Notre Dame Experience Gaelic Games
It was a week to remember for all of us at Experience Gaelic Games. With the Aer Lingus College Football Classic taking place, over 40,000 visitors flocked to our shores to witness the game between Notre Dame and Navy. While they were here, a number of them flocked to our 4 locations throughout Ireland for a memorable day of Gaelic action. Check out what we got up to for the week.
Notre Dame Football Team
Without a doubt, the highlight of the week was getting the opportunity to introduce the Notre Dame Football team to our wonderful games of Gaelic Football and Hurling. The team were such ‘craic’ – enthusiastic, competitive and jumped at the unique opportunity to take part in Gaelic Games. On the grounds of Lansdowne Rugby Club which is overlooked by the Aviva Stadium, we started by explaining our history and structures and continued onto the actual playing of the games. It truly was a day that will live long in the memory. Photos won’t do it justice so here is a video on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Youtube channel which shows how much fun was had by all.
We truly can’t put into words how enjoyable this day was.
GIFT Ireland High School Teams
The Notre Dame Navy game weren’t the only show in town last week. We also had the opportunity to work with the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) high school teams that were over for a tournament in Donnybrook Stadium on Friday night. Straight off the plane, these brilliant high schools joined us in Na Fianna GAA Club on Saint Mobhi Road for a day of Gaelic Games. CS Naples, Baylor, Seton Hall and Bonner & Prendie all joined us and had great craic learning about and taking part in our games. Thanks to a great friend of ours Patrick Steenberge for giving us the fantastic opportunity to work with the groups and of course the whole Global Football team.
Over the course of the week, we rubbed shoulders with Super Bowl winners, NFL Head Coaches, Future Top 10 Draft Picks and many more. As big American sports fans, it truly was a week and weekend to remember and one which we’ll be buzzing about for the next few months.
Visitors
One couldn’t turn a corner in Dublin, Galway or Cork without seeing the famous ND logo on the visitors. It was such an incredible weekend. To put the event in context, it was the largest single peacetime movement of US citizens outside of the US, outside of wartime events in history. An incredible amount of organisation was put into the event and it no doubt delivered on its promise. We showed Ireland to the world again and highlighted how welcoming of a country Ireland is. The countdown is on for 2024 which will see the return of Georgia Tech and Florida State. We’re raring and ready to go for it already! Here’s a reminder of our recent(ish) Georgia Tech session from 2016.
