League of Ireland
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League of Ireland

Football League
CountriesIE Republic of Ireland
ConfederationUEFA
Founded1921
Number of teams22
Domestic cupFAI Cup
League of Ireland Cup
International cupChampions League
Europa League
Current championsShamrock Rovers|season=2010
Most championshipsShamrock Rovers (16)

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The League of Ireland ( ) is the primary national football league 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 FAI. 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 that 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 29th of the 53 national leagues under UEFA jurisdiction. The league's most successful club is Shamrock Rovers, with 16 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 unbroken membership of the league since its inception. 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.

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Bohemians vs Drogheda Utd Live Streaming League of Ireland Premier Division ... - WOW Sports World Tweet this news
WOW Sports World---...- Utd the match scheduled will be held on Monday, 09.13.2010,and kick-off time at 20:45 CET live Dalymount Park -League of Ireland- Premier Division. ... - Date : Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:51:12 GMT+00:00
Sporting Fingal vs Bray Live Streaming League of Ireland Premier Division ... - WOW Sports World Tweet this news
WOW Sports World--Information of the match between Sporting Fingal vs Bray kickoff and scheduled on Monday, 13-9-2010, 20:45 CET live at Morton Stadium in -League of Ireland- ... - Date : Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:51:25 GMT+00:00
Dundalk vs Shamrock Live Streaming League of Ireland Premier Division Football ... - WOW Sports World Tweet this news
WOW Sports World--Information of the match between Dundalk vs Shamrock kickoff and scheduled on Monday, 13-9-2010, 20:45 CET live at Oriel Park in -League of Ireland- Premier ... - Date : Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:51:45 GMT+00:00
Ireland defeat Armenia 1-0 in European Championship on Keith Fahey goal - Irish Central Tweet this news
Irish Central--Keith Fahey , the former -League of Ireland- player, now with Birmingham City, was the Irish savior, knocking home the goal in the 76th minute after Kevin ... - Date : Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:11:54 GMT+00:00
Ireland hints at return - Irish Independent Tweet this news
Irish Independent---...- if they have played 200 Premier -League- games". -Ireland-, City's player of the year under Mark Hughes in 2008-09, has signed a four-year deal with Villa, ... - Date : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:41:55 GMT+00:00
Domestic clubs back FAI's role - Irish Times Tweet this news
Irish Times--Airtricity -League of Ireland- clubs have voted unanimously to renew the merger with the FAI when the current deal expires after the 2011 season. ... - Date : Mon, 31 May 2010 11:22:39 GMT+00:00
O'Neill irked over penalty decisions - Irish Times Tweet this news
Irish Times---LEAGUE OF IRELAND-/Bohemians 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: SATURDAY LUNCHTIME may have seemed an odd time to be wandering along to a -League of Ireland- game, ... - Date : Sun, 30 May 2010 23:12:13 GMT+00:00
Town boss calls on FAI to restructure access to League of Ireland - Connaught Telegraph Tweet this news
Connaught Telegraph--Ballina Town manager Brendan KennyBallina Town manager Brendan Kenny has dismissed suggestions his club is considering a move into the -League of Ireland- A ... - Date : Tue, 25 May 2010 12:14:48 GMT+00:00

Club Winners Runners-up Championship seasons
Shamrock Rovers
16
14
 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
Shelbourne
13
10
 1925 � 26, 1928 � 29, 1930 � 31, 1943 � 44, 1946 � 47, 1952 � 53, 1961 � 62, 1991 � 92, 1999 � 2000, 2001 � 02, 2003, 2004, 2006
Bohemians
11
13
 1923 � 24, 1927 � 28, 1929 � 30, 1933 � 34, 1935 � 36, 1974 � 75, 1977 � 78, 2000 � 01, 2002 � 03, 2008, 2009
Dundalk
9
10
 1932 � 33, 1962 � 63, 1966 � 67, 1975 � 76, 1978 � 79, 1981 � 82, 1987 � 88, 1990 � 91, 1994 � 95
St Patrick's Athletic
7
4
 1951 � 52, 1954 � 55, 1955 � 56, 1989 � 90, 1995 � 96, 1997 � 98, 1998 � 99
Waterford
6
4
 1965 � 66, 1967 � 68, 1968 � 69, 1969 � 70, 1971 � 72, 1972 � 73
Drumcondra
5
5
 1947 � 48, 1948 � 49, 1957 � 58, 1960 � 61, 1964 � 65
Cork United
5
0
 1940 � 41, 1941 � 42, 1942 � 43, 1944 � 45, 1945 � 46
Cork City
2
5
 1992 � 93, 2005
Derry City
2
5
 1988 � 89, 1996 � 97
Limerick
2
2
 1959 � 60, 1979 � 80
Sligo Rovers
2
2
 1936 � 37, 1976 � 77
Athlone Town
2
1
 1980 � 81, 1982 � 83
St James's Gate
2
1
 1921 � 22, 1939 � 40
Cork Athletic
2
0
 1949 � 50, 1950 � 51
Cork Celtic
1
2
 1973 � 74
Cork Hibernians
1
1
 1970 � 71
Drogheda United
1
1
 2007
Dolphin
1
1
 1934 � 35

Premier Division :
Team Base Manager Stadium Capacity Founded
Bohemians Dublin Ireland Pat Fenlon Dalymount Park 7,955 1890
Bray Wanderers Bray Ireland Pat Devlin Carlisle Grounds 3,250 1942
Drogheda United Drogheda Ireland Bobby Browne United Park 2,000 1975
Dundalk Dundalk England Ian Foster Oriel Park 6,000 1903
Galway United Galway Northern Ireland Sean Connor Terryland Park 5,000 1937
Shamrock Rovers Dublin Northern Ireland Michael O'Neill Tallaght Stadium 5,947 1901
Sligo Rovers Sligo England Paul Cook The Showgrounds 5,500 1928
Sporting Fingal Dublin Ireland Liam Buckley Morton Stadium 4,000 2007
St. Patrick's Athletic Dublin Ireland Pete Mahon Richmond Park 5,340 1929
University College Dublin Dublin Ireland Martin Russell UCD Bowl 3,000 1895

First Division :
Team Base Manager Stadium Capacity Founded
Athlone Town Athlone Ireland Brendan Place Lissywoolen Stadium 5,000 1887
Cork City Cork Ireland Tommy Dunne Turners Cross 7,485 1984
Derry City Derry Ireland Steven Kenny Brandywell 8,200 1928
Finn Harps Ballybofey Ireland James Gallagher Finn Park 7,500 1954
Limerick Limerick Ireland Pat Scully Jackman Park 3,000 1937
Longford Town Longford Ireland Tony Cousins Flancare Park 6,850 1924
Mervue United Galway Ireland Tom French Terryland Park 6,500 1960
Monaghan United Monaghan Ireland Mick Cooke Century Homes Park 3,000 1979
Salthill Devon Galway Ireland Emlyn Long Drom 2,000 1977
Shelbourne Dublin Ireland Alan Mathews Tolka Park 9,680 1895
Waterford United Waterford Ireland Stephen Henderson RSC 3,100 1930
Wexford Youths Crossabeg Ireland Noel O'Connor Ferrycarrig Park 2,500 2007

League of Ireland seasons

1921 �22, 1922 �23, 1923 �24, 1924 �25, 1925 �26, 1926 �27, 1927 �28, 1928 �29, 1929 �30, 1930 �31, 1931 �32, 1932 �33, 1933 �34, 1934 �35, 1935 �36, 1936 �37, 1937 �38, 1938 �39, 1939 �40, 1940 �41, 1941 �42, 1942 �43, 1943 �44, 1944 �45, 1945 �46, 1946 �47, 1947 �48, 1948 �49, 1949 �50, 1950 �51, 1951 �52, 1952 �53, 1953 �54, 1954 �55, 1955 �56, 1956 �57, 1957 �58, 1958 �59, 1959 �60, 1960 �61, 1961 �62, 1962 �63, 1963 �64, 1964 �65, 1965 �66, 1966 �67, 1967 �68, 1968 �69, 1969 �70, 1970 �71, 1971 �72, 1972 �73, 1973 �74, 1974 �75, 1975 �76, 1976 �77, 1977 �78, 1978 �79, 1979 �80, 1980 �81, 1981 �82, 1982 �83, 1983 �84, 1984 �85, 1985 �86, 1986 �87, 1987 �88, 1988 �89, 1989 �90, 1990 �91, 1991 �92, 1992 �93, 1993 �94, 1994 �95, 1995 �96, 1996 �97, 1997 �98, 1998 �99, 1999 �2000, 2000 �01, 2001 �02, 2002 �03, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Association football in the Republic of Ireland

National teamsRepublic of Ireland (Women's), B, U-21
League systemPremier Division, First Division, A Championship
Domestic cupsFAI Cup, League Cup, Setanta Cup

Top level football leagues of Europe (UEFA)

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Wales
Former leagues: Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia



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