Zeitgeist

Fever pitch: Fans can’t get enough of Bohs, Ireland’s hippest club

The League of Ireland’s oldest club, Bohemians FC have become, arguably, its hottest brand, with fans clamouring to join and a very active presence on social issues off the pitch. But can a club be ‘too cool’, especially when they’ve not won the league in 14 years? Donal MacNamee finds out

Bohs’ Grant Horton celebrates scoring the team’s first goal against Cork City last month in Cork in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Kevin Brannigan has a ready-made analogy to explain the rising popularity of the League of Ireland, and his club Bohemian FC, over recent years.

“I have this hot take that sea swimming and the League of Ireland go hand in hand,” Brannigan, a filmmaker, journalist and longtime Bohemians fan, says.

“Nobody was sea swimming ten, 12 years ago in the amounts they are now – you sea swam when you went to Spain or whatever. ...