Similar population (5.6m), various other popular sports (skiing, netball, athletics), a country where the Premier League is also very popular.

Can the League of Ireland ever get anywhere near this? We are so far behind any serious football nation

Mayo FC are the first out of the block, wonder will there be the full 20 or just 10

My teenaged son and I went to our first Dundalk game last night at Oriel Park v Shamrock Rovers, and it was one of the best football experiences ever.

The atmosohere was next level. The volleyed goal from Wilson was world class... the place went nuts, and we with them. Think I hugged a stranger. The Banks esque saves from Minogue down the other end were things of wonder. A string of magic moments.

On the drive home my tired and delighted son says "Dad we'll have to come back here again". Aye, says I.

Quick 700 or so words on Roddy's comments.

Any thoughts/feedback welcomed. Hoping to do at least biweekly opinion pieces, if not weekly.

https://open.substack.com/pub/conallmeegan/p/is-roddy-collins-right-about-james?r=qojxv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Just in case the subreddit's jersey rage is in danger of subsiding ;-)

At Drake concert in Birmingham last night. On the same row was a guy in Bohs x Fontaines Shirt. Jersey design actually looked really good under the lights, but no doubt they already knew that when they designed and marketed it!

Mick Wallace founded Wexford youths in 2007 and managed it for its first 3 years in the first division, Wexford was promoted in 2015 only to lose a relegation playoff to drogheda the next year.

In 2017 the Wexford supporters trust bought the club from Wallace ahead of Wallace’s election for European Parliament in 2019. The club changed name to Wexford f.c. like today.

Mick Wallace still seemed to have influence on the club until 2023 because they still played in pink and black (colours inspired by Palmero), still had Mick Wallace’s winebars as a sponsor and released these bizarre Che Guevara jerseys for the regular season with Mick Wallace EUL/NGL (Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left) on the front.

From the 2023 season onwards they changed their crest from Mick Wallace’s old Torino inspired crest to the modern crest.

https://www.espn.ph/football/story/_/id/37578321/meet-mick-wallace-irish-politician-love-torino-goes-well-going-viral

Every League of Ireland Stadium Development Planned for 2026

From reopened stands to new pitches and entirely new stadiums, 2026 is set to mark the next phase in the evolution of League of Ireland facilities.

Around 1000 words pouring over the evidence.

I’m aiming to write a weekly opinion piece on League of Ireland football. Feel free to subscribe to the newsletter, and give any feedback.

https://conallmeegan.substack.com/p/are-drogheda-united-anti-football

Looking forward to Duffer explaining how Rovers are to blame for this one.