The League of Ireland First Division is the second tier of professional football in the Republic of Ireland. It operates under the governance of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and features clubs competing for promotion to the top tier, the League of Ireland Premier Division. The league typically consists of 10 to 12 teams, with each club playing each other twice in a season. The top teams at the end of the season have the opportunity to earn promotion, while the lower-ranked teams may face relegation to the League of Ireland Third Division.