League of Ireland Premier Division facts for kids
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ireland (9 teams) |
| Other club(s) from |  Northern Ireland (1 team) |
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | League of Ireland First Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | FAI Cup President's Cup |
| League cup(s) | League of Ireland Cup |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | Shelbourne (14th title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Shamrock Rovers (21 titles) |
| TV partners | LOITV (Worldwide) Virgin Media (ROI) |
The League of Ireland Men's Premier Division is the top football league in the Republic of Ireland. It's also called the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division because of its sponsor. Ten clubs play in this professional league. Teams can move up to this league from the League of Ireland First Division (this is called promotion and relegation).
The Premier Division started in 1985. This happened after the main League of Ireland was reorganized. Only two clubs, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians, have always stayed in the Premier Division. They have never been relegated! A team from Northern Ireland, Derry City, has won the league twice. This makes it a special cross-border competition. Since 2003, the league has been played from spring to autumn. The 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division season is the first time all clubs and players in the league are fully professional.
Contents
- History of the League
- Playing in Europe
- How the League Works
- Current Season: 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division
- League Champions by Season
- Who Has Won the Most Titles?
- Managers in the League
- Top Goal Scorers Each Season
- Player of the Year Awards
- Fan Attendance at Games
- The League Trophy
- Sponsors of the League
- More About Irish Football
- See also
History of the League
The 1980s: A New Start
When the Premier Division began, it included the four biggest clubs from the old League of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, Bohemians, and Dundalk. Eight other clubs also joined. Shamrock Rovers were the first champions. They won the title again in 1986–87, making it four league titles in a row for them. Dundalk won in 1987–88. Derry City had a fantastic year in 1988–89, winning the league, the League of Ireland Cup, and the FAI Cup.
The 1990s: New Champions Emerge
The 1990s saw St Patrick's Athletic become very successful. They won four titles during this time. Brian Kerr led them to wins in 1989–90 and 1995–96. Later, Pat Dolan and Liam Buckley helped them win more titles in 1997–98 and 1998–99. In 1992–93, Cork City won their first title. It was a very exciting season with special play-off games. The first live league game was shown on TV in 1996/97. It was a match between Shels and Derry City.
The 2000s: Shelbourne's Dominance and Financial Challenges
At the start of the 2000s, Shelbourne won five titles in seven years. Dermot Keely managed them to wins in 1999–2000 and 2001–02. The 2001–02 win was a bit controversial. Shelbourne became champions after St Patrick's Athletic lost 15 points for playing a player who wasn't allowed to play.
The league changed to a summer schedule in 2003. Pat Fenlon led Shelbourne to more titles in 2003, 2004, and 2006. Fenlon also managed Bohemians to wins in 2008 and 2009. Cork City won their second title in 2005, stopping Shelbourne from winning three in a row.
Some clubs faced money problems in the second half of the 2000s. For example, Shamrock Rovers had big debts in 2005. They lost eight points and were relegated to the First Division. This was the first time Rovers had left the top league since 1922–23. Shelbourne also had financial issues in 2006 and were moved down to the First Division. Some clubs, like Dublin City, even stopped playing. In 2008, Cork City and Drogheda United lost points for financial reasons. By 2009, both Derry City and Cork City were removed from the league due to money problems and breaking rules. However, both clubs were reformed and allowed to join the First Division in 2010.
The 2010s: New Successes and Challenges
The 2010s brought mixed results for Premier Division clubs. Under Michael O'Neill, Shamrock Rovers won the title in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, Rovers also became the first Irish team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Europa League. In 2012, Sligo Rovers won their first Premier Division title in 35 years. St. Patrick's Athletic won their fifth Premier Division in 2013.
Under Stephen Kenny, Dundalk had great success. They won titles in 2014 and 2015. They also reached the group stages of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. Dundalk and Cork City were the strongest teams during this time, often finishing at the top and winning the FAI Cup.
However, some clubs also left the league during this decade, like Sporting Fingal, Galway United, and Monaghan United. Sporting Fingal even went out of business completely.
Playing in Europe
The team that wins the Premier Division gets to play in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The teams that finish second and third, along with the winners of the FAI Cup, qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers made history in 2011 by being the first Irish team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Europa League. Dundalk did the same in 2016 and 2020.
The Republic of Ireland's football league is currently ranked 35th among European leagues for the 2023 season. This ranking has improved a lot over the years. Between 1998 and 2010, the league's ranking went up by 15 places, which was the biggest jump for any league in Europe! This improvement was partly because clubs became fully professional and the league changed to a summer schedule. This meant players were fitter and the quality of football improved. From 2003 to 2014, at least one Irish club moved on to the next round in a European competition every season.
However, becoming professional and trying to succeed in Europe also caused money problems for some clubs. The league's ranking dropped after 2010, but it has been recovering.
How the League Works
There are 10 clubs in the Premier Division. The season runs from February to November. Each club plays every other club four times: twice at home and twice away. This means each team plays 36 games in total.
- Teams get three points for a win.
- They get one point for a draw.
- They get no points for a loss.
Teams are ranked by their total points. If points are equal, then goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded) is used. If still tied, goals scored is used. If teams are still equal, they share the same position. If there's a tie for the championship, relegation, or European spots, the results of games between those tied teams are looked at first.
Moving Up and Down: Promotion and Relegation
Since 1985–86, teams can move between the Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division.
- The team that finishes last in the Premier Division is automatically moved down to the First Division.
- The team that finishes second-to-last in the Premier Division plays a special match against the team that finishes second in the First Division. The winner gets to play in the Premier Division next season.
In 2017, to make sure both the Premier Division and First Division had 10 teams each, the bottom three Premier League teams were moved down, and only the First Division champion was promoted.
Current Season: 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division
| Team | Home city/suburb | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemians | Dublin (Phibsborough) | Dalymount Park | 3,400 |
| Cork City | Cork | Turners Cross | 7,485 |
| Derry City | Derry | Brandywell | 3,700 |
| Drogheda United | Drogheda | United Park | 3,500 |
| Dundalk | Dundalk | Oriel Park | 4,500 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | Dublin (Inchicore) | Richmond Park | 5,350 |
| Shamrock Rovers | Dublin (Tallaght) | Tallaght Stadium | 8,000 |
| Shelbourne | Dublin (Drumcondra) | Tolka Park | 3,600 |
| Sligo Rovers | Sligo | The Showgrounds | 4,000 |
| UCD | Dublin (Belfield) | UCD Bowl | 3,000 |
Ten clubs are playing in the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division. One team, Cork City, was promoted from the First Division. Dundalk was relegated to the First Division for the 2025 season.
| 2025 Club | 2025 Position | First season in League of Ireland |
First season in LOI Premier Division | Seasons in top division |
Seasons in LOI Premier Division |
First season of current spell in LOI |
No. of seasons of current spell in LOI |
Top division titles |
Most recent top division title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemians | 8th | 1921–22 | 1985–86 | 105 | 41 | 1921–22 | 105 | 11 | 2009 |
| Cork City | 1st (FD) | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 38 | 38 | 2025 | 1 | 3 | 2017 |
| Derry City | 4th | 1987–88 | 1987–88 | 38 | 38 | 2011 | 15 | 2 | 1996–97 |
| Drogheda United | 9th | 1963–64 | 1989–90 | 48 | 26 | 2021 | 4 | 1 | 2007 |
| Galway United | 5th | 1977–78 | 1977–78 | 18 | 8 | 2024 | 2 | 0 | N/A |
| Shamrock Rovers | 2nd | 1922–23 | 1985–86 | 101 | 39 | 2007 | 18 | 21 | 2023 |
| Shelbourne | 1st | 1921–22 | 1985–86 | 89 | 27 | 2022 | 4 | 14 | 2024 |
| Sligo Rovers | 6th | 1934–35 | 1986–87 | 72 | 30 | 2006 | 19 | 3 | 2012 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 3rd | 1951–52 | 1985–86 | 74 | 41 | 1951–52 | 74 | 8 | 2013 |
| Waterford | 7th | 1930–31 | 1930–31 | 74 | 17 | 2024 | 2 | 6 | 1972–73 |
League Champions by Season
Here is a list of the teams that have won the League of Ireland Premier Division each season:
|
|
Source:
Who Has Won the Most Titles?
Champions by Club
| Club | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Shamrock Rovers | 11 | 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Dundalk | 8 | 1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Shelbourne | 7 | 1991–92, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2024 |
| St Patrick's Athletic | 5 | 1989–90, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2013 |
| Bohemians | 4 | 2000–01, 2002–03, 2008, 2009 |
| Cork City | 3 | 1992–93, 2005, 2017 |
| Derry City | 2 | 1988–89, 1996–97 |
| Sligo Rovers | 1 | 2012 |
| Drogheda United | 1 | 2007 |
| Athlone Town | 1 | 1982–83 |
Source:
Champions by Location
Here's how many championships have been won by clubs from different parts of Ireland:
By Province
| Province | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Leinster | 36 | Shamrock Rovers (11), Dundalk (8), Shelbourne (7), St Patrick's Athletic (5), Bohemians (4), Drogheda United (1) |
| Munster | 3 | Cork City (3) |
| Ulster | 2 | Derry City (2) |
| Connacht | 1 | Sligo Rovers (1) |
| Leinster/Connacht | 1 | Athlone Town (1) |
By County
| County | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| County Dublin | 27 | Shamrock Rovers (11), Shelbourne (7), St Patrick's Athletic (5), Bohemians (4) |
| County Louth | 9 | Dundalk (8), Drogheda United (1) |
| County Cork | 3 | Cork City (3) |
| County Londonderry | 2 | Derry City (2) |
| County Sligo | 1 | Sligo Rovers (1) |
| County Westmeath/County Roscommon | 1 | Athlone Town (1) |
By City or Town
| City / Town | Championships | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 27 | Shamrock Rovers (11), Shelbourne (7), St Patrick's Athletic (5), Bohemians (4) |
| Dundalk | 8 | Dundalk (8) |
| Cork | 3 | Cork City (3) |
| Derry | 2 | Derry City (2) |
| Sligo | 1 | Sligo Rovers (1) |
| Drogheda | 1 | Drogheda United (1) |
| Athlone | 1 | Athlone (1) |
Managers in the League
Most Successful Managers
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| Manager | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Kenny |
5 | 2002–03, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| Pat Fenlon |
5 | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 |
| Stephen Bradley |
4 | 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Dermot Keely |
4 | 1986–87, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2001-02 |
 Jim McLaughlin |
3 | 1985–86, 1988–89, 1991–92 |
| Liam Buckley |
2 | 1998–99, 2013 |
| Michael O'Neill |
2 | 2010, 2011 |
| Brian Kerr |
2 | 1989–90, 1995–96 |
| Turlough O'Connor |
2 | 1987–88, 1990–91 |
| Damien Duff |
1 | 2024 |
| Vinny Perth |
1 | 2019 |
| John Caulfield |
1 | 2017 |
 Ian Baraclough |
1 | 2012 |
| Paul Doolin |
1 | 2007 |
| Damien Richardson |
1 | 2005 |
| Roddy Collins |
1 | 2000–01 |
| Pat Dolan |
1 | 1997–98 |
| Felix Healy |
1 | 1996–97 |
| Ray Treacy |
1 | 1993–94 |
| Noel O'Mahony |
1 | 1992–93 |
Current Managers
Here are the managers currently leading the League of Ireland Premier Division clubs:
| Manager | Nationality | Club | Appointed | Time as manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Bradley | Ireland |
Shamrock Rovers | 7 July 2016 | 9 years, 39 days |
| John Caulfield | Ireland |
Galway United | 21 August 2020 | 4 years, 359 days |
| Kevin Doherty | Ireland |
Drogheda United | 2 December 2021 | 3 years, 256 days |
| John Russell | Ireland |
Sligo Rovers | 22 May 2022 | 3 years, 85 days |
| Alan Reynolds | Ireland |
Bohemians | 26 March 2024 | 1 year, 142 days |
| Stephen Kenny | Ireland |
St Patrick's Athletic | 16 May 2024 | 1 year, 91 days |
| Tiernan Lynch | Northern Ireland |
Derry City | 18 November 2024 | 270 days |
| John Coleman | England |
Waterford | 3 May 2025 | 104 days |
| Gerard Nash | Ireland |
Cork City | 15 May 2025 | 92 days |
| Joey O'Brien | Ireland |
Shelbourne | 22 June 2025 | 54 days |
Top Goal Scorers Each Season
This table shows the players who scored the most goals in each Premier Division season:
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | Tommy Gaynor |
Limerick | 15 |
| 1986–87 | Mick Byrne |
Shamrock Rovers | 12 |
| 1987–88 | Jonathan Speak |
Derry City | 24 |
| 1988–89 | Billy Hamilton |
Limerick | 21 |
| 1989–90 | Mark Ennis |
St. Patrick's Athletic | 19 |
| 1990–91 | Peter Hanrahan |
Dundalk | 18 |
| 1991–92 | John Caulfield |
Cork City | 16 |
| 1992–93 | Pat Morley |
Cork City | 20 |
| 1993–94 | Stephen Geoghegan |
Shamrock Rovers | 23 |
| 1994–95 | John Caulfield |
Cork City | 16 |
| 1995–96 | Stephen Geoghegan |
Shelbourne | 19 |
| 1996–97 | Tony Cousins |
Shamrock Rovers | 16 |
| Stephen Geoghegan |
Shelbourne | ||
| 1997–98 | Stephen Geoghegan |
Shelbourne | 17 |
| 1998–99 | Trevor Molloy |
St. Patrick's Athletic | 15 |
| 1999–00 | Pat Morley |
Cork City | 20 |
| 2000–01 | Glen Crowe |
Bohemians | 25 |
| 2001–02 | Glen Crowe |
Bohemians | 21 |
| 2002–03 | Glen Crowe |
Bohemians | 18 |
| 2003 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne | 21 |
| 2004 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne | 25 |
| 2005 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne | 22 |
| 2006 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne | 15 |
| 2007 | David Mooney |
Longford Town | 19 |
| 2008 | David Mooney |
Longford Town | 15 |
| Mark Farren |
Derry City | ||
| Mark Quigley |
St Patrick's Athletic | ||
| 2009 |  Gary Twigg |
Shamrock Rovers | 24 |
| 2010 | Gary Twigg |
Shamrock Rovers | 20 |
| 2011 |  Éamon Zayed |
Derry City | 22 |
| 2012 | Gary Twigg |
Shamrock Rovers | 22 |
| 2013 | Rory Patterson |
Derry City | 18 |
| 2014 | Christy Fagan |
St Patrick's Athletic | 20 |
| Patrick Hoban |
Dundalk | ||
| 2015 | Richie Towell |
Dundalk | 25 |
| 2016 | Sean Maguire |
Cork City | 18 |
| 2017 | Sean Maguire |
Cork City | 20 |
| 2018 | Patrick Hoban |
Dundalk | 29 |
| 2019 | Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe |
Derry City | 14 |
| 2020 | Patrick Hoban |
Dundalk | 10 |
| 2021 | Georgie Kelly |
Bohemians | 21 |
| 2022 | Aidan Keena |
Sligo Rovers | 18 |
| 2023 | Jonathan Afolabi |
Bohemians | 15 |
| Jack Moylan |
Shelbourne | ||
| 2024 | Patrick Hoban |
Derry City | 14 |
| Pádraig Amond |
Waterford |
Source:
Player of the Year Awards
This table shows the players who won the Player of the Year award each season:
| Year | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dylan Watts |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2023 | Chris Forrester |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2022 | Rory Gaffney |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2021 | Georgie Kelly |
Bohemians |
| 2020 | Jack Byrne |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2019 | Jack Byrne |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2018 | Michael Duffy |
Dundalk |
| 2017 | Sean Maguire |
Cork City |
| 2016 | Daryl Horgan |
Dundalk |
| 2015 | Richie Towell |
Dundalk |
| 2014 | Christy Fagan |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2013 | Killian Brennan |
St Patrick's Athletic |
| 2012 | Mark Quigley |
Sligo Rovers |
| 2011 | Éamon Zayed |
Derry City |
| 2010 | Richie Ryan |
Sligo Rovers |
| 2009 | Gary Twigg |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 2008 | Keith Fahey |
St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 2007 | Brian Shelley |
Drogheda United |
| 2006 |  Joseph N'Do |
Shelbourne |
| 2005 | Mark Farren |
Derry City |
| 2004 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne |
| 2003 | Jason Byrne |
Shelbourne |
| 2003 | Glen Crowe |
Bohemians |
| 2002 | Owen Heary |
Shelbourne |
| 2001 | Glen Crowe |
Bohemians |
| 2000 | Pat Fenlon |
Shelbourne |
| 1999 | Paul Osam |
St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1998 | Pat Scully |
Shelbourne |
| 1997 | Peter Hutton |
Derry City |
| 1996 | Eddie Gormley |
St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1995 | Liam Coyle |
Derry City |
| 1994 | Stephen Geoghegan |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 1993 | Donal O'Brien |
Derry City |
| 1992 | Pat Fenlon |
Bohemians |
| 1991 | Pat Morley |
Cork City |
| 1990 | Mark Ennis |
St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1989 | Paul Doolin |
Derry City |
| 1988 | Paddy Dillon |
St. Patrick's Athletic |
| 1987 | Mick Byrne |
Shamrock Rovers |
| 1986 | Paul Doolin |
Shamrock Rovers |
Fan Attendance at Games
A report from 2023 showed that the League of Ireland Premier Division ranks 28th out of 54 top leagues in Europe for how many people attend games. The report also said that attendance grew by 20% between 2022 and 2023. This was one of the biggest increases in Europe!
| Season | Total | Average | Highest | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | – | – | 7,000 | |
| 2006 | 257,745 | 1,562 | 6,080 | |
| 2007 | – | – | – | |
| 2008 | – | – | 6,870 | |
| 2009 | – | – | 6,000 | |
| 2010 | – | – | 5,500 | |
| 2011 | 290,340 | 1,613 | 5,916 | |
| 2012 | 281,925 | 1,575 | 6,097 | |
| 2013 | 307,355 | 1,552 | 4,703 | |
| 2014 | 295,384 | 1,523 | 6,219 | |
| 2015 | 324,332 | 1,638 | 6,900 | |
| 2016 | 291,258 | 1,471 | 5,453 | |
| 2017 | 377,362 | 1,906 | 6,983 | |
| 2018 | 384,520 | 2,136 | 6,672 | |
| 2019 | 375,705 | 2,087 | 7,021 | |
| 2020 | 65,700 | 2,986 | 7,522 | |
| 2021 | – | – | 7,765 | |
| 2022 | 486,365 | 2,687 | 7,726 | |
| 2023 | 596,196 | 3,294 | 8,021 | |
| 2024 | 628,020 | 3,489 | 10,094 |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Record high | |
| Record low | |
| * | Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic |
The League Trophy
The current League of Ireland trophy was first shown on October 31, 2007. It is 91 cm (36 inches) tall and 83 cm (33 inches) around. It is made of Sterling Silver and other metals like copper. The trophy has a silver football at the very top, with the cup surrounding it. Drogheda United was the first team to win this new trophy on November 2, 2007.
Sponsors of the League
The Premier Division has had sponsors since the early 1990s. The sponsor's name is usually part of the league's official name. There have been three main sponsors:
- 1990s: Bord Gáis (Bord Gáis League Premier Division) and Harp Lager
- 2000–2008: Eircom (Eircom League Premier Division)
- 2010–present: SSE Airtricity (Airtricity League Premier Division)
In 2009, the league didn't have a main sponsor, but it had other smaller sponsors like Newstalk and Electronic Arts. The league also has official partners and suppliers. For example, Umbro provides the official footballs. Lucozade is the official drink. Newstalk is the official radio partner, and the Irish Daily Star is the official newspaper partner.
More About Irish Football
- League of Ireland
- League of Ireland First Division
- Republic of Ireland football league system
- List of foreign League of Ireland players
See also
In Spanish: Premier Division de la Liga de Irlanda para niños
