The local football club is often at the heart of their community, Bohemian FC take that responsibility seriously.
Whether its taking a stand against racism in the terraces or in the streets, advocating for trade union membership, or proudly standing with the Palestinian people, the Bohs know where their values lie. In an era of billionaire owners and oil clubs, they proudly stand as a fan-owned, fan-run club aiming to not just uplift their community, but to fight injustice across the country and beyond.
Bohemian by name and bohemian by nature, this is the story of Dublin’s Originals.
A short-ish history
Founded in 1890 in Dublin, Bohemian FC were the first team from Dublin to join the Irish Football League in 1902. In 1921 they were one of the founding members of the League of Ireland, and have remained in the top flight of the league since its inception, the only club to do so. The club remained amateur until 1969, as they were finding it harder and harder to compete with professional players
For the first ten years of the club’s existence, they bounced around different home grounds, starting in the Polo Ground at Phoenix Park, Croke Park, and Whitehall Farm in Glasnevin. In September 1901, Dalymount Park, right in the heart of Phibsboro, opened and has remained their home ever since.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, Bohemians found very little success in terms of silverware, failing to win a major trophy for 34 seasons in a row. This led the board to end their amateur status by signing their first professional player Tony O’Connell.
Success at Last
It would seem that this move paid off as they enjoyed a great amount of success through the 1970s, but success once again became elusive until another golden era in the 2000s.
In terms of European competition, like most of the Irish clubs, its never been easy for Bohemians.
Most recently, they got to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League in the 2021/2022 season, getting past both Icelandic side Stjarnan FC and Luxembourgish side F91 Dudelange before facing Greek side PAOK. The home leg in a bouncing Aviva stadium saw Bohemians stun as they won 2-1 through a brace by Ali Coote before suffering a heartbreaking 2-0 loss away in Greece.
From the outside, things looked promising for Bohemians heading into the 2010s. But behind the scenes, the club’s finances were a ticking time bomb.
During the Celtic Tiger years, the board sought to capitalise on Ireland’s property boom, agreeing a deal to sell Dalymount Park for a reported €65 million. The plan included building a new 10,000-capacity stadium further north of Phibsboro. Crucially, the details of the deal were kept from club members. And when delays mounted, the property bubble burst before the sale could be completed, leaving Bohemians nearly €7 million in debt.
The wage bill was slashed.
The manager and most of the first-team squad departed. Much of the club’s day-to-day operation fell to volunteers or staff working for token wages, as members fought to keep the club alive. Around €700,000 in member loans helped pay off urgent creditors. In 2015, a lifeline arrived when Dublin City Council agreed to purchase Dalymount Park for €3.8 million, a move that effectively saved Bohemians from collapse.
How does the fan-ownership system work at Bohemian FC?
From the brink of collapse, it was the members who rallied to save the club, sacrificing their own time and money to keep the club afloat during dire financial straits. It wasn’t just a rescue, but a recommitment to the club’s core value: ownership by the fans, for the fans.
According to the club’s Social Impact report as of 2023 they had over 3100 members, quite a jump from the 2018 figure of 929.
The club operates on a strict ‘one member, one vote’ rule. Membership is open to everyone, although the club is currently at capacity, between seasons if a member does not renew their membership, that membership is sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
An adult membership currently costs €400. Every member has access to every home league game at Dalymount Park, along with priority access to by tickets for cup games, European games, and away games. They are also permitted to attend and vote at the club’s AGMs and EGMs.
Once a member has hit three years of consecutive service, they are permitted to run for a board position. As a result, there is no outside control. Long-term thinking is encouraged over short-term profits, growing the club and the community remains first priority at all times.
This simple formula keeps the club working in line with the wishes of the fans and the community, and contrasts with the ownership models of most other clubs. Through its members, the club is anchored to the community.
A politically committed figure in European football
The community focus from Bohemians is obvious through their actions and campaigns.
Since the 2010s, Bohemians adopted a left-wing identity. Inspired directly by German side St. Pauli, their branding, community work and messaging integrate left-wing sentiment. Under CEO Daniel Lambert (who is also Kneecap’s manager) the club has taken stances against fascism, racism, homophobia, and advocate for Palestinian liberation, refugees and the homeless.
Bohemians ran a campaign selling a Refugees Welcome jersey starting in 2021,from which over €50,000 has been raised for asylum seekers in Ireland. The club also ran toy drives for children of asylum seekers and provide free matches tickets and bus transport to Direct Provision residents.
They pioneered blind football, amputee football and walking football in Ireland, while also launching a Disabled Supporters Assocation. They were the first League of Ireland team to take part in Pride.
Bohemian murals at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park has a number of murals painted by local artists throughout the stadium featuring the likes of Bob Marley, whose final open air concert took place in Dalymount Park in July 1980, and Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was murdered by Israeli forces in January 2024.
Palestinian advocacy is very important to Bohemians and to most Irish people in general.
There is a shared history of occupation, genocide and ethnic cleansing. Bohemians have worked tirelessly to advocate for Palestinians, in 2023 they started selling a jersey with the colours of the Palestinian flag in partnership with Sport for Life Palestine, with 10% of proceeds going towards children in the West Bank.
They most importantly organised a friendly in Dalymount Park between the Bohemians women’s team and the Palestinian women’s national team commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Nakba. All profits, approximately €80,000, were split between Medical Aid for Palestine, Aclai Palestine, and Sport for Life Palestine.
The match ended Bohemians 1, Palestine 2 — and as someone who was there, I have never seen a crowd celebrate the away side’s goals like that night.
Fashion trend or football club?
The Bohemians are sometimes dismissed as a fashion trend with a football team on the side, and at the beginning of the season after a rocky start they were ridiculed for having “more jerseys than points on the board”. Bohemians are famous for their flashy and interesting jerseys
From the Dublin Bus jersey released in 2022, sporting the design of the Dublin Bus seats, to the Refugees Welcome and Palestine jerseys, to even recently a Guinness jersey, showcased in marketing by J.K. Simmons. Bohemians have also collaborated with Dublin-based band Fontaines D.C. to create a jersey, and most recently even Oasis, as they kick off their return tour. These jerseys also breed a certain sense of community, and their designs allow them to worn in more places than Dalymount Park.
Currently Bohemians sit in 2nd place, eight points behind rivals Shamrock Rovers, but with one less game played. Since the beginning of the 2025 season (League of Ireland runs from February-November), Bohemians have played against Shamrock Rovers three times, and three times they have emerged victorious. After their horrible end to last season, finishing 8th, just above a relegation play-off 9th, they seem to have turned their performances on the pitch around.
While far from perfect, Bohemians remain as an outlier in a world where football clubs are increasingly seen as assets to be bought and sold, without any regard for the fans.
Bohemian FC is a club that belongs to its community, speaks it mind, and proves that football is much more than just ninety minutes on a pitch.
