The Irish President’s Cup, won by Derry City at Shamrock Rovers’ home stadium in Tallaght, kicked off a new season of Men’s and Women’s professional soccer in Ireland. The Republic’s leagues are growing in popularity, finances, competitiveness, and literal size this year, meaning it is a great time to commit to supporting an Irish club.
That support is made easy with LOITV.ie and its €100 season pass, which allows you to watch every Men’s Premier and First Division contest, as well as Women’s Premier Division game, live or on replay for the 2026 season. The streams are not always immaculate but rest easy knowing that no game will be interrupted by a video assistant referee (VAR).
Men’s Premier Division Preview
The competitiveness now found throughout the season makes the League of Ireland incredibly exciting to support. Derry City’s President’s Cup triumph over Shamrock Rovers portends a fantastic league title race this season. Shamrock Rovers aim to restart their consecutive league champions’ streak—they won four league titles in a row to 2023—and won again last season; while Derry City has brought home its Irish National Team Centurion James McClean for the Club’s quest for its first league title of the 21st Century.
The modern Premier Division is composed of ten fully professional clubs. Dublin’s Shelbourne have paid potentially the first six figure transfer fee by an Irish team to bring Belfast defender Odhrán Casey south from Cliftonville, as the Joey O’Brien-managed squad aim to recapture the magic of their 2024 title winning season.
Their north-side neighbors Bohemians bring a massive fanbase to the field, along with a global social media reach thanks to their fantastic music and soccer collaboration jerseys. Outside Dublin, Drogheda United have restocked their roster with American talent. Sligo Rovers aim to rebuild again after selling their best young players for huge profits.
Waterford and Galway United hope to surprise the Dublin-centric league from Munster and Connaught respectively. Stephen Kenny, former manager of the Irish National Team, coaches his second season with St. Patrick’s Athletic, while his son Eoin hopes to fire in enough goals this year to restore Dundalk as Premier League competitors.
Another reason to support the League of Ireland is the major involvement of Irish America, including from Columbus! Newly-promoted Dundalk FC is now owned by Columbus local Chris Clinton, and their County Louth rivals Drogheda have signed Ethan O’Brien, a former National Champion with the Columbus Crew Academy and graduate of New Albany High.
Bohemians just added goalkeeper Paul Walters from FC Cincinnati as well. Walters graduated from both Cincinnati’s MLS Academy and Lakota West High. The Premier Division kicks off February 6. In June, Irish clubs will enter the qualifiers for all of the European Champions, Europa, and Conference Leagues for the first time ever, after years of increasing European success by the Republic’s clubs.
First Division Preview
The First Division is Cork City’s to lose on their fourth relegation to the league since 2020. Their County rivals Cobh Ramblers, along with Bray Wanderers, hope their continued emphasis on youthful talent grows their promotion chances this season. Limerick’s Treaty United, the college student squad from University College Dublin (UCD), the league’s newest squad, Kerry FC, and Wexford will all build toward qualifying for the Promotion Playoff. The Longford Town versus Athlone Town Midland’s Derby, El Clásico, is box office viewing regardless of the teams’ league standing.
My own rooting interest in Ireland lies with Finn Harps, who hope to build towards promotion with a locally produced roster, including three teenagers who competed with the Group Champion Irish under-17 National Team at the 2025 U-17 World Cup in Qatar last November. The growth of English Premier League soccer on American televisions following the 2010 World Cup has coincided with an avalanche of articles encouraging us to “pick our Premier League Club”—usually based on matching the qualities of an English soccer team to an NFL fanbase.
A real connection with the club you support actually makes fandom passionate, however. My ancestors came from Donegal, and Finn Harps, whose stadium lies on the River Finn in the County, lets me own a piece of the Club’s success and legacy through its Cooperative Society.
Bohemians and Sligo Rovers offer the same chance in the Premier Division, while Shamrock Rovers, Athlone Town, and Wexford maintain elements of fan ownership. And Supporters Trusts exist at a number of other teams, while Kerry FC has a number of Irish American minority owners. Finding a connection with any club in Ireland offers the chance to enjoy the growth and community-based passion of the League of Ireland, the Greatest League in the World.
Women’s Premier Division and New Third Tier
Speaking of growth, the Women’s Premier Division, playing since 2023, kicks off on March 14. Back-to-back Champions Athlone Town have real competition this season from Shamrock Rovers, who just signed Irish National Team player Ellen Molloy from Wexford. We will have the chance to see Molloy in person this year as she will play the Summer 2026 USL W season with the Pittsburgh Riveters, beginning in May. All Irish women’s games stream on LOITV as well, with a weekly game on TG4. The twelve-team league is quickly becoming the starting ground for the Women’s National Team, as well as a career path for American women’s college soccer players.
This Fall also sees the start of the new Third Tier of men’s professional soccer in the Republic. Counties Kildare, Kilkenny, and Mayo all get Club representatives in Ireland’s soccer pyramid, with 20 teams total spread across North and South divisions making up the league. The future goal is a Promotion/Relegation structure into the First Division.
The League of Ireland is an all-Island experience, with stadiums both new and old (with some on the way) that are full of Irish passion on a weekly basis. There has never been a better time to support it, so enjoy the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Irish soccer seasons!
