What do the three statements actually say?
What began with Treaty United announcing an agreement to use the Limerick FC name from the 2027 season has quickly become a dispute involving competing claims over the club’s identity.
Since September 21, three statements have added to the confusion. Treaty United announced its agreement, Limerick FC disputed it, and Carew Limerick FC then issued a lengthy statement outlining its involvement in the Limerick FC identity and the future of football in the city.
So, what exactly has each side said, and why has the issue become more complicated than simply changing a name?
What was announced in June?
On June 12, Limerick FC, Treaty United and official League of Ireland platforms announced that an agreement had been reached to “bring senior football in Limerick under the historic Limerick FC name from the 2027 season”.
Nothing further was publicly announced until September.
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What Did Treaty United Announce?
On Monday, September 21, Treaty United announced that it had reached an agreement to use the Limerick FC name from the 2027 season.
The announcement followed Treaty’s previous attempt to enter the League of Ireland as Limerick United in 2021.
However, it was quickly challenged.
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Why Did Limerick FC Dispute It?
Within hours, a statement published by Limerick FC disputed the claim that an agreement had been reached.
It stated that ownership of the Limerick FC name and associated intellectual property remains subject to an internal dispute and claimed that any agreement made while that dispute remains unresolved would be invalid.
The statement also claimed that the FAI, Tricor and Treaty United had been aware of the dispute for around 12 months.
It warned that unauthorised use of the Limerick FC name, crest or intellectual property could lead to an application to the High Court for an injunction.
A further social media post then teased a “behind the scenes” look at the dispute, featuring distorted voices from a recorded conversation.
But another party soon entered the discussion.
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Where Does Carew Limerick FC Come Into It?
On Wednesday, September 23, Carew Limerick FC held an emergency board meeting before releasing a lengthy statement setting out its version of events.
The statement covers the former Limerick FC academy, the club’s identity, young players, discussions with Treaty United and what Carew believes the future structure of football in Limerick should look like.
At the centre of the statement is what Carew says happened following the collapse of the previous Limerick FC academy structure in 2025.
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What Happened With The Academy?
According to Carew, the collapse left approximately 40 young players affected. Carew Park and other stakeholders became involved in helping them find alternative opportunities before a formal handover took place in July 2025.
Pat O’Sullivan, the former owner and chairman of Limerick FC, who had been involved with Limerick football for around 17 years, stepped away in 2025, with Carew saying its new board and committee then took responsibility for the club’s operation, administration and governance.
Carew says the handover also included rights and goodwill connected to the Limerick FC identity.
However, ownership of the identity was already disputed. Carew says Dennis Lukens, Limerick FC’s former Director of Football, had made a competing claim dating back to February 2025, which was never conclusively resolved between all parties.
How Did Treaty Become Involved?
Carew says discussions about the future of football in Limerick began in December 2025.
It had appointed a consultant to work on its behalf, who subsequently engaged with Treaty United.
According to Carew, the discussions went beyond who could use the Limerick FC name and included the academy, player pathways, volunteers, facilities and the wider structure of football in Limerick.
Why Are Young Players Central to Carew’s Statement?
Carew says the number of players affected grew to approximately 80 across the wider structures following Treaty’s agreement with Pat O’Sullivan.
It says it was left maintaining its academy while supporting players and families and looking for alternative pathways for those wanting to continue in League of Ireland academy football.
According to Carew, some former academy players returned to grassroots football, while others moved to academies in other cities.
The club argues that any future structure needs to take these players and their development pathways into account.
Was Carew Prepared to Give Up Its Claim to the Name?
According to its statement, yes, but as part of a wider agreement.
Carew says it was prepared to relinquish its claimed rights to the Limerick FC identity and assist with transferring relevant social media accounts.
However, it says this depended on an agreement covering the academy, affected players and volunteers, Carew’s role in the future structure and outstanding financial matters.
Carew says those conditions were never resolved and no overall agreement was completed.
It therefore questions how its competing claim and the outstanding issues were dealt with before Treaty announced its agreement on September 21.
The June statements from Treaty and Limerick FC have added another layer to the dispute, but that is a separate discussion in itself.
What Happens Now?
Carew has called on the FAI to clarify its role in relation to Treaty’s proposed use of the Limerick FC identity. It has also sought greater clarity around previous discussions involving the Mayor’s office and its consultant.
For now, the proposed return of the Limerick FC name remains subject to competing claims and unanswered questions.
What began as a name change has developed into a wider debate about ownership, governance and the future structure of football in Limerick.