Initially, there were two unions both founded in 1874 - the Irish Football Union had jurisdiction over clubs in Leinster, Munster and parts of Ulster; the Northern Football Union of Ireland controlled the Belfast area.
Inicialmente había dúas unións fundadas en 1874: a Irish Football Union que tiña unha xurisdición sobre os clubs de Leinster, Munster e parte do Ulster; e a Northern Football Union of Ireland, que controlaba a área de Belfast.