OK, the Dublin team country team thing. Higgo is right in pointing out that Sporting Fingal probably will garner greater attendances than Kilkenny City - even if it's just wives,family and confused country folk who took a wrong turn on the way to Dalymount or Tolka.:) The greater picture cries out for teams spread across the country such as Tullamore, Kilkenny etc. Unfortunately the reality is that most of these clubs seem to be a sneeze away from collapse most of the time owing to a deep lack of interest locally.
Team X - local side, successful in provincial terms, strong local support, makes the step up to A Championship or 1st Division. After a while they realise that their pool of local talent is insufficient to sustain them - they are strugglingat the higher level. Bring in a few Dubs to improve things. Locals get p'd off at the 'big-time' players coming in and lose interest.
Still there must be a pyramid system however formatted; a league without relegation is a non-entity; relegation battles are just as intriguing as title chases - without the quality.