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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

Swing into America’s battleground states

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And for the day that’s in it let’s swing into America’s battleground states.

As a promotional tool the US election has been a Godsend for tourist boards pushing their states to an international market.

With Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona all hogging the limelight.

Penn pals

It’s appropriate that Penn is considered the biggest prize with Philadelphia the first capital of the USA.

And doesn’t its cracked bell just symbolise the country?

As there may be dividing lines but like the country the whole structure holds together.

Penn, of course, is a mix of blue-collar cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

And rust belt towns, Amish country and rural communities.

For God and country

What it says about neighbouring North Carolina that one of its biggest attractions is its Billy Graham Library and another the NASCAR Hall of Fame…

Georgia is for ever synonymous with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement from Atlanta.

While Democrats are rightly-proud of Plains’ most famous peanut farmer, Democrat President Jimmy Carter.

Although we’re not calling which way the Peach State will go.

North by Mid-West

Any visitor to Michigan will binge on Motown who had plenty to say between tunes on politics.

Although the counter balance to their liberal ways would be union-basher Henry Ford whose story you can follow at his centre.

Wisconsin and its main city Milwaukee bills itself as America’s brewing state although Colorado might challenge that.

Away from the bars and the breweries visitors to the Badger State (no us neither) might like to check out the Harley-Davidson Museum.

Dam busters

Nevada and Arizona are, of course, linked by the wonder of America that is the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

And Donald Trump as in everything in America is in your wing mirror here.

As your helicopter leaves Las Vegas and Trump Tower glistens like a beacon behind you.

Enjoy the election as we will be doing, hot dogs, Coors and popcorn in hand following it on our island in the North Atlantic.

And particularly when they swing into America’s battleground states.

America, Countries

Gettysburg… you know the address

19th November 202319th November 2023 funtime65

And yes, Gettysburg… you know the address. Though probably most don’t know where it is.

The site of Abraham Lincoln’s finest hour in Pennsylvania in fact only lasted two minutes.

But it resounds 160 years on today, November 19, and will do so for 1,600 to come.

In the most deprecating manner the Union’s Commander-in-Chief opined on this day in 1863: ‘The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.’

And peers noted that the Union’s leader was worried that his tribute would be overshadowed by Edward Everett’s two-hour speech.

Let battle begin

The good news for us is that the National Park Service, as they do across America, ‘have come to dedicate a portion of that field’ for us to pay our respects.

Gettysburg, as General George E Meade and General Robert E. Lee knew only too well, was a pivotal crossroads (aren’t they all?)

On the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania which made the battle, between July 1-3, Lee’s last excursion into the North.

Now where Meade and Lee had maps and compasses, these days we have GPS.

And Gettysburg lies an hour and a half north of Washington DC, two hours and ten minutes west of Philadelphia and an hour and ten to Baltimore.

Now while you can, and should, visit the battlefield and it will take three to five hours.

A day in history

Today it is all about Lincoln’s address.

And we are encouraged to kick off our trip through history at the home of attorney David Wills.

Where Abe stayed and perfected his speech the night before.

An annual parade of Civil War living history groups is held with the Gettysburg Address anniversary.

While there will be a commemoration day illumination which will feature a luminary candle on each of the 3,512 Civil War soldiers’ graves.

Now if you can’t get to Gettysburg today the National Parks Service give us a virtual tour, complete with the full speech.

Gettysburg… you know the address. Now look up the postal address on your next trip to the east coast.

Calling culture vultures

Now the Cultural Experience will give you a full day at Gettysburg in their 14-day American Civil War: Eastern Theater Tour.

And throw in Manassas (we were there), Fredericksburg and Appomattox among the highlights.

You’ll get return flights from London and will stay in 3 and 4 star hotels. See site for prices and conditions.