General promotion/media discussion (split from the attendances thread)

[Spudulika]

A Shamrock Rovers fanatic friend of mine told me that we are more English than the English themselves, and I can't help but agree when the Irish media not alone apes the motherland, but also follows it's lead in so many ways. It's bad enough that our civil service is a poor imitation of the British one, and the way we deal with our policy changes ditto (from immigration to financial), we as a nation are never going to be mature enough to just get on with being independent and having pride in what's our own, it's the mindset of a heavily colonised and completely destroyed society that exists today, completely dependent and beholden on those above us, whether they be British or Irish.

[dcfcsteve]

A Shamrock Rovers fanatic friend of mine told me that we are more English than the English themselves, and I can't help but agree when the Irish media not alone apes the motherland, but also follows it's lead in so many ways. It's bad enough that our civil service is a poor imitation of the British one, and the way we deal with our policy changes ditto (from immigration to financial), we as a nation are never going to be mature enough to just get on with being independent and having pride in what's our own, it's the mindset of a heavily colonised and completely destroyed society that exists today, completely dependent and beholden on those above us, whether they be British or Irish.

Being so close geographically to Britain and using the same language, we are always going to be in their proverbial tracter beam to be honest. It's more about relative size and language than colonialism - it's the same with other obvious places like Austria-Germany, Canada-US, Luxembourg-France, New Zeland-Australia etc, none of which had a colonial relationship (Austria 'agreed' to join Germany briefly in the last century).

Legally and in policy terms Ireland is slowly but surely diverging from Britain. We have an elected head of state, different tax rates, a different voting system, and Ireland has lead the way for other countries recently on policy issues like plastic bags tax and smoking ban. Also - Ireland moved very quickly on tackling its financial mess once it all came out of the wash - much faster than anywhere else (and rightly so).

Football and media are two big areas where Ireland does lean far too heavily upon Britain though, to the point of disgrace when it comes to football. But to say that Irel;and is just a nation of post-colonial lackeys who can't think for themselves is just too simplistic. Geography and language makes it inevitable, colonial relationship are not (again ref Canada-Us and NZ-Australia).

[legendz]

The league needs to look after itself first and get it's structures right. I don't think that is being done.

[dong]

Being so close geographically to Britain and using the same language, we are always going to be in their proverbial tracter beam to be honest. It's more about relative size and language than colonialism - it's the same with other obvious places like Austria-Germany, Canada-US, Luxembourg-France, New Zeland-Australia etc, none of which had a colonial relationship (Austria 'agreed' to join Germany briefly in the last century).

Legally and in policy terms Ireland is slowly but surely diverging from Britain. We have an elected head of state, different tax rates, a different voting system, and Ireland has lead the way for other countries recently on policy issues like plastic bags tax and smoking ban. Also - Ireland moved very quickly on tackling its financial mess once it all came out of the wash - much faster than anywhere else (and rightly so).

Football and media are two big areas where Ireland does lean far too heavily upon Britain though, to the point of disgrace when it comes to football. But to say that Irel;and is just a nation of post-colonial lackeys who can't think for themselves is just too simplistic. Geography and language makes it inevitable, colonial relationship are not (again ref Canada-Us and NZ-Australia).

What???
They may have tackled it quickly but hardly properly Steve. 20 odd billion being pumped into Anglo is hardly tackling the problem. It would cost around 4 million to build another cystic fibrosis unit. Enough said.
Sorry for going off topic.

[Spudulika]

Being so close geographically to Britain and using the same language, we are always going to be in their proverbial tracter beam to be honest. It's more about relative size and language than colonialism - it's the same with other obvious places like Austria-Germany, Canada-US, Luxembourg-France, New Zeland-Australia etc, none of which had a colonial relationship (Austria 'agreed' to join Germany briefly in the last century).

Legally and in policy terms Ireland is slowly but surely diverging from Britain. We have an elected head of state, different tax rates, a different voting system, and Ireland has lead the way for other countries recently on policy issues like plastic bags tax and smoking ban. Also - Ireland moved very quickly on tackling its financial mess once it all came out of the wash - much faster than anywhere else (and rightly so).

Football and media are two big areas where Ireland does lean far too heavily upon Britain though, to the point of disgrace when it comes to football. But to say that Irel;and is just a nation of post-colonial lackeys who can't think for themselves is just too simplistic. Geography and language makes it inevitable, colonial relationship are not (again ref Canada-Us and NZ-Australia).

Point taken, I was being too simplistic there and really drawing on the dependence we have on our neighbours for guidance. Of course we'll always be overshadowed by events there (football I should say clearly) and the difficulty will be creating a viable product to be marketed in Ireland. However it won't happen with the clowns at the helm (I'd like to solely blame the FAI but we know up and down the country clubs and football people are just as guilty). There still is a colonial hangover and I feel that the greatest problem is that we were a very different type of colony - not just were our raw materials taken and finished products sold back to us, not to mention someone elses laws rubbing out our own, we were systematically displaced, disenfranchised and downtrodden, which means we're kind of messed up :-)

[punkrocket]

It's more about relative size and language than colonialism - it's the same with other obvious places like Austria-Germany, Canada-US

Canada is a lot bigger than the US, and has never been colonised by them, a large portion of the population doesnt even share a language with them

[John83]

What???
They may have tackled it quickly but hardly properly Steve. 20 odd billion being pumped into Anglo is hardly tackling the problem. It would cost around 4 million to build another cystic fibrosis unit. Enough said.
Sorry for going off topic.
Enough said indeed, though interested readers can find more information in dong's paper:
I. M. Dong, "Cystic Fibrosis Units as Drivers of Economic Recovery: Enough Said", Quarterly Journal of Economics, 135(3), Aug 2010.

[legendz]

This thread is going way off topic on how the league can develop! Lets get every county represented at some level in the LoI and sort out the youth structures.

[dcfcsteve]

What???
They may have tackled it quickly but hardly properly Steve. 20 odd billion being pumped into Anglo is hardly tackling the problem. It would cost around 4 million to build another cystic fibrosis unit. Enough said.
Sorry for going off topic.

I wasn't passing judgement on what the Irish government did - just saying that they acted quicker than pretty much anywhere else in tackling their economic problems. Things would be even worse if they hadn't.


Canada is a lot bigger than the US, and has never been colonised by them, a large portion of the population doesnt even share a language with them

The physical size of Canada's landmass is irrelvant, and I stated that it hadn't been colonised by the US. Most of Canada's landmass is empty, and they have a population of only one-tenth of that of the US. Plus only 20% of Canadians use French in their everyday lives, whilst 80% of all Canuks live within 100miles of the US border. Unsurprising therefore that their culture is heavily influenced by their much more populous neighbour.

Spend a bit of time in Canadia and you'll see how heavily influenced it is by the US.

Though I digress.... :D

[dcfcsteve]

Local football in Scotland is the template that we should hope to achieve.ie That people support LOI teams first and EPL second but we are a long way from that goal!

Bizarrely the Scots don't really support English teams full-stop. It's either their local side or, increasingly, one or other of the Old Firm.

It's hard to know how we got ourselves into such a crazy situation where we do the opposite.

[fionnsci]

As an aside - were ordinary adult tickets really €40-50 for tonight's game....?

€50 minimum i think.

[legendz]

Bizarrely the Scots don't really support English teams full-stop. It's either their local side or, increasingly, one or other of the Old Firm.

It's hard to know how we got ourselves into such a crazy situation where we do the opposite.
There aren't enough local derbies really and nor are there enough counties represented to get interest going in the game around the country.

[dong]

There aren't enough local derbies really and nor are there enough counties represented to get interest going in the game around the country.

I could name a few derbies if you feel that's the critical factor missing:

Cork v Waterford
Finn Harps v Derry
Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps
Sligo Rovers v Galway (possibly)
Bohs v Shamrock rovers
Shamrock Rovers v St. Pats
St. Pats v Bohs
Fingal v Bohs
Fingal v St Pats
Mervue v Salthill

I could have left some out. If anything there's too many. Don't see how the Fingal ones are derbies myself but they are mostly referred to as "Dublin Derbies" on MNS and in the media.
Also, I don't think having teams from every county is going to be an answer to the league's "woes".

[Model Club]

Bizarrely the Scots don't really support English teams full-stop. It's either their local side or, increasingly, one or other of the Old Firm.

It's hard to know how we got ourselves into such a crazy situation where we do the opposite.

I know-It was more a case of wishful-hoping tinged with a realisation that the EPL is here to stay and my vision is the best we can hope for but will probably never happen:(

[legendz]

I could name a few derbies if you feel that's the critical factor missing:

Cork v Waterford
Finn Harps v Derry
Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps
Sligo Rovers v Galway (possibly)
Bohs v Shamrock rovers
Shamrock Rovers v St. Pats
St. Pats v Bohs
Fingal v Bohs
Fingal v St Pats
Mervue v Salthill

I could have left some out. If anything there's too many. Don't see how the Fingal ones are derbies myself but they are mostly referred to as "Dublin Derbies" on MNS and in the media.
Also, I don't think having teams from every county is going to be an answer to the league's "woes".Good derbies they are too but I think there should be more, though obviously there'd have to be more clubs
Maybe not the answer to the league woes but the only way to promote the league more nationwide is to have more regions represented. Hopefully with the A Championship it will head that way.

[punkrocket]

The physical size of Canada's landmass is irrelvant, and I stated that it hadn't been colonised by the US. Most of Canada's landmass is empty, and they have a population of only one-tenth of that of the US. Plus only 20% of Canadians use French in their everyday lives, whilst 80% of all Canuks live within 100miles of the US border. Unsurprising therefore that their culture is heavily influenced by their much more populous neighbour.

Spend a bit of time in Canadia and you'll see how heavily influenced it is by the US.



It's still bigger.

[dcfcsteve]

It's still bigger.

And your point is.....?

[bingoballs]

I know-It was more a case of wishful-hoping tinged with a realisation that the EPL is here to stay and my vision is the best we can hope for but will probably never happen:(
My prediction, the EPL will crash and burn in the next few years. Players wages are unsustainable, many of the clubs are carrying serious debt and sugar daddys aren't going to stay for ever while their clubs are heomoraging cash. In fairness to Shams, their attendances prove that there is a potential appetite for domestic football in Ireland.

[legendz]

My prediction, the EPL will crash and burn in the next few years. Players wages are unsustainable, many of the clubs are carrying serious debt and sugar daddys aren't going to stay for ever while their clubs are heomoraging cash. In fairness to Shams, their attendances prove that there is a potential appetite for domestic football in Ireland.There is a potential appetite too but league structures need to be right first. Not to go on but U16/Youth level up is the way to work on it.

[bingoballs]

There is a potential appetite too but league structures need to be right first. Not to go on but U16/Youth level up is the way to work on it.
Totally agree Legendz, the success of the GAA is their connection to the grassroot levels of their community. If clubs were to be told that they would be given 5 years to have a percentage of home grown players in their first team it would enforce them to start thinking about developing and implomenting decent youth structures. It would also generate a greater sence of connection between the team and the community. The only problem is financing it.

[legendz]

It should be part of the league licence really, clubs should have to enter an U16 and Youth team. They could operate it in two pools, North and South to minimise travel expenses. 22 LoI clubs would equate to two pools of 11. Could throw in a few A Championship clubs as well who are serious in their intent in developing football.

[legendz]

If Youth structure's i.e. U16 and Youth were set-up, it would operate in pools like:

North:
Derry City
Finn Harps
Sligo
Monaghan
Longford
Dundalk
Drogheda
Athlone
Galway
Salthill
Mervue

South:
Cork City
Waterford
Wexford
Limerick
Bray
Bohemians
Shamrock
Fingal
Pat's
UCD
Shelbourne

[dong]

Totally agree Legendz, the success of the GAA is their connection to the grassroot levels of their community. If clubs were to be told that they would be given 5 years to have a percentage of home grown players in their first team it would enforce them to start thinking about developing and implomenting decent youth structures. It would also generate a greater sence of connection between the team and the community. The only problem is financing it.

Maybe to a small extent but I remember plenty of Sligo Rovers teams with a good few local lads in the team and the crowds were not anything special in those days.

[legendz]

Football is a global game. I would not expect clubs to limit their pool to their locality. My call is for youth structures to be put in place so the better youth players can work to the top but naturally players would come in from elsewhere as well.

[punkrocket]

And your point is.....?

Basically, you made a factual error there and when I pointed it out you threw up a smokescreen and well, I guess that you've been studying the J Delaney handbook there.

[Roo69]

If Youth structure's i.e. U16 and Youth were set-up, it would operate in pools like:

North:
Derry City
Finn Harps
Sligo
Monaghan
Longford
Dundalk
Drogheda
Athlone
Galway
Salthill
Mervue

South:
Cork City
Waterford
Wexford
Limerick
Bray
Bohemians
Shamrock
Fingal
Pat's
UCD
Shelbourne

I agree about each club having a full youth set up, BUT do you honestly think it is financially viable? There is not a hope on hell clubs could afford another whack load of expenses like that on travel.

[Macy]

I wasn't passing judgement on what the Irish government did - just saying that they acted quicker than pretty much anywhere else in tackling their economic problems. Things would be even worse if they hadn't.
If they didn't do the right things (which they haven't), first mover advantage is ******.

[legendz]

I agree about each club having a full youth set up, BUT do you honestly think it is financially viable? There is not a hope on hell clubs could afford another whack load of expenses like that on travel.I know there is that. Expanding the idea further, if 10 additional regions could provide a team, e.g from the A Championship: Tralee, Carlow, Tullamore, Cobh, Tullamore, Castlebar etc, there could be four groups of 8. It's a hard one. There is the finances but also for football to develop, it needs a structure. If a competition was formed with sponsorship, it would be a help.

[Roo69]

I know there is that. Expanding the idea further, if 10 additional regions could provide a team, e.g from the A Championship: Tralee, Carlow, Tullamore, Cobh, Tullamore, Castlebar etc, there could be four groups of 8. It's a hard one. There is the finances but also for football to develop, it needs a structure. If a competition was formed with sponsorship, it would be a help.

Most clubs find the A Championship and U20s team a big financial burden, just couldn't see them going for a league were for example, Bray had to travel down to Cork one week and then maybe down to Limerick etc the next week.

[legendz]

If you had a club from each of the 6 counties of Munster, plus Cobh and one more, I don't think it'd be Bray, travel is being kept minimal. I understand fully where you are coming from. If it's not economically viable, it'd have no chance of ever happening. It's bad for the league though, youth structures is where any foundations should be built.

[Mr A]

While it would be an extra financial burden, I think the idea of making clubs field more teams and at a national level where possible is a good one. It should have the effect of diverting funds away from the first team wages and increase the chances of the LOI clubs getting the best youngsters aboard with the least disruption of existing leagues (the last thing the schoolboy leagues want is LOI clubs joining and dominating them by hoovering up the better players).

It also gets more people involved with the club- the aim should be to convert those youngsters who don't make it into fans.

The first step should be to expand the number of games in the U20 league. Currently it's hard to keep players interested because there's just so few matches. Also, integrating the likes of the Kennedy cup with the LOI clubs would be a step in the right direction.

[dcfcsteve]

If you had a club from each of the 6 counties of Munster, plus Cobh and one more, I don't think it'd be Bray, travel is being kept minimal. I understand fully where you are coming from. If it's not economically viable, it'd have no chance of ever happening. It's bad for the league though, youth structures is where any foundations should be built.

Legendz - you and a few other posters on here always do this.

Why do you perceive the solution to the league's problems being to create more teams in non-footballing areas ? Why would anyone in Dublin turn out to watch one of the many teams there just because Clare had an underage side in the Irish footballing pyramid ?

[dong]

I'd push community connections as well. LoI clubs should have an U16 team, Youth team (U18 but goal-keeper and 3 outfield players can be U19) and a reserve side.


all LoI clubs should have an U16 and a Youth team (U18 or U19). Youth level is the place to start to get a connection within communities.


There are 22 LoI clubs, as part of their league licence, they should have to field an U16 and Youth team. .


In an ideal world yes. With the current system, the LoI comes out of nowhere without grass-roots. U16 up is the way to go!


U16/Youth level up is the way to work on it.

Do you think that Under 16 and Youth Level teams are important Legendz?;)

[marinobohs]

My prediction, the EPL will crash and burn in the next few years. Players wages are unsustainable, many of the clubs are carrying serious debt and sugar daddys aren't going to stay for ever while their clubs are heomoraging cash. In fairness to Shams, their attendances prove that there is a potential appetite for domestic football in Ireland.

So for once England will be following the Irish model :o. Always thought we focus too much on the EPL fans here many of whom will never attend a game (on either side of the Irish sea) and are armchair/bar stool fans as likely to be watching a "big" GAA game or Rugby match as a "soccer" match. trying to entice them to LOI is a waste of time in my opinion.
We need to profile a realistic target market and then seek to attract it to LOI. I suspect that the potential number would be a lot less than many think/hope (but more than currently attending.)

[legendz]

Legendz - you and a few other posters on here always do this.

Why do you perceive the solution to the league's problems being to create more teams in non-footballing areas ? Why would anyone in Dublin turn out to watch one of the many teams there just because Clare had an underage side in the Irish footballing pyramid ?Well you know, I'm not talking about an overnight success. I would see it as something the league should work to. The A Championship is a good addition at the moment. I wouldn't see any need for additions to the LoI unless it was shown a few more clubs could hold a Division One licence etc.

[dcfcsteve]

My prediction, the EPL will crash and burn in the next few years. Players wages are unsustainable, many of the clubs are carrying serious debt and sugar daddys aren't going to stay for ever while their clubs are heomoraging cash.

I wouldn't be so sure about that Bingballs.

A correction is undoubtedly overdue and needed in English football, and it's only a matter of time before a club hits the wall (if only the Revenue would grow some balls and deliver the killer blow when they should e.f. Portsmouth). But it's likely to be the smaller clubs that go first.

Football also operates within its own little world largely insulated from normal economic conditions, norms and behaviours. For example - English football's rule that footballing debts must always be paid first reduce the likelihood of the collapse of one club doing much to negatively impact any others. The government/tax men should kill that particular rule, as it's just wrong on so many different levels. Even in Scottish football - with a fraction of the value of the English system - it's the banks that keep the likes of Rangers afloat as they don't want to be the organisation that pulls the rug from under a massively popular institution. Hence the big football clubs in Britain get away with things no other business would (and no smaller club would either).

So unfortunately I can see the English bubble staying inflated for quite some time. That's not to say that it'll continue to grow - it might just stall at a bloated level for a while. Whilst a correction is overdue, I don't think it's in any great hurry. The fact that there are still rich people - and even countries - seemingly queuing up to buy EPL clubs shows that for every sugar daddy that goes there's another one waiting in the wings.

P.S. Don't forget also that 'carryiong significant amount of debts' appears to have largely been the motivation and interest in Man Utd from the Glazers. There are canny business people out there who WANT their assets to be loaded with debt, as it serves the purposes of their broader financial dealings. So far form killing interest in football debt appears to be both the result of and the sustaining element within some investment in the game.

[legendz]

The Financial Fair Play Rules should bring some amount of balance to the crazy spending.

[Charlie Darwin]

Bringing this back to an earlier discussion, Rovers-Pats is the lead soccer story on the Times website this morning and second-lead sports story: http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/

Haven't seen the physical edition yet but it's probably the same.

[legendz]

What's the general view on the A Championship? Has it been a good addition to the league?

[peadar1987]

My not-quite-girlfriend-but-I-still-have-met-the-parents is Dutch, and when I was over there a few weeks ago, I was astonished at how dissimilar to Germany Holland is. Completely different culture and outlook on life, and the same could be said about all the rest of my travels through Europe. Bavaria is less of a slave to Berlin than Ireland is to the UK. We listen to the same music, we adopt the same idiom, we have a very similar outlook on life, which extends far beyond the football teams of choice for the vast majority of the population. If you didn't recognise the accent, you couldn't tell whether you were walking down the street in Dublin, Cork, Birmingham or Cardiff.



As for the football side of the discussion, I've spent the last year in Scotland, and they seem far more proud of all things Scottish than we do about Irish culture. You'll rarely meet a Glaswegian who takes any more than a passing interest in English football, despite all the great Scottish players who have played there over the years, for example. They have all of the exact same excuses as we do, right down to the poor standard outside the Old Firm, the difference is, they don't seem to rationalise selling out their national league as deftly as Irish people seem to.

[bennocelt]

As for the football side of the discussion, I've spent the last year in Scotland, and they seem far more proud of all things Scottish than we do about Irish culture. You'll rarely meet a Glaswegian who takes any more than a passing interest in English football, despite all the great Scottish players who have played there over the years, for example. They have all of the exact same excuses as we do, right down to the poor standard outside the Old Firm, the difference is, they don't seem to rationalise selling out their national league as deftly as Irish people seem to.

Easy said for them as part of the UK (England):D (nitpicking-sorry!)

[legendz]

The league of Ireland hasn't helped itself though in fairness. Having been a closed circle of 22 clubs for so long, it'll take a lot of work for things to improve.

[shaneb]

Hi guys.

Just thought I'd add my two cents' worth, from a media slant.

I was part of the editorial team which launched men's sport and lifestyle website Joe.ie earlier this year. At the start, trying to make the best use of our resources, it was decided that League of Ireland coverage would be held back until after the World Cup. That coverage has started over the past month in the shape of a weekly column (in much the same way, say, as the Guardian treats La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga).

The Joe site is on a national scale, with the target demographic of 18- to 44-year-old Irish males, which covers both the majority of regular attendees at League of Ireland grounds and a massive potential audience countrywide. Of the 22 League of Ireland clubs, one has contacted the Joe office since the site launched in April. Emails have been sent to three other clubs over the past month. One club has responded to those emails.

Although I acknowledge that clubs are also struggling for resources and in many cases may be stretched to the limit, I think it's fair to say that most could be doing more to promote themselves.

I'm a League of Ireland devotee, and previously worked on the now defunct eleven-a-side.com site for a number of years. I come from Co Meath, so unfortunately I have no allegiance to any League of Ireland club and can only envy the tribal belonging that genuine fans of League of Ireland clubs enjoy. Or maybe that should read "fortunately", as it allows me some level of objectivity.

***Plug alert***

You can read my thoughts on the League of Ireland every Wednesday. This week's piece is on the Neale Fenn-Dundalk-Shamrock Rovers love-hate triangle, which can be read here (http://www.joe.ie/football/league-of-ireland/neale-fenn-shamrock-rovers-dundalk-005262-1).

[legendz]

Hi guys.

Just thought I'd add my two cents' worth, from a media slant.

I was part of the editorial team which launched men's sport and lifestyle website Joe.ie earlier this year. At the start, trying to make the best use of our resources, it was decided that League of Ireland coverage would be held back until after the World Cup. That coverage has started over the past month in the shape of a weekly column (in much the same way, say, as the Guardian treats La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga).

The Joe site is on a national scale, with the target demographic of 18- to 44-year-old Irish males, which covers both the majority of regular attendees at League of Ireland grounds and a massive potential audience countrywide. Of the 22 League of Ireland clubs, one has contacted the Joe office since the site launched in April. Emails have been sent to three other clubs over the past month. One club has responded to those emails.

Although I acknowledge that clubs are also struggling for resources and in many cases may be stretched to the limit, I think it's fair to say that most could be doing more to promote themselves.

I'm a League of Ireland devotee, and previously worked on the now defunct eleven-a-side.com site for a number of years. I come from Co Meath, so unfortunately I have no allegiance to any League of Ireland club and can only envy the tribal belonging that genuine fans of League of Ireland clubs enjoy. Or maybe that should read "fortunately", as it allows me some level of objectivity.

***Plug alert***

You can read my thoughts on the League of Ireland every Wednesday. This week's piece is on the Neale Fenn-Dundalk-Shamrock Rovers love-hate triangle, which can be read here (http://www.joe.ie/football/league-of-ireland/neale-fenn-shamrock-rovers-dundalk-005262-1).
From Meath, has no league club allegiance as a result. I see this as part of the problem the league has. In Scotland a few years ago, I thought some new clubs were formed when they expanded to 4 divisions so that more regions would be represented. Something similar would do for the league of Ireland, get every county represented, even if it's in the A Championship

[culloty82]

Except Scotland has a highly-organised junior soccer structure (Highland League, South of Scotland League, East of Scotland League). I'd love to see teams from Meath, Clare, Laois etc, in the League too, but the best way would be to gradually convert the A Championship into a division made up solely of senior teams, the FAI could invite the top junior clubs in unrepresented areas to sign up.

[legendz]

That's what I'd be looking to as well. Everything is gradual progression though, the A Championship is a good interim league in a way for the moment. Long term, it should be part of the FAI strategy to get as many regions as possible represented. With costs of travel etc. which have to be taken into account, the answer would be a Division Two split North and South. At least 16 clubs would be needed to make that a possibility, 8 in each section.

[osarusan]

You can read my thoughts on the League of Ireland every Wednesday. This week's piece is on the Neale Fenn-Dundalk-Shamrock Rovers love-hate triangle, which can be read here (http://www.joe.ie/football/league-of-ireland/neale-fenn-shamrock-rovers-dundalk-005262-1).
Fully agree that the LOI can be doing more to promote itself, and it's great to see a website taking some interest.

As an aside on the article itself, I enjoyed reading it, but are you sure that 'Come on the Town' has been a refrain at Oriel Park for decades? And secondly, Rovers aren't going for their 4th title in six years, as you say at the end of the 8th paragraph (You get it right near the end of the article, when you say they're chasing a first title in 16 years).

Hope to see more of these articles on a site I'd never heard of until 10 minutes ago (although I do disagree with a few opinions you've expressed there).

[legendz]

Not to go on but I will... the league's essential problem for me is that it does not cover enough regions of Ireland. I'd see the Premier and Division One being ok but another tier with a North/South split should be added. The A Championship is a good interim league but it's not the long-term solution.
The FAI have it right on the Premier. The country is only likely to be able to sustain about 10-12 professional clubs. Averaging that out across the country, that's about 2 each for both Munster and Connaught/Ulster, and then 3-4 clubs for both North Dublin/North Leinster and South Dublin/South Leinster.
If it was possible to add a proper third tier probably of amatuer/semi-pro clubs, Division One should be reduced to 10 clubs made up of pro/semi-pro clubs.

China funnily enough have a structure I'd see Ireland needing, they have a Super League (tier 1), the second tier is called League One and the third tier is called League Two with a North Division and a South Division.

[dong]

China funnily enough have a structure I'd see Ireland needing, they have a Super League (tier 1), the second tier is called League One and the third tier is called League Two with a North Division and a South Division.

How is that working out for them? (Genuine question)
China is hardly demographically similar to here though, and they don't play hurling.:)

[legendz]

This is their split.
Chinese Super League: 16 clubs
League One: 13 CLubs
League Two North and South: 5 Clubs each

My point is on the 3 tier system, in Ireland the aim should be, 10 club Premier (pro league) as it is, 10 club Division One (pro/semi-pro) and a Division Two North and South (semi-pro/amateur) with at least 8 clubs in each section. With 2 clubs from Division One and 5 from the A Championship, 9 more would be needed for the creation of a Div 2 North and South. You have to look at regions not represented, it could be possible in the long long-term.