The
NIFL Premiership, known as the
Sports Direct Premiership for sponsorship purposes, and
Irish Premiership colloquially, is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Northern Ireland Football League â the national league in Northern Ireland. The NIFL Premiership was established as the
IFA Premiership in 2008 under the auspices of the Irish Football Association as the successor to the
Irish Premier League, before the Northern Ireland Football League was created for the start of the 2013â14 season. At the end of the season, the champion club is presented with the Gibson Cup.