THE Women’s Premier Division season kicks off tomorrow as it continues to grow.
Crucially this year, there are an even number of teams as Waterford join the senior ranks to make up a 12-team league.
And it feels like a big year for the league to grasp the popularity of the game in Ireland.
The Women’s Premier has its own TV deal with TG4 to show 14 games, including Athlone Town against Wexford first up.
An average viewing figure of 33,608 last season showed an interest from the armchair fan.
But the league needs more of those on the couch to get through the turnstiles.
There was a record league attendance last year of 2,861 at Galway United v DLR Waves, though the average attendance — say the FAI — rose by five per cent.
Figures for the average for 2024 were not in the press release but it was 308 in 2023 across the then-11 clubs.
Elsewhere in LOI news, Bohemians have earned a lot of kudos for their work in the community over the years and there was another example shared by RTÉ News on Monday.
The Gypsies started the ‘Belonging to a Fair City’ programme in 20 north Dublin primary schools.
It seeks to teach pupils about the Irish experience of immigration so students have more awareness of what those moving here may have gone, or be going, through.
If you think it is unnecessary or wonder why Bohs don’t ‘stick to football’, have a look at some of the ignorant comments under RTÉ’s story.
Bohs are just looking out for their own community.
The last census in 2022 showed that 21 per cent of Dubliners were not born in Ireland.
So giving some fifth- and sixth-class students a bit more knowledge so that they know to ignore the stupid comments should be applauded.
