A total of 40 teams competed in the 2016 competition, which commenced in April 2016. The teams entered from the 2016 League of IrelandPremier Division and First Division received byes into the second round stage. Four non-league teams also received byes to the second round. The remaining 12 teams entered at the first round stage. These non league teams are composed of the sixteen clubs which reached the fourth round of the 2015–16 FAI Intermediate Cup, and the semi-finalists of the 2015–16 FAI Junior Cup.
Cork City won the cup with a late extra-time goal for a 1-0 win against Dundalk in the final on 6 November.[1]