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Gridiron’s Farmageddon… on a Dublin field

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Scotland has its Old Firm derby, England’s East Anglia their Old Farm version and for College Football it’s Gridiron’s Farmageddon… on a Dublin field.

Yes, it’s that time of year again when tailgaters come over in their tens of thousands to Ireland.

For the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic which this year features one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.

College footie fans need no explanation but maybe the rest of us do.

It is, of course, Kansas State University’s ‘Wildcats’ face-off with Iowa State University’s ‘Cyclones’.

Mascots touchdown

The latest iteration of which will take place at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, August 23.

And with a uniquely Irish flavour with a commercial on the EPSN feed of mascots Willie the Wildcat and Cy the Cardinal.

Swapping the gridiron for a lively Irish pub session.

Now putting on any American Football game is akin to a military exercise and the Aer Lingus game just gets bigger every year.

Aer force Lingus

Flying high: Wildcats in town with Aer Lingus.Photographer: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Aer Lingus operated special charter flights to Ireland, transporting players, coaches, cheerleaders and band members to Ireland.

While hundreds more supporters and friends have travelled on scheduled transatlantic services from cities across the US.

Aer Lingus also transported 947 pieces of baggage to Dublin.

Including 268 pieces of sports gear and 136 band instruments – 84 from Kansas State and 52 from Iowa State.

On top of that 16 tonnes of cargo made the journey from the colleges to Ireland via Aer Lingus’s scheduled cargo services.

Have a craicing time

Only here for the cheerleaders: Aer Lingus packing the fun Pic: Naoise Culhane.

All worth it though with the game alone projected to generate over €130 million for the Irish economy.

Dublin will be transformed into a festival of American football, with pep rallies, tailgates, live broadcasts, and immersive cultural experiences.

Blending the best of Irish and American traditions.

A full schedule of events as well as updates and key timings can be found on the Official Game Week App.

Following last year’s record-breaking audience of 5 million viewers, ESPN will once again broadcast the game live across the U.S.

Which this year will have a new twist.

Gridiron’s Farmageddon… on a Dublin field.

And it’s just half-time

And will be mega in its own right and a teaser.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings’ historic first NFL game on September 28.

America, Countries, Sport

Touchdown Pittsburgh with Aer Lingus

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And for the weekend that’s in it our friends at Ireland’s national airline carrier are proud to announce it’s touchdown Pittsburgh with Aer Lingus.

It’s green for go for Aer Lingus and the pride of Pittsburgh, the Steelers, who have entered into a four-year partnership.

With the Pennsylvanians pencilling in a first, a regular season NFL game in Ireland later this year.

At Croke Park, the home of Ireland’s Gaelic Games.

Steel yourself

Team of all talents: Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh, who share the record number of Super Bowl titles of six with the New England Patriots, have long-held contacts with Ireland.

Through the Steelers’ founding family, the Irish-American Rooneys.

They came over from the Oul Country in the 1840s.

Now we’ve been trailing the Steelers and Ireland connection and drive to host a regular season match in Ireland.

Which, of course, will bring the famous Steeler Nation over in their droves… and all on Aer Lingus planes.

Rooney Rools

Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer is looking forward to laying out the green carpet.

She said: ‘As an airline that connects people, places and possibilities, we eagerly anticipate welcoming many Steelers supporters.

‘As they travel to Ireland to cheer on their team and to explore Europe.’

Steelers President Art Rooney II is no stranger to the land of his forebears.

And he said: ‘The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special.

‘Not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland.’

Philadelphia, who will be carrying the flag for Pennsylvania on Sunday.

With the Eagles facing the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis and Taylor et al, has long been on the Aer Lingus radar.

With flights to the City of Brotherly Love one of 24 North American routes.

From Dublin, Shannon and Manchester, bolstered by new destinations in Nashville and Indianapolis.

The City of the Andys

Of course, as much as we want to show Pittsburghians around Dublin’s Fair City.

We’re also keen having spent time with them in Ireland to get out there too.

To the city of the handy Andys… where Warhol and where Carnegie’s footprint is huge.

It should, of course, come as little surprise that Ireland should have been chosen for the Gridiron expansion.

With Aer Lingus having been a proud supporter of College Football since 2016.

Aer receivers

When the first-ever Aer Lingus College Football Classic took place and which we have been fortunate enough to attend ourselves.

Since 2022, the event – held on Week Zero of the College Football calendar – has been a regular fixture at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Bringing teams and supporters from across America to Ireland.

In 2027, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt Panthers will be the home team taking on rivals Wisconsin in an exciting matchup.

So as the Super Bowl whets your appetite on Sunday.

Just think it will be Touchdown Pittsburgh with Aer Lingus in Dublin for later in the year.

America, Countries, Flying, Ireland, Sport

Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

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Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

Well, it’s that special relationship between Ireland and America that manifests itself in so many shared cultural displays.

With, of course, St Patrick’s Day, the biggest, but at this time of the year it’s all about the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin.

College football is pure Americana with its followers more missionaries with a religious fervour for their sport.

And that is why 25,000 fans are expected to fly across the Atlantic to watch the latest iteration of the contest.

Which this year sees Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from Atlanta tackle Florida State Seminoles from Talahassee on August 24 at the Aviva.

Up the Creek Indians

Seminoles, you say, well they’re Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama who migrated to Florida in the 1700s.

And are celebrated to this day in the name they attach to their College Football heroes.

The States, of course, has gone on its own journey regarding its First Nation.

And rebranding the Washington Redskins NFL franchise to the Washington Commanders.

While championing Native American tribes such as the Creek Seminoles.

College day out

Will It seems kismet then for that reason that college teams from Florida and Georgia should come together for this fixture on the calendar.

Now, of course, the exodus of 25,000 Gridiron-daft Americans to Dublin provides a great opportunity for Irish hoteliers and hospitality industry.

With an expected €100million boost to the Irish economy.

And our old friends and game sponsors Clayton have stepped up big style.

To welcome their American friends, fans and the Georgia Tech team.

American Football newbies

Hogging the limelight: At Clayton Hotels

There is a special hoo-ha over this year’s event with the game being broadcast with ESPN and Sky Sports broadcasting the event.

So that for American Football newbies there is the chance to mug up on the game.

And for my own little cheerleader too who got
to the third quarter when we were invited to the game by Aer Lingus.

Before asking ‘so, are they able to throw the ball forward?’

Now we hope we have answered another question for you… Aer Lingus and Clayton Hotels Gridiron How?

And are happy to repeat that Ireland’s national airline carrier flies to 18 routes in North America with pre-clearance.

While Clayton,whose hospitality we have enjoyed across the world, have eight hotels across Dublin’s Fair City.

America, Countries, Ireland, Sport

Aviva AmAerican Football

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Aviva AmAerican Football and let’s throw this thing forward.

To today’s latest iteration of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin (7.30pm).

Between this year the powerhouses of Notre Dame and Navy.

Throwing forward is, of course, the point of American Football… that and touching down.

All of which was news to Mrs M when we were invited to a previous match by Aer Lingus during our 13 years in Ireland.

And, more used to rugby she asked, and this is the third quarter mind, if it was OK to throw the ball forward.

The Fighting Irish

Now anyone who has come across the phenomenon that is College Football will know their fans will travel anywhere to see their Alma Mater.

Notre Dame, or the Fighting Irish as they are celebrated, are the most famous name in college football.

Drawing crowds of tens of thousands snd even having their matches televised live on TV.

Noter Dam, as they’re pronounced, hail not from Irish New York or Boston as you might expect.

But north of South Bend, Indiana.

And they regularly draw 70,000 attendances.

The Fighting Irishmen wrap themselves up in the Oul’ Country with their leprechaun mascot and team song Band of the Fighting Irish.

In the Navy

And the Blue and Golds (surprisingly not green) walk the walk and talk the talk, having nailed 11 championships throughout their history.

And judging Notre Dame on how their alumni have fared in NFL.

Then there have only been five Super Bowls that did not feature at least one former Notre Dame player on either team’s roster.

And twelve former Notre Dame players, plus one non-player alumnus, have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall.

So that’s just four off USC (University of Southern California).

With whom they compete for the wonderfully-titled Jeweled Shillelagh.

ND’s rivalry with today’s opponents, Navy, is rather more one-sided.

Navy and Notre Dame played 93 games without interruption from 1927 to 2019 with ND enjoying a 43-game win streak.

The record only snapped by Navy’s win in 2007.

ND also hold an 82-13-1 record over Navy to date.

The Annapolis, Marylanders have a fight on their hands then to overcome the Irishmen back in the Oul Sod.

In truth though today’s game will be a celebration of the ties between Ireland and America.

Aers and Stripes

Cheerleading: Bandanaman and the Bandanettes In Denver

And a reminder of Aer Lingus’s connection with the States (and Canada).

With 16 direct routes with the latest addition to the roster Denver, the Mile High City, and home to the Broncos.

Now Maryland is clearly easier to reach than Indiana, through Washington DC.

We found an 11hr 23mins round trip through Orlando with Aer Lingus to South Bend from €945 round trip.

So as we go all gridiron today and say Aviva AmAerican Football just something to throw forward.

So that you can experience a truly authentic American experience, college football.