Summary
The League of Ireland Premier Division (IRL1) (SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division) is the top football league in the Republic of Ireland's football system. At the end of the 2025 IRL1 season, the IRL1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2026 - 2027 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 1st place 2025 IRL1 team
- 2026 - 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League - 2nd Qualifying Round:
- 2nd place 2025 IRL1 team
- 2026 - 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 3rd place 2025 IRL1 team
The winner of the 2025 Sports Direct FAI Cup, typically an IRL1 team, also receives a berth in the 1st Qualifying Round of the 2026 - 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Leagues Pyramid - Republic of Ireland
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| IRL1 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 10 |
| IRL2 | League of Ireland First Division | 10 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| 14 Feb 2025 - 1 Nov 2025 | 10: IRL1 (8 minimum), IRL2 (2 maximum) | ||
Season Format
The IRL1 season consists of a double round robin format where each IRL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 9 IRL1 teams twice, for a total of 36 league matches. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goal difference, then (2) goals scored.
Playoffs
Not applicable.
Relegation
At the end of the 2025 IRL1 season, the 10th place IRL1 team is relegated to the IRL2, and the 9th place IRL1 team enters into a Home-Away highest aggregate score playoff with the 2nd/3rd place team that won the IRL2 Promotion playoff. The winner of this playoff and the 1st place IRL2 team play in the 2026 IRL1.
More Info...
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers | 36 | 19 -9-8 | 66 | - | 56 | 33 | 23 | 18 | 12 -3-3 | 39 | 33 | 12 | 21 | 18 | 7 -6-5 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 2 |
| 2 | Derry City FC | 36 | 18 -9-9 | 63 | - | 52 | 39 | 13 | 18 | 9 -6-3 | 33 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 9 -3-6 | 30 | 21 | 22 | -1 |
| 3 | Shelbourne FC | 36 | 15 -14-7 | 59 | - | 48 | 37 | 11 | 18 | 8 -6-4 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 18 | 7 -8-3 | 29 | 23 | 19 | 4 |
| 4 | Bohemians FC | 36 | 16 -6-14 | 54 | - | 48 | 39 | 9 | 18 | 10 -2-6 | 32 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 6 -4-8 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 5 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | 36 | 13 -13-10 | 52 | - | 42 | 32 | 10 | 18 | 8 -8-2 | 32 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 5 -5-8 | 20 | 14 | 19 | -5 |
| 6 | Drogheda United FC | 36 | 12 -15-9 | 51 | - | 38 | 38 | 0 | 18 | 8 -6-4 | 30 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 4 -9-5 | 21 | 16 | 21 | -5 |
| 7 | Sligo Rovers FC | 36 | 11 -8-17 | 41 | - | 42 | 54 | -12 | 18 | 5 -6-7 | 21 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 18 | 6 -2-10 | 20 | 23 | 33 | -10 |
| 8 | Galway FC | 36 | 9 -12-15 | 39 | - | 37 | 44 | -7 | 18 | 7 -4-7 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 18 | 2 -8-8 | 14 | 14 | 22 | -8 |
| 9 | Waterford FC | 36 | 11 -6-19 | 39 | - | 41 | 60 | -19 | 18 | 6 -3-9 | 21 | 21 | 29 | -8 | 18 | 5 -3-10 | 18 | 20 | 31 | -11 |
| 10 | Cork City FC | 36 | 4 -12-20 | 24 | - | 33 | 61 | -28 | 18 | 4 -8-6 | 20 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 18 | 0 -4-14 | 4 | 14 | 39 | -25 |
2026-2027 UEFACL 2026-2027 UEFAECL Relegation Playoffs Relegation to IRL2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 11 | Galway FC | Waterford Regional Sports Centre |
 | 00 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | Tolka Park |
 | 12 | Sligo Rovers FC | Tallaght Stadium |
 | 14 | Bohemians FC | Sullivan & Lambe Park |
 | 01 | Derry City FC | Turner's Cross |
| 10 | Galway FC | Tallaght Stadium |
| 23 | Shelbourne FC | Dalymont Park |
| 21 | Shamrock Rovers | The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium |
| 11 | Cork City FC | The Showgrounds (Sligo) |
| 11 | Waterford FC | Richmond Park (Dublin) |
| 11 | Drogheda United FC | Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 00 | St Patrick's Athletic FC | Dalymont Park |
| 12 | Derry City FC | Waterford Regional Sports Centre |
| 10 | Shamrock Rovers | Richmond Park (Dublin) |
| 31 | Sligo Rovers FC | Tolka Park |
| 20 | Bohemians FC | Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 10 | Cork City FC | Sullivan & Lambe Park |
| 12 | Shelbourne FC | Turner's Cross |
| 01 | Shelbourne FC | Tallaght Stadium |
| 20 | Drogheda United FC | Waterford Regional Sports Centre |