It's called summer football even if the winter weather survives, but either way the 2015 League of Ireland sun is peeking over last season's clouds for a new dawn.
As Roddy Collins said on Off The Ball on the Tuesday night League of Ireland slot, there is plenty to look forward to domestically in a league that is liable to provide its fair share of surprises.
Listen back to Roddy and Stuey's preview of the new season via the podcast:
The favourites
According to Roddy and Stuey, St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers should be more involved in the title race than they were last season - although Stuey believes the latter still need a couple more additions.
For one, Pats have retained last season's 20-goal man Christy Fagan and a man capable of the spectacular in Chris Forrester, while Rovers are under the stewardship of five-time League of Ireland title-winning manager Pat Fenlon, who had time to bed in after taking over the club during the previous campaign. The Hoops have also added former Ireland international Keith Fahey from Inchicore, and striker Danny North from Sligo Rovers.
Reigning champions Dundalk might have lost last-season's SSE Airticity League top-scorer Pat Hoban, who decamped to Oxford United in the close-season, but they did retain the services of key midfielder Richie Towell, who was influential in the run to the title in 2014. They also kicked off the new season by beating St Patrick's Athletic to the President's Cup.
Cork City have been busy in the close-season as they look to build on a season when they came close to wresting the league from Dundalk's clutches.
Former Republic of Ireland, Manchester United and Celtic midfielder Liam Miller has been attracted back to his native county after spending the last three years in Australian football. They have also brought two-time Ireland cap Alan Bennett back to the club in February to add more experience to John Caulfield's squad.
Oisin Langan and I looked at some of the wider issues surrounding the league in the Monday Rewind podcast:
The battle below
There always seems to be one surprise package which emerges from the pack and challenges for the title.
Sligo Rovers have slipped from the pedestal of a league title in 2012, but will have new ideas in the shape of new manager Owen Heary. His new signing, Danish striker Morten Neilsen, was once on the books of Chelsea.
At 2014 FAI Cup finalists Derry City, Anthony Elding is the recruit charged with replacing the goals previously provided by the prolific Rory Patterson.
The 2008 and 2009 champions, Bohemians have been mired in mid-table, but still have the goals of the evergreen Jason Byrne to call upon.
Drogheda United finished down in 9th last year, but have brought former Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers midfielder Sean Thornton back to his hometown.
Meanwhile, it has been a tough pre-season off the pitch for both Bray Wanderers and Limerick, with the latter having fewer funds available and moving to Markets Field. I have a regularly covered Bray live in recent years and based on their record, they should have the experience of what it takes to just about keep away from the automatic relegation place.
There will also be plenty of interest in how newcomers Longford Town and Galway United will fare, and from a personal point of view, it's good to see clubs from those regions back at the top level.
Longford spent half a dozen seasons outside the top flight, but raced to the First Division title last season, while Galway saw off Shelbourne and UCD in playoffs to book their place among the domestic elite.
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