Attendances 2024

[Jd2793]

Cobh are averaging about 7-800 since returning to St. Colman's Park, but having attended some of these home games I would say that the attendance is mainly teenagers and young children. The adults numbers would be in the 2-300's.

Cobh last two results is a boost for the team going into this game but attracting more fans to this game is still a problem. I would expect about 1,500 to support Cobh, if the team were challenging for promotion then you could expect this figure to be in the 2-3000 number as fans from around would consider attending. Unfortunately, the floating fan will pick and choose their attendance at games based on results and how the team is progressing!

Just look at the Cork v Wexford attendance on Monday. Over 2,500, a lot of people would have been surprised at that figure not being closer to 4.000+! I think many City fans are disappointed with the way City play as it seems to be all about getting a result, while the entertainment factor is way done the priority list!


there is a small number of those cobh match goers, who are city fans, who attend cobh games when city are away from home aswell. 4k in TC for a bank hol game was never a runner this year unfortunately.
cobh are making this a lot harder than it should be in all honesty.

[MartyRambler]

there is a small number of those cobh match goers, who are city fans, who attend cobh games when city are away from home aswell. 4k in TC for a bank hol game was never a runner this year unfortunately.
cobh are making this a lot harder than it should be in all honesty.

Game sold out now, Cobh gave City 600 tickets and limited the rest to locals where you bought your ticket at the clubhouse from the committee. I'm not sure how many city fans showed up and bought from the clubhouse or whether you needed proof of address.

[nr637]

there is a small number of those cobh match goers, who are city fans, who attend cobh games when city are away from home aswell. 4k in TC for a bank hol game was never a runner this year unfortunately.
cobh are making this a lot harder than it should be in all honesty.

I think Cobh have organised this fixture as best as possible within the restrictions placed on the Club by all the relevant parties, especially the Garda and Emergency Services.
The local residents have come out strongly with complaints which the local authorities and the Garda have supported to insure the minimum of problems.
The Club is trying to balance its future arrangements with local authorities and residents, we all know what a few fans are capable of causing.
So, let's be fair and accept that the arrangements are there, a lot of voluntary work is being done to organise it and in everyone's interest just comply with the order.

[nr637]

Will there be a full house at Tallaght Stadium for Shamrocks v St. Pats tonight?

[wonder88]

Difficult to see a full house at Tallaght tonight for the redline derby. Its on live tv so anything over 8.5K would be good I think. The good weather should boast the attendance at some venues you would expect, Limerick for example. Unable to get to Terryland tonight, but you would hope that it could get close to 3,500 in the gate. It a derby match, but Athlone and Limerick are a fair bit closer these days.
Off topic, but Monday was my first time in the new Mono Stand in Dalymount and have to say its way better than the Des Kelly stand that I was in a couple time last year. Fair play to Bohs for looking after away fans.

[Jd2793]

I think Cobh have organised this fixture as best as possible within the restrictions placed on the Club by all the relevant parties, especially the Garda and Emergency Services.
The local residents have come out strongly with complaints which the local authorities and the Garda have supported to insure the minimum of problems.
The Club is trying to balance its future arrangements with local authorities and residents, we all know what a few fans are capable of causing.
So, let's be fair and accept that the arrangements are there, a lot of voluntary work is being done to organise it and in everyone's interest just comply with the order.

the gardai had no issue with the game being sold to actually fill capacity.

[SPXcyan]

2178 at the RSC tonight v Dundalk.
Crowds continue to plummet unfortunately.

[Shearer]

Difficult to see a full house at Tallaght tonight for the redline derby. Its on live tv so anything over 8.5K would be good I think. The good weather should boast the attendance at some venues you would expect, Limerick for example. Unable to get to Terryland tonight, but you would hope that it could get close to 3,500 in the gate. It a derby match, but Athlone and Limerick are a fair bit closer these days.
Off topic, but Monday was my first time in the new Mono Stand in Dalymount and have to say its way better than the Des Kelly stand that I was in a couple time last year. Fair play to Bohs for looking after away fans.
I wouldn't say so.
There's a happy medium to be struck because if the weather is splitting the stones then half of Limerick go to Ballybunion or Kilkee.

[LTFC]

Brandywell 2574, Terryland 2912.

Athlone 558,

[Philosophizer]

7073 announced in Tallaght

[Shearer]

565 in Limerick

[Jd2793]

1700 in colemans, what an absolute shambles from cobh.

[Shearer]

1700 in colemans, what an absolute shambles from cobh.
Jesus that's mental.

There was the bones of 4-5K when the sides met there in 2022 and while I understand they were trying to limit the number of rowdy City fans this time, it seems they could have been a bit more generous and tone down their measures of preventing away fans into the home section.

[nr637]

1700 in colemans, what an absolute shambles from cobh.

I think an official attendance of 2475 was announced towards the end of the game. ?

[Jd2793]

I think an official attendance of 2475 was announced towards the end of the game. ?

1789 was official attendance anyway. They left a lot of money on the table in first division terms. Mental carry on.

[outspoken]

Did they over estimate the home hunger for tickets or were there genuine security pressures from the likes of the Gardai? I know Longford have had to limit away tickets for certain clubs in the past because Gardai wanted to go OTT and it was going to wipe out any extra ticket sales.

[El-Pietro]

They were worried about their new pitch being damaged.

[outspoken]

They were worried about their new pitch being damaged.

Sure only takes 1 ****** to throw a flare on, don't see how reducing numbers reduces that risk.

[Nesta99]

Its a legitimate concern considering that a new or half a million euro pitch or whatever could have a hole burned in it, as times goes on they'll be less protective. Its when a new pitch is installed that some scrote will fall over themselves to be the first to damage it, its a derby game, the shed in Cork regulalrly use flares in significant numbers, its easier to get to flares before theyre thrown in a less densely packed crowd. They'll bust themseles to mind the new pitch and it'll be a Cobh fans at a MSC game that'll catch them off guard one night.

[nigel-harps1954]

Bohs - 4,292 (4,243 {2023}; 3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Derry - 2,967 (3,336; 3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 2,053 (1,916; 1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 2,492 (2,636; 2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Galway - 3,211 (2,018 FD; 2,081 FD; 780 FD; 746 FD; 1,376; 1,169; 1,290; 975 FD)
Pat's - 4,499 (4,232; 3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,255 (6,109; 5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 4,271 (3,393; 2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 2,859 (2,555; 2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
Waterford - 2,996 (1,833 FD; 1,705 FD; 1,496; 2,329; 1,550 FD; 314 FD; 460 FD; 470 FD; 478 FD; 453 FD; 466 FD)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 694 (872; 307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 643 (663; 482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 908 (1,020; 872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Cork - 3,523 (3,666 PD; 3,517; 2,505 PD; 4,245 PD; 4,559 PD; 2,533 PD; 3,263 PD; 3,777 PD; 1,965 PD; 2,786 PD; 2,128)
Harps - 1,198 (1,154; 1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 696 (784)
Longford - 594 (679; 500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 1,566 (642; 695)
UCD - 312 (809 PD; 953 PD; 739 PD; 365; 236; 297; 216; 397 PD; 487 PD; 506 PD; 558 PD; 610 PD)
Wexford - 652 (689; 445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,612 (3,289; 2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 1,050 (1,035; 1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2,365 (2,162; 2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)


OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 278,090 (592,093; 486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 76,624 (186,369; 178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 354,714 (778,462; 664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

[EatYerGreens]

Sure only takes 1 ****** to throw a flare on, don't see how reducing numbers reduces that risk.

You're statistiucally more likely to have a muppet in a large crowd than a smaller one. And larger crowds also enable people to feel like they have more chance of gettoing away with acting like a muppet.

[nigel-harps1954]

Missing:
Longford v Treaty - 13th May


Bohs - 4,292 (4,243 {2023}; 3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Derry - 2,967 (3,336; 3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 2,008 (1,916; 1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 2,497 (2,636; 2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Galway - 3,211 (2,018 FD; 2,081 FD; 780 FD; 746 FD; 1,376; 1,169; 1,290; 975 FD)
Pat's - 4,515 (4,232; 3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,255 (6,109; 5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 4,195 (3,393; 2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 2,773 (2,555; 2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
Waterford - 2,996 (1,833 FD; 1,705 FD; 1,496; 2,329; 1,550 FD; 314 FD; 460 FD; 470 FD; 478 FD; 453 FD; 466 FD)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 694 (872; 307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 656 (663; 482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 878 (1,020; 872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Cork - 3,523 (3,666 PD; 3,517; 2,505 PD; 4,245 PD; 4,559 PD; 2,533 PD; 3,263 PD; 3,777 PD; 1,965 PD; 2,786 PD; 2,128)
Harps - 1,198 (1,154; 1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 696 (784)
Longford - 545 (679; 500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 1,566 (642; 695)
UCD - 316 (809 PD; 953 PD; 739 PD; 365; 236; 297; 216; 397 PD; 487 PD; 506 PD; 558 PD; 610 PD)
Wexford - 617 (689; 445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,568 (3,289; 2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 1,007 (1,035; 1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2,311 (2,162; 2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)


OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 292,611 (592,093; 486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 79,544 (186,369; 178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 372,155 (778,462; 664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

[2 Year Contract]

Pats Derry was 4,621

https://x.com/stpatsfc/status/1791903781065531492?s=46

[LTFC]

LTFC V Treaty , 200, 10 or from Treaty
LTFC V Athlone, 400+ - wont look like it on camera as more on camera side than stand with the good evening. Athlone 70+

[nigel-harps1954]

Longford v Athlone was updated on FAI Connect to 450. Nothing updated for Treaty yet so the 200 from LTFC above will do for now.

Cobh v Treaty - 665

[nigel-harps1954]

Pats Derry was 4,621

https://x.com/stpatsfc/status/1791903781065531492?s=46

This tweet confuses me, as there's three home fixtures with higher attendances than 4,621 this season from Richmond Park. Presume they just mean home supporters, without away fans?

[Shearer]

Longford v Athlone was updated on FAI Connect to 450. Nothing updated for Treaty yet so the 200 from LTFC above will do for now.

Cobh v Treaty - 665
From what I saw on the stream I would second that 200 estimate.

[nigel-harps1954]

St Pats v Shels - 4,811
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City - 4,031

Monday night and all that, but disappointing enough crowd at Tallaght, which in itself is a bit mental.

[2 Year Contract]

This tweet confuses me, as there's three home fixtures with higher attendances than 4,621 this season from Richmond Park. Presume they just mean home supporters, without away fans?
Correct, it was the biggest amount of home fans (around 4,500) at Richmond this season as half the shed end was open to home fans due to demand

[nr637]

Wexford v Cobh Monday night looked like 150+ at Ferrycarrig Park on LOITV, know of 5 Cobh fans who went down by car to the game.

Anyone else there able to confirm!
:confused:

[nigel-harps1954]

ForzaForth has it listed as around 360 on the Wexford forum here. Never usually too far off as well.

[sbgawa]

St Pats v Shels - 4,811
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City - 4,031

Monday night and all that, but disappointing enough crowd at Tallaght, which in itself is a bit mental.

What people forget is that we only were averageing 3k before we started winning stuff in 2020.
Half our fans arent happy unless we are top of the league and vote with their feet.
If we dont win the league this year our average gate will fall dramtically. kids want to be entertained and watchig a team struggle (in relative terms) isnt as much fun as turning up to watch am exhibition.
i title from 1986 to 2009 it doesnt take the auld lads happy but the new crowd are different

[ger121]

What people forget is that we only were averageing 3k before we started winning stuff in 2020.
Half our fans arent happy unless we are top of the league and vote with their feet.
If we dont win the league this year our average gate will fall dramtically. kids want to be entertained and watchig a team struggle (in relative terms) isnt as much fun as turning up to watch am exhibition.
i title from 1986 to 2009 it doesnt take the auld lads happy but the new crowd are different

If 4000+ is your low base then I wouldn’t be too worried. If every club was working of minimums of 4000 the league would be even stronger than it currently is.

[oriel]

I am still not convinced that the Pats figures as correct, yes they have significantly increased crowds, and long may it continue, and same for all clubs, but 4,811 last night?

Shels took a large crowd, but behind their goal was not full, poss 3/4. The away seating end of main stand was half full, call it 800 in total away support. Then a good few gaps all along that stand but jammers to be fair at Ultras corner. Call it 1200 max home fans main stand. Behind the goal, another decent crowd, looked to be 1k, add all up - 3,000 (give or take).

This leaves around 1,800 on the camac side?

Also what is the capacity of Richmond these days?

[2 Year Contract]

I am still not convinced that the Pats figures as correct, yes they have significantly increased crowds, and long may it continue, and same for all clubs, but 4,811 last night?

Shels took a large crowd, but behind their goal was not full, poss 3/4. The away seating end of main stand was half full, call it 800 in total away support. Then a good few gaps all along that stand but jammers to be fair at Ultras corner. Call it 1200 max home fans main stand. Behind the goal, another decent crowd, looked to be 1k, add all up - 3,000 (give or take).

This leaves around 1,800 on the camac side?

Also what is the capacity of Richmond these days?

Feels like proper deja-vu having this conversation every time you (or maybe it was another Dundalk fan in the past) brings this up every few months. Capacity is around 5100. No tickets go on sale for the main stand for any game this year as it’s sold out by season ticket holders already. There can be gaps in the main stand but as mentioned the ultras section usually tends to be over full with more people standing than there are seats, as well as people standing on the steps. The Camac is absolutely rammed pretty much every week and has the highest capacity of any of the sides of the ground

[ForzaForth]

Nigel, figures quoted for Wexford usually come from a "reliable source," so should be ok as a rule.

[nr637]

Since Thursday 7,500 tickets sold for Friday's clash at Tallaght between Premier Division leaders Shels and five-in-a-row Shamrocks!
:embarrassed:

[nr637]

2,423 at the RSC last night, great attendance for the home club for a Thursday night fixture, great promotion work being done by the club!

[joey B]

8276 at Rovers/Shels
4431 at Bohs/Pats
2302 at Galway/Dundalk
2679 at Derry/Sligo

[D24Saint]

8276 at Rovers/Shels
4431 at Bohs/Pats
2302 at Galway/Dundalk
2679 at Derry/Sligo

The too many Dublin clubs theory has certainly died on the vine since Covid.

[Buckett]

Great crowds in Dublin for the past few years. Do you think any Dublin clubs will be involved in the 3rd tier whenever it starts up?

[yurt]

The too many Dublin clubs theory has certainly died on the vine since Covid.

Yeah have to admit that I was guilty of completely underestimating the ceiling of the Dublin clubs fan base.

Dublin derbies and the increased number of away fans at these games has been a big part of the game day experience/atmosphere in the LOI.

Pretty jealous of those clubs getting big-ish once a month but definitely scope for another Dublin club or two in a third tier.

[Shearer]

Athlone v UCD - 541
City v Treaty - 2,523
Kerry v Harps - 420
Wexford v Bray - ?
Longford v Cobh - 264

[EatYerGreens]

The too many Dublin clubs theory has certainly died on the vine since Covid.

That depends on what basis the assertion is made.

If it's on crowds alone, then yes - Dublin has a large enough population to sustain 4 'big' clubs at an LOI level.

However : If it's on the basis that our game should ideally be more evenly spread around the country....

[D24Saint]

That depends on what basis the assertion is made.

If it's on crowds alone, then yes - Dublin has a large enough population to sustain 4 'big' clubs at an LOI level.

However : If it's on the basis that our game should ideally be more evenly spread around the country....

It’s a moot argument none of the four clubs are going to vanish into thin air to facilitate decentralisation.

[EatYerGreens]

It’s a moot argument none of the four clubs are going to vanish into thin air to facilitate decentralisation.

There was no suggestion that they either could or should. Instead the issue is more about future expansion of the league.

There was a good reason why the idea of Kerry joining the LOI was widely welcomed, but another Dublin club just wouldn't have been.

[nigel-harps1954]

Full weekend rundown:

Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne - 8,276
Bohs v St Pats - 4,431
Derry City v Sligo Rovers - 2,679
Waterford v Drogheda - 2,423
Galway United v Dundalk - 2,302

Cork City v Treaty United - 2,523
Wexford v Bray Wanderers - 674
Athlone Town v UCD - 541
Kerry v Finn Harps - 420
Longford v Cobh Ramblers - 264

TOTAL - 24,533

[nigel-harps1954]

Missing:
Longford v Treaty - 13th May


Bohs - 4,308 (4,243 {2023}; 3,209 {2022};2,878{19}; 2,148; 2,006; 1,627; 1,724; 1,395; 1,597; 1,496; 1,488)
Derry - 2,938 (3,336; 3,184; 2,049; 2,297; 1,517; 1,563; 1,124; 1,106; 1,446; 1,460; 2,135)
Drogheda - 2,008 (1,916; 1,941; 721 FD; ; 377 FD; 850; 583 FD; 813; 1,064; 817; 977; 811)
Dundalk - 2,497 (2,636; 2,689; 2,775; 2,738; 2,674; 2,738; 3,158; 2,534; 1,997; 949; 1,355)
Galway - 3,110 (2,018 FD; 2,081 FD; 780 FD; 746 FD; 1,376; 1,169; 1,290; 975 FD)
Pat's - 4,547 (4,232; 3,489; 1,919; 1,621; 1,504; 1,088; 1,321; 1,386; 1,687; 1,474; 1,346)
Rovers - 6,235 (6,109; 5,379; 3,384; 2,749; 2,809; 2,041; 2,890; 2,269; 2,763; 3,127; 3,779)
Shels - 4,195 (3,393; 2,913; 1,071 FD; 654 FD; 496 FD; 554 FD; 596 FD; 713 FD; 1,114; 1,187; 781 FD)
Sligo - 2,773 (2,555; 2,166; 1,995; 1,853; 1,717; 1,750; 1,750; 1,959; 2,342; 3,007; 2,103)
Waterford - 2,925 (1,833 FD; 1,705 FD; 1,496; 2,329; 1,550 FD; 314 FD; 460 FD; 470 FD; 478 FD; 453 FD; 466 FD)

FIRST DIVISION

Athlone - 675 (872; 307; 382; 130; 154; 156; 314; 653 PD; 754; 271; 200)
Bray - 656 (663; 482; 773; 643 PD; 966 PD; 957 PD; 769 PD; 718 PD; 891 PD; 965 PD; 1,121 PD)
Cobh - 878 (1,020; 872; 268; 236; 358; 403; 366; 223; 439; 2008 - 1,122 PD; 681)
Cork - 3,380 (3,666 PD; 3,517; 2,505 PD; 4,245 PD; 4,559 PD; 2,533 PD; 3,263 PD; 3,777 PD; 1,965 PD; 2,786 PD; 2,128)
Harps - 1,198 (1,154; 1,293 PD; 1,154 PD; 708; 1,202 PD; 1,216 PD; 784; 449; 479; 429; 433; 644)
Kerry - 665 (784)
Longford - 517 (679; 500; 610; 449; 342; 488 PD; 803 PD; 567; 379; 365; 315)
Treaty - 1,566 (642; 695)
UCD - 316 (809 PD; 953 PD; 739 PD; 365; 236; 297; 216; 397 PD; 487 PD; 506 PD; 558 PD; 610 PD)
Wexford - 595 (689; 445; 235; 181; 338; 585 PD; 553; 331; 227; 302; 216)

PREMIER AVERAGE: 3,613 (3,289; 2,687; 2,185; 2,170; 1,902; 1,476; 1,681; 1,502; 1,566; 1,630; 1,547)
FIRST DIVISION AVERAGE: 992 (1,035; 1,193; 586; 413; 477; 476; 486; 495; 391; 372; 578)

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2,333 (2,162; 2,051; 1,500; 1,249; 1,387; 1,117; 1,249; 1,160; 1,140; 1,125; 1,110)


OVERALL PREMIER ATTENDANCE: 321,564 (592,093; 486,365; 393,238; 316,515; 376,627; 292,204; 332,805; 297,334)
OVERALL FIRST ATTENDANCE: 84,327 (186,369; 178,000; 79,115; 55,756; 53,461; 52,807; 54,474; 55,408)

OVERALL COMBINED ATTENDANCE: 405,891 (778,462; 664,365; 472,353; 372,271; 430,088; 345,011; 387,279; 352,742)

[EalingGreen]

That depends on what basis the assertion is made.

If it's on crowds alone, then yes - Dublin has a large enough population to sustain 4 'big' clubs at an LOI level.

However : If it's on the basis that our game should ideally be more evenly spread around the country....On the basis that "A rising tide floats all boats", then surely just because Dublin has enough of a population with an interest in football to support extra Senior clubs, shouldn't automatically mean that the game cannot also expand throughout the rest of the country as well?

Or are people in the rest of the country going to stop taking an interest in the game just because more people in Dublin are doing so?

I look at NI where there are four Belfast clubs in the Premiership and three more in the Championship (was four, only Kockbreda just got relegated). This hasn't stopped the growth of football in the provincial towns at the same time, whether "sugar daddy" clubs like Larne, or village clubs like Loughgall etc.

Or look at England, which currently has 7 London clubs in the PL alone, plus another half-dozen or so EFL clubs - the rest of the game is thriving, too. Or Argentina, where Buenos Aires has more professional clubs again than London. Or Uruguay/Montevideo.

[EatYerGreens]

On the basis that "A rising tide floats all boats", then surely just because Dublin has enough of a population with an interest in football to support extra Senior clubs, shouldn't automatically mean that the game cannot also expand throughout the rest of the country as well?

Or are people in the rest of the country going to stop taking an interest in the game just because more people in Dublin are doing so?

I look at NI where there are four Belfast clubs in the Premiership and three more in the Championship (was four, only Kockbreda just got relegated). This hasn't stopped the growth of football in the provincial towns at the same time, whether "sugar daddy" clubs like Larne, or village clubs like Loughgall etc.

Or look at England, which currently has 7 London clubs in the PL alone, plus another half-dozen or so EFL clubs - the rest of the game is thriving, too. Or Argentina, where Buenos Aires has more professional clubs again than London. Or Uruguay/Montevideo.

All very interesting. But the bottom line is that if you ask LOI fans if they would have a preference for more clubs in Dublin or more elsewhere in the country, the latter would win out.