On 14 March 1890, on the invitation of J. W. Gordon, representative from eight clubs -
Clarence,
Cliftonville,
Distillery,
Glentoran,
Linfield,
Milford,
Oldpark and
Ulster - met in the Belfast Estate Office of
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. Within fifteen, minutes, the league was constituted. The twelve attendees of the meeting were W. McNeice, J. R. Spiller, W. Finlay, W. Couser, J. McClatchley, S. Monroe, J. McKnight, C. Birkby, J. Torrans, J. W. Gordon, J. Henderson and W. S. Dawson. The first officials appointed were W. McNeice (chairman), W. Finlay (treasurer) and J. W. Gordon (honorary secretary). ==Teams and locations==