The Galway & District League is an association football league organized by the Galway Football Association. It features amateur and junior clubs from County Galway. As of 2025, the league has four divisions. Its top division, the Premier Division, is a seventh level division in the Republic of Ireland football league system. Galway & District League teams also compete in the FAI Junior Cup. It is currently sponsored by Western Hygiene Supplies, a company based in Tuam. www.westernhygiene.ie
History From newspapers viewed at the National Library of Ireland, the first Galway League may have been played in 1925–26. It was won by Galway Celtic Albion F.C. with the runners up being Galway Celtic F.C. There is no formal relegation system with any other league within the Republic of Ireland football league system. However, both Mervue United and Salthill Devon played in the inaugural 2008 A Championship season. They were both subsequently promoted to the League of Ireland First Division. In 2014 both clubs withdrew to make way for a single Galway team – Galway F.C. – later known as Galway United. The senior teams of Mervue United and Salthill Devon subsequently rejoined the Galway & District League.
The league operated a fifth division, called Division 4, until 2018. An Under–21 league has been in place since 2018 with the league expanding to two divisions, the U21 Premier & U21 Championship, in 2022.
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Division 1 was renamed the 'Championship'. This had a cascading effect, with Division 2 now known as 'Division 1' and Division 3 renamed to 'Division 2'. Since at least 2005, there has been a reserve league competition which, as of April 2025, is still in operation.
League pyramid
The Competitions Committee forms a division based on the number of applications from clubs. The aim is to create divisions with an even number of teams, therefore the format can be subject to change each year. The below format has been agreed for the 2024/25 season.
County Level League(s) / division(s)1GFA Premier Division 10 clubs – 2 relegations2GFA Championship 12 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations3GFA Division One 9 clubs – 2 promotions, 3 relegations4GFA Division Two 12 clubs – 2 promotions
Source:
Premier Division Clubs 2024–25 Season TeamHome town/suburbGroundAthenryAthenryMoanbaunColgaKilcolganKilcornan LodgeGalway HiberniansBohermoreBohermoreLoughreaLoughreaBushfieldMaree OranmoreOranmore & MareeCaulfield Park 4GMervue UnitedMervueFahy's FieldMoyne VillaHeadfordPresentation GroundsRenmoreRenmoreWest ParkSalthill DevonSalthillDrom Soccer Park, Drom EastUniversity of GalwayGalway CityDangan Source:
Championship Division Clubs 2024–25 Season TeamHome town/suburbGroundColemanstown UnitedColemanstownCorofin UnitedCorofinWestern Hygiene ParkCorrib CelticAnnaghdownGort ScullyCorrib RangersWestsideManogue ParkCraughwell UnitedCraughwellColeman ParkDynamo BluesTuamCollege FieldKnocknacarraKnocknacarraCappagh ParkMacDaraAn Cheathrú RuaCarraroe AstroMaree Oranmore BOranmore & MareeCaulfield Park 4GMervue United BMervueFahy's FieldSt. Bernard's UnitedAbbeyknockmoyO'Donohoe ParkWest UnitedCladdaghSouth Park Source:
Other Notable Clubs TeamHome town/suburbGroundCregmore ClaregalwayCregmoreCregmore SportsfieldGalway BohemiansRahoonMillar's LaneTuam CelticTuamCeltic ParkWest Coast United LetterfrackDiamond Hill Source:
Past winners Season Winner Runners-up 2025–26 Colga 2024–25 Salthill Devon Mervue United 2023–24 Salthill Devon Athenry 2022–23 Salthill Devon Athenry 2021–22 Salthill Devon Athenry 2020–21 Athenry Salthill Devon 2018–19 Mervue United Athenry 2017–18 Athenry Mervue United 2016–17 Athenry Mervue United 2015–16 St Bernard's Salthill Devon 2014–15 Athenry Corrib Rangers 2013–14 Mervue United Galway Hibernians 2012–13 Mervue United Corrib Rangers 2011–12 Mervue United Galway Hibernians 2010–11 Mervue United Galway Hibernians 2009–10 Athenry Corrib Rangers 2008–09 West United Galway Hibernians 2007–08 Athenry West United 2006–07 Athenry Mervue United 2005–06 Galway Hibernians 2004–05 Mervue United 2003–04 Mervue United 2002–03 Mervue United 2001–02 Mervue United 1997–98 Renmore 1995–96 Renmore 1993–94 Galway Hibernians 1992–93 West United 1991–92 Galway Hibernians 1989–90 Mervue United 1988–89 Mervue United 1986–87 Mervue United 1984–85Dynamo Blues 1981–82 Dynamo Blues 1976–77 Mervue United 1975–76 Galway Bohemians 1974–75 UCG 1973–74 Our Lady's Boys Club F.C. 1972–73 Our Lady's Boys Club F.C. 1971–72 West United 1969–70 Galway Bohemians 1966–67 UCG
References