TheRepublic of Ireland football league system is a series ofassociation footballleagues inIreland. Traditionally, leagues have been classified as eithersenior,intermediate orjunior. These classifications are effectively national,provincial andcounty leagues respectively.^[1] However, the definition of 'junior' has expanded to include multi-county leagues (e.g. the Combined Counties Football League),municipal district leagues (e.g.West Cork League), andregional district leagues (e.g. Inishowen and north Dublin).^[2][1][3]

The football system currently consists of 12 levels. The two highest level divisions, theLeague of Ireland Premier Division and theLeague of Ireland First Division are both part of the only national league, theLeague of Ireland.^[4] The third level currently consists of two provincial leagues – theLeinster Senior League Senior Division and theMunster Senior League Senior Premier Division.

The original national league for the island ofIreland was theIrish Football League. Founded in1890, this league later became theNorthern Ireland Football League. ThreeDublin clubs –Bohemians,Shelbourne andTritonville – played in the Irish Football League before thepartition of Ireland.^[5] In June 1921, less than a month after partition, theLeague of Ireland was founded as the highest level of league competition in the Republic of Ireland.^[6][7] The inaugural season of the new national league was held in1921–22 withSt James’ Gate winning the first-ever League of Ireland title.^[6][8] The league'sPremier Division is the top division.^[9]

The two oldest association football leagues in what is now theRepublic of Ireland are theLeinster Senior League and theMunster Senior League. The former was founded in1896^[10] while the latter first appeared in the early 1900s. The Leinster Senior League's jurisdiction included theGreater Dublin Area, the most populated region in the country, and as a result it was effectively ade facto second-level league between 1896–97 and 1964–65.

In 1964 theLeague of Ireland formed the first formal national second level division, theLeague of Ireland B Division.^[11] As a national league, the B Division acted as thede facto second tier between 1964–65 and 1984–85. Although the league was national, the participants weren't classed as senior teams.^[12] Instead, they retained their intermediate status and were allowed to continue competing in theFAI Intermediate Cup. There was also nopromotion between the B Division and the League of Ireland, although there are examples of B teams being elected to the top division – such asUCD in 1979.^[12] In1985, following a reorganisation, the B Division was replaced as the second-level league by theLeague of Ireland First Division. As part of this reorganisation, apromotion and relegation system involving the top two national divisions was introduced for the first time.^[13]

From 1964–65 until 2008 theLeinster Senior League and theMunster Senior League formed the third level. They were subsequently joined at this level by theConnacht Senior League in 1981 and theUlster Senior League in 1986.^[14] Between2008 and2011, the provincial leagues were briefly replaced as the third level by a short lived national third-level league known as theA Championship. Following the demise of the A Championship, the provincial leagues regained their third level status. Both the Connacht and Ulster leagues were subsequently wound up.^[15]

Being members of a league at a particular level also affects eligibility for Cup, or single-elimination, competitions.

• FAI Cup: Levels 1–3
• League of Ireland Cup: Levels 1–2
• FAI Intermediate Cup: Levels 3–7
• FAI Junior Cup: Levels 7–12

Below level 7 the pyramid becomes regional and the cups become accordingly regional. Further down the pyramid is split on a county basis, counties having their own cups accordingly. This excludes some tournaments marked "Senior Cups", which often are competitions between teams representing top professional clubs in a given district, such as theMunster Senior Cup.

Apromotion and relegation system has existed between theLeague of Ireland Premier Division and theLeague of Ireland First Division since 1985–86. Between2008 and2011,A Championship teams were also eligible for promotion to the First Division. Promotion and relegation systems also operate within the separate provincial league systems. There is no formal promotion and relegation relationship between the provincial leagues and theLeague of Ireland. Teams have been invited to join the League of Ireland however. In2015,Cabinteely of theLeinster Senior League became the most recent team to accept an invite. In 2024, it was announced by theFAI that a 3rd tier will be launched in 2026. The new league will contain 20 clubs in total., split into North and South divisions. The teams will play against other teams in their respective divisions first to qualify for playoffs, where top teams from North and South will compete for a chance to be promoted to the LOI Men's First Division.^[16] This is expected to include various current intermediate clubs, as well as reserve sides ofLeague of Ireland clubs and new entities similar toKerry F.C.

Level one in the pyramid, the top division of Irish football, is run by theLeague of Ireland Premier Division (which gives its name to the competition in that division), the winners of which are regarded as the champions of the Republic of Ireland. Level two is run by theLeague of Ireland. Together, these two divisions make up what is known as "league football".

The leagues below level two are classed as "non-League football", meaning they are outside the League of Ireland. The leagues at levels three to six comprise the Provincial League System, and are run by the Provinces. The top level (level 3) of the Provincial leagues is known as the Senior Leagues and the winners of which are regarded as the champions of their respective Province. At present onlyMunster andLeinster have leagues at this level. Levels seven to twelve are designed as "Regional Feeder Leagues" or District Leagues.^[17][18][19]

There is currently no promotion or relegation system between theLeague of Ireland First Division (Level 2) and the provincial leagues (Level 3) in place. Therefore, there is no movement between the football league and non-league football and the only way non-league club can enter the football league is if they are elected.

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• Northern Irish football league system

• Football league systems in Europe
• Association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland

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