The hour has arrived and Ireland is ready, so steel yourself Dublin for NFL touchdown with confirmation of a regular season game this autumn at Croke Park.
The big touchdown has been 30 years in the planning and will be a homecoming of sorts for the Rooney family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers who are rooted in Ireland.
Long-term American Football fans speak wistfully about the Pride of Pennsylvania, the Steelers’ visit to Dublin back in 1997 for a pre-season game against the Chicago Bears.
But there will be more than a passing connection too in the Minnesota Vikings through head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The Viking Irish
Despite the moniker Minnesota boasts a large Irish community.
Dating back to three demob soldiers in 1838, who will no doubt see the historic game as an opportunity to ‘come home.’
Minnesotans will, of course, be able to avail of direct routes from Minneapolis-Saint Paul with Aer Lingus.
One of 18 transatlantic routes it operates, and with pre-clearance.
Back in the late 19th century the flow of peoples was very much going westwards.
With Archbishop John Ireland a pied piper for Irish from the eastern seaboard and further afield.
The good cleric even attempted to settle his compatriots from the Old Sod.
In an area that reflected their roots, Connemara Patch around Graceville in 1880.
The immigrants who spoke only the Irish language struggled in the new colony.
Because of the cold but they were assimilated into greater Minnesota.
Minnesota mini-Ireland
Irish life and culture is rightly celebrated to this very day.
Every August the Irish Fair of Minnesota sees Irish-Americans come out in force for the craic.
Where you can dance, drink (this is Dyland and Prince’s state), sing and even learn how to play the bodhran (see picture). And all for free.
Being Irish too they take great pride in their St Paddy’s Day festivities in March in Saint Paul which date back as far as 1851.
When 300 waved the flag, made and listened to speeches.
And, of course, the Irish need little encouragement there, and fired a salute.
More surprising perhaps is the part played in early parades by The Irish Catholic Temperance Society.
With the 1956 iteration seeing the Benevolent Society of Erin host a dinner complete with toasts of cold water.
Croker is the real thing
Thankfully these days since the revival of the parades in 1967, they have replaced the uisce (water) with uisce beatha (water of life/whiskey).
And now 100,000 revellers take to the streets with the Irish Music and Dance Association hosting dancing and live music.
All of which will be on display in Dublin’s Croke Park and throughout the city on Sunday, September 28.
Win lose or draw.
So steel yourself Dublin for NFL touchdown whether it’s Pittsburgh steel or the sharpness of a Minnesota Viking.
And for visitors from these shores to Minnesota-Saint Paul will shell out only €548.25 for flights with Ireland’s national airline carrier.
