NFL to touchdown in Dublin 2025
The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and The Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, today announced that Ireland is to host a regular season NFL fixture for the first time.
Building on the successful past of hosting American football fixtures in Ireland, the State will host a regular season NFL fixture in 2025. It is hoped that this fixture is a successful and entertaining event that can be built on and expanded in the future.
Speaking today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“This is a major vote of confidence in Ireland’s ability to host world class events and in Dublin’s reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world. Hosting a regular season NFL game in 2025 will have huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy, and our sports ecosystem. It will also build upon the deep cultural, family and economic ties between Ireland and the United States. I look forward to welcoming thousands of American football fans from the US, Europe and further afield to our shores for this historic game, and also to the ongoing collaboration with the NFL, Sport Ireland and American Football Ireland to grow American football participation in Ireland, both the tackle and flag format of the game, as part of the government’s commitment to increasing the number of people regularly participating in sport and physical activity.”
Minister McConalogue added;
“Ireland has already established itself as a key overseas home for American college football with the established success of the annual College Classic every August. Bringing the NFL to Dublin is a logical and natural next step and builds on the growing engagement among Irish sports fans with all forms of American football. It also builds on the deep relationships between Ireland and the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Rooney family, and I hope that the Rooneys and the Steelers Nation will feel like they’re coming home when they arrive in Ireland.”
ENDS
Press and Information Office
An Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
NFL le teacht go Baile Átha Cliath in 2025
Reáchtálfar cluiche gnáthséasúir NFL i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, Baile Átha Cliath in 2025.
Táthar ag súil gurb é seo an chéad leagan de chomhpháirtíocht fhada rathúil leis an NFL.
D’fhógair an tAire Ealaíon, Meán, Cumarsáide, Cultúir agus Spóirt, Patrick O’Donovan TD, agus an tAire Stáit le freagracht as Spórt agus Beartas Poist, Charlie McConalogue TD, inniu go bhfuil Éire chun cluiche gnáthséasúir NFL a óstáil den chéad uair.
Agus é ag cur leis an rath a bhí ar na cluichí peile Meiriceánaí a óstáladh roimhe seo, déanfaidh an Stát cluiche gnáthséasúir NFL a óstáil in 2025. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an cluiche seo ina imeacht rathúil sultmhar ar féidir é a fhorbairt agus a leathnú amach anseo.
Agus é ag labhairt inniu, dúirt an tAire O’Donovan:
“Is vóta muiníne suntasach é seo i gcumas na hÉireann maidir le himeachtaí den chéad scoth a óstáil agus i gcáil Bhaile Átha Cliath mar cheann de na cathracha is fáiltiúla ar domhan. Beidh buntáistí móra i gceist le cluiche gnáthséasúir NFL a óstáil do thurasóireacht na hÉireann, don gheilleagar i gcoitinne, agus dár gcóras spóirt. Ina theannta sin, cuirfidh sé leis na ceangail dhoimhne chultúir, teaghlaigh agus eacnamaíoch idir Éirinn agus na Stáit Aontaithe. Tá mé ag súil go mór le fáilte go hÉirinn a chur roimh na mílte leantóir peile Meiriceánaí ó SAM, an Eoraip agus níos faide i gcéin don gcluiche stairiúil seo, agus leis an gcomhar leanúnach leis an NFL, Spórt Éireann agus American Football Ireland chun rannpháirtíocht sa bpeil Mheiriceánach a fhás anseo in Éirinn, leaganacha ‘bratach’ agus ‘taicil’ an chluiche araon, mar pháirt de thiomantas an rialtais i leith borradh a chur faoi líon na ndaoine a ghlacann páirt rialta sa spórt agus sa ngníomhaíocht fhisiciúil.”
Dúirt an tAire McConalogue freisin:
“Tá cáil faighte ag Éirinn cheana féin mar bhaile tábhachtach thar lear do pheil choláiste Mheiriceánach le rath seanbhunaithe an College Classic bliantúil gach Lúnasa. Is céim loighciúil nádúrtha eile é an NFL a thabhairt go Baile Átha Cliath agus cuireann sé leis an rannpháirtíocht i measc leantóirí spóirt Éireannacha i ngach foirm den pheil Mheiriceánach. Cuireann sé fosta leis na caidrimh dhoimhne idir Éirinn agus na Pittsburgh Steelers agus teaghlach Rooney, agus tá súil agam go mbraithfidh muintir Rooney agus an Steelers Nation go bhfuil siad ag teacht abhaile nuair a thagann siad go hÉirinn.”