Shamrock Rovers will play Hibernians of Malta in the first round of Champions League qualifying following the draw in Nyon this morning.
The Hoops were seeded going into the draw but still had the likes of Lech Poznan as potential opponents.
Hibernians were the weakest side on paper they could have faced and the Premier Division league leaders emerged first from the pot, followed by the Maltese champions.
Their best-known clash with an Irish side was when they beat Shelbourne two decades ago.
Last year they saw off opposition from San Marino in the first round of the Europa Conference League before exiting to Riga FC of Latvia in the second round.
Prior to that, in the Champions League, they face Flora Tallinn and were defeated 5-0 over two legs.
Flora went on to beat Stephen Bradley's side in a Conference League play-off.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley told RTÉ Sport: "Anyone in the Champions League is going to be a good side, but when you look at the other teams in the draw, we've avoided some really big teams.
You'd obviously look to be away from home first and at home second. You get a feel for them over there. We're at home and they'll come with a different mentality. We have to make sure we're ready for them. We know conditions will play a part over there.
"All professional players are conditioned well throughout the year but it's definitely a help that they don't begin their season until August. There's no point saying otherwise. It doesn't guarantee anything but it helps Irish clubs that we're mid-season and has done throughout the years."
Elsewhere Derry City and Sligo Rovers had contrasting draws. In the first round of Europa Conference League qualifying the Candystripes will face the team that beat Hibernians 12 months ago - Riga,.
Sligo Rovers were paired with Welsh side Bala Town FC. They were defeated by Larne in last year's competition.
Northern Irish champions Linfield also had fortune on their side for their draw in the Champions League.
As an unseeded club, they were paired with Welsh champions The New Saints, avoiding more difficult opposition like Bodo/Glimt and Malmo FC.
Crusaders from the Irish League drew Bruno's Magpies FC from Gibraltar.
Bruno's were only formed in 2013 as part of a social club but emerged as a stronger force to qualify for European football after local investment.
Larne will also face Gibraltarian opposition, St Joseph's, while Cliftonville received a much tougher task against Slovakia's DAC.
The Champions League ties will be played on 5/6 July and 12/13 July.
Derry and Sligo will play 7 and 14 July.
Champions League:
Shamrock Rovers v Hibernians (Malta)
Europa Conference League:
Bala Town (Wales) v Sligo Rovers
Derry City v Riga FC (Latvia)
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