From the Tall Ships of a bygone age to the big ships of the US Navy, Dublin is enjoying a maritime end to the summer.  This week as many as 35,000 American tourists, including officers and servicemen from the USS Fort McHenry will descend on Dublin for the opening game of the US College Football season. 
The Emerald Isle Classic as it is being promoted pitches the University of Notre Dame with it’s strong tradition of ‘The Fighting Irish’ taking on the US Navy team in front of a sold out 50,000 capacity Aviva Stadium.  The event is sponsored by The Gathering 2013 and is serving as its main launch event for the US market.
There has been some controversy surrounding the role of the Irish American Football Association in both securing and sanctioning the event, but regardless of what subsequent contractual issues may need to be resolved the event will serve to promote the sport here to a level not seen for more than 20 years.
The game traditions will travel with the supporters who will take part in pep-rally events on the eve of the game and tailgate parties on game-day. Close to 1,000 Navy personnel will march onto the Aviva Stadium pitch ahead of kick-off and college bands and cheerleaders will add to the razzle dazzle of the event.
The O2 will host Notre Dame’s Pep-Rally on Friday evening. This sold-out event is sponsored by Glen Dimplex and willl be broadcast on RTE One as well as to a global online audience on You Tube.   All monies raised from ticket sales will be donated to local charities.
Navy will host their Pep-Rally in St. Stephen’s Green for its supporters that will involve the traditional band and cheerleader performance. On the morning of the game up to 5,000 members of the extended Notre Dame family will attend an open-air mass in the Upper Court Yard of Dublin Castle which will be live on the RTE player and the recorded mass for the Sunday morning on RTE. The Temple Bar area will host the Notre Dame pre-match tailgate.
Welcoming the game to Dublin, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Emerald Isle Classic to Dublin. With 35,000 American football fans making the trip to Ireland, this week is set to provide a huge economic boost to the country. It’s an ideal opportunity to promote The Gathering Ireland 2013 directly to the thousands of Americans travelling, as well as the expected multi-million television audience. We’ll be using this weekend to highlight the unique bond that exists between Ireland and the US, and encouraging Americans watching at home to see Ireland at first hand in 2013.”
A subsidiary American football event will take place on Friday 31st August with 12 U.S. and Canadian High School Teams competing in the Global Ireland Football Tournament (G.I.F.T) at Navan’s Páirc Tailteann and Dublin’s Parnell Park and Donnybrook Stadia.
The Navy and Notre Dame teams are also bringing other sporting college teams with rugby, boxing, tennis and squash matches arranged against local opposition. A host of other unofficial events and tailgate parties will take place throughout the city around the match including local team Dublin Rebels hosting their match party in The Bath Pub beside the Aviva Stadium.
For more information on the Emerald Isle Classic, presented by The Gathering Ireland 2013, visit www.emeraldisleclassic.ie.
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