Kenneth M Sweeney<p>Despite decades of underdevelopment, corruption, and contempt from the Football Association of Ireland, the League of Ireland's Premiership and 1st division are booming with record crowds, youth engagement, teen stars, and prime time broadcast deals. And all that while competing with three other enormously successful field sports in the form of Gaelic football and hurling and rugby union.<br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Ireland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ireland</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/soccer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>soccer</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Football" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Football</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/LOI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LOI</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/LeagueofIreland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LeagueofIreland</span></a></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/B-vMucnj1FU?si=bMYIwTVzL2wJkTFj" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">youtu.be/B-vMucnj1FU?si=bMYIwT</span><span class="invisible">VzL2wJkTFj</span></a></p>