SIXTH GLOBAL IRELAND TOURNAMENT TO KICK OFF DUBLIN WEEKEND
The Global Ireland Football Tournament returns to Dublin for a sixth time this month, as high school teams from Pittsburgh and New Jersey take on Irish and UK-based opponents.
Global Football has been world’s largest exporter of American football since 1996, having organised games and events in 29 different countries and six continents. The tours have involved more than 400 teams and 20,000 curious travellers gaining exposure to unique cultures and foreign lands as well as getting to play football, and have been a part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic weekend since 2012. This year, two games kick off a programme which culminates in Iowa State playing Kansas State at the Aviva Stadium on 23rd August.
Following a free coaching clinic this Sunday (17th August) at University College Dublin, the action really gets underway on the eve of the college game, when the Hun School from Princeton, New Jersey take on the Loughborough-based NFL Academy at Energia Park in Donnybrook (3pm / 22nd August). That game will then be followed by Ireland U19 Wolfhounds taking on Kiski School from Pittsburgh at 6.30pm.
“We’re excited to offer Irish sports fans another great showcase of overseas teams to see how they measure up against local opposition, this time across multiple sports,” said Global Football founder and president Patrick Steenberge. “Ultimately, these teams are excited to play American football in Dublin, thousands of miles from home in some cases, but they will also experience a new culture and explore the wonderful nation of Ireland during the trip of a lifetime.”
The travelling teams will arrive in Ireland the week of their games and will tour Dublin during their stay, taking in a GAA Experience to get first-hand taste of Gaelic football and hurling. They will also receive an American-style ‘pep rally’ in the city’s Merrion Square featuring some of the teams’ bands and cheerleaders, which will be open to the public as well as travelling family and friends.
Tickets for the two high school games are priced at €20 (adults) and €15 (students), with free admission for children, and are on sale here.
Next weekend’s coaching clinic, free to attend for all players and coaches registered with American Football Ireland, will provide an opportunity to develop under the watchful eye of veteran American coaches including Emmitt Smith’s high school coach Dwight Thomas, Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard’s high school mentor John Storey, former Notre Dame tight end Mike Creaney and quarterback Patrick Steenberge, as well as Mitch Osadchuk, who played college football at Adrian College and Tech Monterrey Puebla.
