland and play their home matches at Drom Clubhouse. Club colours are light blue and white stripes and their current manager is Paul... |
Galway Galway Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the... |
Paul McGee Paul McGee (footballer born 1954) Paul 'Skee' McGee is a former Irish football player and current manager of League of Ireland First Division club Salthill Devon.... |
Drom Drom Clubhouse Drom Clubhouse is a football stadium in Ireland, the home ground of Salthill Devon, who play in the League of Ireland First Division. It was built in 1977 and has a capacity of 2,000 people. Drom also holds the Umbro Galway Cup annually.... |
2,000 | 1977 |
| Waterford United Waterford United Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports... |
Waterford Waterford Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland... |
Paul O'Brien Paul O'Brien Paul O'Brien is a South-African-born Australian actor.-Biography:Paul O'Brien was born on 14 April in South Africa, and grew up in Australia. He spent several years on the Gold Coast, with his family... |
RSC Waterford Regional Sports Centre The Waterford Regional Sports Centre is part of Waterford Corporation's Municipal sporting facilities and home to Waterford United of the League of Ireland .... |
5,500 | 1982 |
| Wexford Youths | Crossabeg Crossabeg Crossabeg or Crosabeg is a small village in County Wexford, Ireland, just north of Wexford town. It contains The Forge Storytelling House, Foley's Pub and a primary school.-Sport:... |
Noel O'Connor |
Ferrycarrig Park Ferrycarrig Park Ferrycarrig Park has been the home of League of Ireland side Wexford Youths since joining the league in 2007. The building works for the new stadium and facilities, at Newcastle, Crossabeg, have been ongoing since 2003. Currently spectator facilities consist of a clubhouse with viewing area and a... |
2,500 | 2007 |
Under 19 Elite League of Ireland
It was announced on the 21st of April 2011, by the Football Association of IrelandFootball Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
that there would be the formation of a new Under 19 Elite League. This giving young players in Ireland the prospect of ultimately breaking into the first teams of League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
clubs.
Television rights
The televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
rights for the League of Ireland are negotiated by the FAI with the individual broadcasters RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
and Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
. RTÉ, who also produce a weekly radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
show covering the League of Ireland, hold the rights to broadcast a weekly highlights programme, Monday Night Soccer
Monday Night Soccer
Monday Night Soccer is the RTÉ's main football television programme. It is shown on RTÉ Two on Monday evenings during the Irish football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in Irish football's top division, the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, as well as the rights to live games in the League and FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
, towards the conclusion of the season. The deal, which is part of the broadcaster's wider contract with the FAI for the coverage of Irish football, runs until 2013. Setanta Sports broadcast live games from the League of Ireland and Setanta Sports Cup
Setanta Sports Cup
The Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
, in addition to the final of the League of Ireland Cup. From 2001 to 2007, TV3 held the rights to broadcast a weekly highlights programme. In 1998, a League of Ireland game was broadcast live on television for the first time.
League of Ireland clubs are obliged to accept and cooperate with the television rights, negotiated by the FAI, under the terms of the League's participation agreement. This leaves the dates and times of certain fixtures in the hands of the television companies, which can impact on match attendances. The 10 clubs competing in the Premier Division received an equal share payment of €20,000 during the 2009 season, while an additional €35,000 was set aside to compensate clubs with six or more fixtures selected for live television broadcast, or four or more live television fixtures held on nights other than Friday. In Australia, the League of Ireland is broadcast by Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports Australia
Setanta Sports Australia is a sports television channel operating in Australia and is available to homes and businesses across all of Australia...
.
Sponsorship
The League of Ireland was sponsored by Irish telecommunications company, EircomEircom
Eircom Group LTD is a telecommunications company in the Republic of Ireland, and a former state-owned incumbent. It is currently the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic of Ireland and operates primarily on the island of Ireland, with a point of presence in Great Britain.As Bord...
from 2000 to 2008, when the company withdrew funding. The League of Ireland had been sponsored by Bord Gáis
Bord Gáis
Bord Gáis Éireann , normally branded as Bord Gáis, is the main supplier and distributor of pipeline natural gas in the Republic of Ireland. The company has built an extensive network across Ireland. The company supplies gas to domestic and industrial customers on a fully regulated basis...
during the early 1990s. The league had no title sponsor in 2009, but had a number of secondary sponsors including Newstalk and Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. In 2010, Airtricity
Airtricity
Airtricity was founded in 1997 in the Republic of Ireland and now is a renewable energy company owned by Scottish and Southern Energy...
signed a three year deal to become the title sponsor of the League of Ireland.
Winners
- 1985–86 Bray Wanderers
- 1986–87 Derry CityDerry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
- 1987–88 Athlone Town
- 1988–89 Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 1989–90 Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
- 1990–91 Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 1991–92 Limerick CityLimerick F.C.Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
- 1992–93 Galway UnitedGalway UnitedGalway United F.C. was founded as Galway Rovers in 1937. They are a football club currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top tier of the Irish football....
- 1993–94 Sligo RoversSligo Rovers F.C.Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
- 1994–95 UCD
- 1995–96 Bray Wanderers
- 1996–97 Kilkenny City
- 1997–98 Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
- 1998–99 Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 1999–2000 Bray Wanderers
- 2000–01 DundalkDundalk F.C.Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
- 2001–02 Drogheda UnitedDrogheda UnitedDrogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
- 2002–03 Waterford UnitedWaterford UnitedWaterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
- 2003 Dublin CityDublin City F.C.Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...
- 2004 Finn Harps
- 2005 Sligo RoversSligo Rovers F.C.Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
- 2006 Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
- 2007 Cobh RamblersCobh Ramblers F.C.Cobh Ramblers Football Club . is an Irish football club playing in the A Championship, the third tier of Irish football. The club, founded in 1922 and elected to the league in 1985, hails from Cobh, County Cork and play their home matches at St. Colman's Park...
- 2008 DundalkDundalk F.C.Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
- 2009 UCD
- 2010 Derry City
- 2011 Cork CitySligo Rovers F.C.Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
See also
- League of Ireland Cup
- League of Ireland ShieldLeague of Ireland ShieldThe League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
- All-time League of Ireland table
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
- Republic of Ireland football league systemRepublic of Ireland football league systemThe Republic of Ireland's football league system comprises three tiers: the League of Ireland Premier Division and League of Ireland First Division and the A Championship. The A Championship consists of both League of Ireland reserve sides and lower-level senior clubs...
- Association football in the Republic of IrelandAssociation football in the Republic of IrelandAssociation football, more usually known as football or soccer, is the team sport with the highest level of participation in the Republic of Ireland ....