League of Ireland and SSE Airtricity announce rise in prize money ahead of 2024 season

HERE COMES THE MONEY: League of Ireland director Mark Scanlon and Ashley Morrow, head of brand, advertising and sponsorship at SSE Airtricity, with SSE Airtricity League of Ireland players at the launch of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland 2024 season held at Vicar Street in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The League of Ireland and SSE Airtricity have announced a rise in the overall prize money for the League of Ireland by €110,000, equating to 17%, ahead of the new 2024 season.

The new League of Ireland season was launched on Wednesday as SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Champions Shamrock Rovers look to begin their title defence, and on the back of SSE Airtricity's sponsorship extension in late 2023 coupled with their further support of TV broadcasts, the overall prize money for the League of Ireland's three Divisions has risen 17% from €655,000 to €765,000.

As Peamount United get set to defend their crown, the League of Ireland and principal partners SSE Airtricity's announcement today includes the doubling of funding for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division prize money in 2024 ahead of the new season.

With the new season event held today at Vicar Street in Dublin, the prize money for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division will rise from €55,000 in 2023 to €110,000 in 2024 after increasing from €20,000 in 2021.

The new season also comes with an increase in television broadcasts as an extra seven live broadcasts on Virgin Media TV brings the total number of games broadcast live on free to air TV across RTÉ, Virgin Media TV and TG4 to 48 including twelve games in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division on TG4.

Over 450 live League of Ireland games will be broadcast across the three Divisions on LOITV and will also be available with the season pass on sale for €120 on loitv.ie.

SSE Airtricity will also continue to invest in the partnership with a range of programmes focusing on promoting sustainability, inclusion and diversity, and supporting League of Ireland players off the pitch with personal and professional development opportunities. 

League of Ireland, Director, Mark Scanlon said: “We’re very excited to see the prize money in the League of Ireland rise this year with thanks to SSE Airtricity's continued support. It's also great to see the prize money for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division double this year thanks to this brilliant partnership.

"Our relationship with SSE Airtricity continues to grow year-on-year and this news is a sign of our commitment to growing the men's and women’s game in Ireland. We’re really looking forward to a thrilling season across all three Divisions this year and it’s great that we will reach an even bigger audience this season with an increase in TV coverage.

"This rising audience should see an exciting title race in all three Divisions with brilliant story lines around the country that will help our fan base grow even further in 2024.”

The SSE Airtricity Men's First Division season starts on Friday, 16 February and the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division will begin on Saturday, 9 March with the fixtures available at www.leagueofireland.ie.