Newly formed club Limerick United are to be allowed to enter teams in the League of Ireland's underage competitions, the FAI confirmed on Monday.
Limerick FC, the most recent incarnation of a club in the city, were unable to apply for a licence for the senior league for this year because they were in examinership, owing to debts of around €490,000.
But it is believed that the new club are hoping to return to the League of Ireland for the 2021 season.
"Limerick United have been accepted into the SSE Airtricity under-age leagues," the FAI said in a statement.
"The club will have teams in the U-13, U-15, U-17 & U-19 leagues and the proposal was accepted by the National League Executive Committee, and ratified by the FAI board."
Conn Murray, the former CEO of Limerick City and County Council, is to act as the interim chairman of the new club, who are set to play at Markets Field.
He says the plan is to concentrate on underage soccer, and to get proper structures in place for the sport in Limerick.
"Today is the beginning of a new era for football in Limerick," he said.
"We are going to develop one of the best young footballing academies in Ireland, we are going to nurture the talent there, make sure we do all we can so that every young man or woman who comes through our gates fulfils his or her sporting talent and, in doing so, their own personal development.
"This will not happen overnight. We are realists. But will be a gradual but sustainable development that, by the time we get Limerick United achieving its full potential, the structures will be in place to keep it there.
"Limerick is, pound for pound, undeniably the sporting capital of Ireland.
"Thomond Park has become a venue of global fame and we are now going to have an international rugby museum here. Limerick hurlers are still, many would say, the best team in Ireland and the Gaelic Grounds is among the country’s top five largest venues.
"We also have a rich tradition in soccer but it’s fallen away. There’s a huge core support there that we need to galvanise and give a reason to support a flagship Limerick team. And that’s what we are going to do."
The company behind Limerick FC has launched High Court proceedings against the FAI over what they claim is the club's exclusion from participating in the League of Ireland. Meanwhile there's a new club looking to establish themselves in Limerick. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/z3xGfUZ7OD
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) January 13, 2020
