2026 LOI Season Start Date

[nr637]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:

[ForeForeToo]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:

No pandering to egg chasing.

[2 Year Contract]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:

I’d genuinely be interested to hear your logic on this one as it’s a completely ridiculous suggestion.

The rugby games being played in Italy, France and England are the day before or after the Friday night's opening day league fixtures. Seen as the 6 nations rugby will be on every weekend up to March, are you suggesting we postpone the league start until it finishes incase people would rather not attend a league of Ireland match so that they can watch a rugby match the day after?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Even for here that’s one of the most ridiculous threads I’ve seen started

[TVFBLOCKF]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:

Baffling suggestion! With that logic, we should just wait until the 6 nations is over.

[Longfordian]

There'll be Premier League games on until May. Then the World Cup is on. Best call the whole thing off.

[Nesta99]

Ah here cut the OP a break. ItS the off season, withdrawal from LoI hits us all. So yeah its not something we should consider is scheduling a league start based on another sport's schedule for that weekend. We need to have confidence in our own product. There will be less column inches in the sports pages as a result but I doubt it will have a significant impact on attendances, flipping Liverpool v Man Utd is more likely to knock number off if there was a clash with that fixture. It does mean a season launch at the national stadium wasnt possible but maybe we should be looking at part of the St Patricks weekend festival to have a double header in the Aviva or something, be it a derby day for all across the country with the Dublin one in the biggest ground, Pats Shels, Bohs Rovers, Cork and Cobh at a bigger neutral ground if there is one in Cork thats not PUiC.

[De Town]

Ya gotta hand it to nr637 - one of the best WUMs around here in years.

Almost every post winds me up. Fair play.

[Nesta99]

Well Nigel's agenda was more amusing. Oozing resentment of Dundalk's promotion, its entertaining rather than being effective wum. Is it worse than Rovers membership scheme is lazy fundraising, or lucky cub for having a council hand a stadium over, or Bohs primary function is no longer football, or Cork Foras failing at the only thing it was their job to do etc. Pops at Dundalk owneship are par for the course that you cant really get too wound up by facts. Jeex even Drogheda favourites for relegation ruffled a few Drogs. He is new to LoI i think, apprentice level wind up merchant!

Longford should drop in to junior ball for a season or 3 to get the money together for the new wall rather than getting the begging bowl out. Make a comeback in the third tier, in decline for 20 years after brief spell not stagnant bottom of the heap. Offer less than UCD to the league!!

[Buckett]

I've had a run-in with him once or twice and say what you like but you can't knock his enthusiasm in fairness.

Another 20 years watching Cobh(?) and he'll be as cynical as the rest of us!

[sbgawa]

Well Nigel's agenda was more amusing. Oozing resentment of Dundalk's promotion, its entertaining rather than being effective wum. Is it worse than Rovers membership scheme is lazy fundraising, or lucky cub for having a council hand a stadium over, or Bohs primary function is no longer football, or Cork Foras failing at the only thing it was their job to do etc. Pops at Dundalk owneship are par for the course that you cant really get too wound up by facts. Jeex even Drogheda favourites for relegation ruffled a few Drogs. He is new to LoI i think, apprentice level wind up merchant!

Longford should drop in to junior ball for a season or 3 to get the money together for the new wall rather than getting the begging bowl out. Make a comeback in the third tier, in decline for 20 years after brief spell not stagnant bottom of the heap. Offer less than UCD to the league!!

Jaysus thats fighting talk there

[nr637]

Even for here that’s one of the most ridiculous threads I’ve seen started

Your welcome m8, thanks for joining, reading and posting too!

[nr637]

Ya gotta hand it to nr637 - one of the best WUMs around here in years.

Almost every post winds me up. Fair play.

Happy to make you happy m8!

[nr637]

Ya gotta hand it to nr637 - one of the best WUMs around here in years.

Almost every post winds me up. Fair play.

It doesn't take much so!

[legendz]

A Sunday evening game in Tallaght wasn't ideal for Kerry supporters. Granted it was a semi final and falls into the event junkie category. A big crowd travelled.
Lol should rightly do it's own thing and get on with it. Friday nights are established, with a few clubs preferring Saturday evening home games.
One thing missing is a standalone slot for the standout game of the weekend.
People often put out reasons of other events for not going with a standalone game on a Saturday or Sunday.
1. Should LoI move on from letting other events sway it from having a standalone fixture, if they are?
2. It is often suggested that moving a game from a Friday can hit gate receipts. Can looking to establish a standalone fixture be something of an investment? The hit on gate receipts being something of an investment for the long term.

[nigel-harps1954]

Need to remind people, attack the post, not the poster.

[Shinkicker]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:
It'll not bother Bohs, we'll be playing Pats on the Sunday!!

[Nesta99]

Jaysus thats fighting talk there

The only reason I picked Longford was I completely forgot about Harps....

[culloty82]

A Sunday evening game in Tallaght wasn't ideal for Kerry supporters. Granted it was a semi final and falls into the event junkie category. A big crowd travelled.
Lol should rightly do it's own thing and get on with it. Friday nights are established, with a few clubs preferring Saturday evening home games.
One thing missing is a standalone slot for the standout game of the weekend.
People often put out reasons of other events for not going with a standalone game on a Saturday or Sunday.
1. Should LoI move on from letting other events sway it from having a standalone fixture, if they are?
2. It is often suggested that moving a game from a Friday can hit gate receipts. Can looking to establish a standalone fixture be something of an investment? The hit on gate receipts being something of an investment for the long term.

It's become somewhat of a tradition for both Longford and Sligo to have home games on a Saturday, but does this make much difference to their gates compared with the rare occasions on which they have to play on a Friday?

[Martinho II]

It's become somewhat of a tradition for both Longford and Sligo to have home games on a Saturday, but does this make much difference to their gates compared with the rare occasions on which they have to play on a Friday?

I know with us Culloty that even if game was switched to a friday it wont even effect the attendance size. Winter football was the death bed for us as we had the highest home attendances in our history in 2000/01 season when we were top flight in first season back but season after crowds size dramatically dropped and hasnt recovered since!

[legendz]

The 2026 LOI Season is due to kick-off on Friday February 6th. That is the same weekend as the 6 Nations rugby.
France v Ireland is on Thursday 5th and the other games are on Saturday 7th, all on TV.

Should the start date for the league be changed!
:confused:
When the league was starting in March a few years back after an excessively long off season, I would have agreed with bringing it forward a few weeks to February at least. A gap week in the 6N would have suited purely for media coverage in the lead up to the opening weekend.

The league has moved on from that, which is great. The league now needs to be plotting its own course. Early February kick off is great. Off season shortened by a month from the March start from years ago.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

It's become somewhat of a tradition for both Longford and Sligo to have home games on a Saturday, but does this make much difference to their gates compared with the rare occasions on which they have to play on a Friday?

In general I’d say 15-20% for us. Friday nights unfortunately are not rare.

[Neish]

It's become somewhat of a tradition for both Longford and Sligo to have home games on a Saturday, but does this make much difference to their gates compared with the rare occasions on which they have to play on a Friday?

Harps tried Saturdays nights for one or two season, no significant increase in attendances was noticed. And I think players, staff & match day volunteers (most of who will be working mon-fri) prefer the Friday night games as they then have Saturday night free

[redobit]

It's become somewhat of a tradition for both Longford and Sligo to have home games on a Saturday, but does this make much difference to their gates compared with the rare occasions on which they have to play on a Friday?

Yes it makes a difference.
Each to their own ... didn't Dundalk play home games on a Thursady night at one stage.

[Calcio Jack]

President’s cup will take place Sat 31st Jan next in Tallaght

Rovers v Derry

[culloty82]

First Division starts a week after the Premier Division, on February 13th, while the Women's Premier begins on March 14th.

[culloty82]

September 27th is almost a month earlier than this year for the Women's FAI Cup Final?

[Martinho II]

Yes it makes a difference.
Each to their own ... didn't Dundalk play home games on a Thursady night at one stage.

yeah early noughties for Dundalk think it was 2001/02 season.

[dundalkfc10]

yeah early noughties for Dundalk think it was 2001/02 season.

IIRC we were told we wouldn't be allowed play on Thursday night anymore

I can remember me and my mates as teenagers going to Oriel on a school night with a few cans and be dying on a Friday much to the annoyance of teachers

[oriel]

yeah early noughties for Dundalk think it was 2001/02 season.

Dundalk played a lof of games in 1994/95 league winning season on Thursday, also into 1996, not sure after that, I was never a fan, silly day in my view, made it so hard for those living in Dub / working for ex, who may come home for weekend.

Not sure how long it lasted but almost sure League told them to change to Fri on return to PD in 2009.

Friday's so much better. Sat prob suits away fans too for Sligo, make a weekend of it, surprised Galway don't do same.

[Mr A]

Don't like D1 starting a week later than the premier. There is a real buzz around opening weekend and starting later means half the clubs don't get to be fully part of that. Not a big deal obviously but just feel it would feel more natural to start them together.

[pineapple stu]

Any idea when fixtures are out?

[nigel-harps1954]

Any idea when fixtures are out?

17th December in 2025, and 15th December the two previous years. So presumably some time around the same, you'd expect.

[brendy_éire]

17th December in 2025, and 15th December the two previous years. So presumably some time around the same, you'd expect.

Yep, 16th this year.

[Nesta99]

Don't like D1 starting a week later than the premier. There is a real buzz around opening weekend and starting later means half the clubs don't get to be fully part of that. Not a big deal obviously but just feel it would feel more natural to start them together.

Couldnt it be made like a double buzz! One group gets going and the next weekend another bunch of promotion buzz.....Ko with derbies.

[holidaysong]

Not sure how long it lasted but almost sure League told them to change to Fri on return to PD in 2009.

Correct, it's been back to Friday since 2009 after our 7 season stint in the first division.

[Longfordian]

UCD tried Thursdays at one stage as well didn't they?

[Mr A]

Couldnt it be made like a double buzz! One group gets going and the next weekend another bunch of promotion buzz.....Ko with derbies.

Cork and Cobh
Kerry and Treaty
Athlone and Longford
Bray and UCD

Leaves

Harps and Wexford

Sigh

[brendy_éire]

UCD tried Thursdays at one stage as well didn't they?

So did Derry in the early 2000s.
I didn't mind them, but would rather have Friday nights.

[pineapple stu]

UCD tried Thursdays at one stage as well didn't they?
Yep - abandoned mid-season as I recall

Also tried 5:15 - can't remember if Sat or Sun; just remember suggesting we play The Who on the tannoy for games

[redobit]

Sligo Rovers and Longford Town reject formal request from FAI to move games to Friday night. Delighted. Saturday night is Rovers night.

[pineapple stu]

Why would the FAI request that?

[Burnsie]

Scanlon mentioned it on the podcast last week, prompted by Dan who i think knew the answer before he asked the question. the idea was to "own Friday nights"

[sbgawa]

i dont get that tbh, if the TV match is on Friday and 90% of the games are on Friday , how much more do we "own Friday" by Sligo or Longford also playing

[Longfordian]

I'm sure our games would make all the difference in capturing the imagination of the Irish public.

[legendz]

Scanlon also mentioned that the highest viewing figures are usually on Friday. Must be low interest in a standalone TV game, that doesn't clash with the other fixtures.

[total hoofball]

If anything leagues around Europe are seeing increasing numbers of league games scheduled over multiple days mainly for TV coverage 3 days regularly seen now. I don't see how just two LOI clubs having a preference for their home games a day later on a Saturday night adds that much of headache for the LOI fixture schedulers once there is some understanding of flexibility being required from both clubs to accommodate some mid-week rounds of games and opponents from July having European games to navigate a schedule around

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Friday / Saturday night isn’t taken into account for schedules. If it’s a dual weekend we’d play Friday night at home. Likewise if we got picked for TV it would be moved to Friday also. I’d say we usually end up on average playing 12 games at home on a Saturday.

[EatYerGreens]

i dont get that tbh, if the TV match is on Friday and 90% of the games are on Friday , how much more do we "own Friday" by Sligo or Longford also playing

It's just hubristic/jingoistic corporate and marketing speak.

"The LOI owns Friday nights!". Except for the fact that Irish rugby provinces play that night too, and get aired on bigger channels. English football plays quite a few games that ngiht too, with matches always in Sky. And even Irish League matches happen that night and get broadcast as well. But hey - apparently we own Friday nights...

[oriel]

Sligo Rovers and Longford Town reject formal request from FAI to move games to Friday night. Delighted. Saturday night is Rovers night.

Happy about Sligo in that, lovely trip over on a Sat night, desperate luck a few years ago when we finished 3rd under O'Donnell, both Sat night games moved, one was international, poss both, hopefully get over in 2026.