The bonds that tie Ireland and the United States are deep and strong. In sport though the two countries are dominated by team games in which the countries are never likely to compete at a high level, be that american football or gaelic games.
The US team has played against our senior mens and women teams in the past 12 months and the rugby sides come together every now and again but there is not the ferocity of rivalry as exists between for example Ireland and England.
Sport though plays such an important role in the lives of the two countries that when a connection can be forged it is.
Golf has been the primary driver of this down the years attracting US tourists to play links golf here while golfing stars like Graeme McDowell have made their homes on the other side of the Atlantic for professional reasons.
The fastest areas of growth though lie in the playing of our matches over there and vice versa. The GAA and Gaelic Players have made great strides in developing football and hurling within and beyond Irish American communities.
London Irish have travelled to the US and it is not impossible to believe at some point in the future that a Guinness Pro12 fixture between Munster, Leinster, Ulster or Connacht might be played in Chicago, Boston or New York.
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The now regular playing of College Football in Dublin between the Aviva Stadium in 2012 and 2016 and Croke Park in 2014 have brought huge financial and sporting impact here that taps into an otherwise barely considered market.
Over 20,000 tourists are expected to travel from the US and Europe to see next year’s game between Boston College and Georgia Tech on September 3rd and it was confirmed in North Carolina yesterday that the match would be the opening fixture of the College season and be televised live on ESPN to an audience of 1.4 million.
The trophy for the match was also unveiled yesterday. It is a Waterford Crystal replica of an American Football helmet and will be presented to the winning coach after the game.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to go to Dublin and play in Ireland,” said Boston College Head Coach Steve Addazio, pictured right above alongside game organiser Padraic O’Kane of Corporate.ie
“We’re going to have the chance to go to a different country and be exposed to a different culture.”
“Going to Dublin to play a football game against Georgia Tech is an unbelievable growth opportunity and an experience our players will have for the rest of their lives. We’re fired up about it. It’s a long way away but time moves so quick. Next year I’ll be standing right here talking about that game which will be a matter of weeks away.”
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