Inaugural season In 1985 five teams –
Bray Wanderers,
Cobh Ramblers,
Derry City,
EMFA and
Newcastle United – were elected to join the
League of Ireland. All five subsequently participated in the inaugural
1985–86 First Division season, along with
Monaghan United from the
League of Ireland B Division and four clubs –
Drogheda United,
Finn Harps,
Longford Town and
Sligo Rovers – who were relegated following the
1984–85 League of Ireland season. Bray Wanderers were the inaugural First Division champions. In
2015 UCD qualified for the
2015–16 UEFA Europa League via the
UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking system. After the
FAI finished third in the 2014–15 rankings, they nominated UCD for the extra European place.
Promotion and relegation A
promotion and relegation system has existed between the
League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division since
1985–86. In
1992–93 a promotion/relegation play-off was also introduced. Between
2008 and
2011,
A Championship teams were also eligible for promotion to the First Division. During this time both
Mervue United and
Salthill Devon were both promoted to the First Division from the A Championship. There is no formal promotion and relegation relationship between the First Division and the three third level provincial leagues – the
Leinster Senior League Senior Division, the
Munster Senior League and the
Ulster Senior League. However provincial level teams have been invited to join the division. In
1990–91 St James's Gate were invited to join and in
1996–97 they were replaced by
St Francis. In
2015,
Cabinteely became the most recent team to accept an invite. All three clubs were recruited from the Leinster Senior League.
Treaty United from the Munster senior league joined the first division in 2021, replacing Shamrock Rovers second team. ==2026 clubs==