title: 1995–96 Irish League
text: # 1995–96 Irish League
  
  The 1995–96 Irish League was the 95th edition of the Irish League, the highest level of league competition in Northern Irish football. The league consisted of 8 teams, and Portadown won the championship.
  
  A restructuring during the 1995 pre-season also saw a First Division added below the Premier Division, with regular promotion and relegation between the two leagues being established from this season onwards.
  
  ## Premier Division
  
  ### League standings
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Portadown (C) | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 56 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup preliminary round |
  | 2 | Crusaders | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup preliminary round |
  | 3 | Glentoran | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 46 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round |
  | 4 | Glenavon | 28 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 32 | +15 | 44 | |
  | 5 | Linfield | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 41 | |
  | 6 | Cliftonville | 28 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 49 | −21 | 29 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup group stage |
  | 7 | Ards | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 29 | 43 | −14 | 25 | |
  | 8 | Bangor (R) | 28 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 24 | 54 | −30 | 14 | Relegation to the First Division |
  
  ## First Division
  
  ### League standings
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or Promotion |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Coleraine (C, P) | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 81 | 27 | +54 | 67 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
  | 2 | Ballymena United | 28 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 49 | |
  | 3 | Omagh Town | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 49 | 42 | +7 | 43 | |
  | 4 | Distillery | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 37 | |
  | 5 | Ballyclare Comrades | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 29 | 48 | −19 | 33 | |
  | 6 | Carrick Rangers | 28 | 9 | 3 | 16 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 30 | |
  | 7 | Larne | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 | 36 | −5 | 28 | |
  | 8 | Newry Town | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 31 | 58 | −27 | 26 | |
  