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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > 20,000 Notre Dame fans set for Dublin in September 2012 ---Incredible reaction from Fighting Irish fans to Navy game in Ireland

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

20,000 Notre Dame fans set for Dublin in September 2012 ---Incredible reaction from Fighting Irish fans to Navy game in Ireland

Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 06:29 AM

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South Bend: Notre Dame are expecting an incredible 20,000 Fighting Irish fans to come to Dublin in September next year Notre Dame officials say.

It will be the largest ever 'invasion' by US sports fans of Ireland.

The last time Notre Dame played in Ireland in 1995 only 4,000 or so fans traveled.

The Fighting Irish will play Navy on September 1st at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, in their first game of the 2012 season.

It is billed as the "Emerald Isle Classic."

The buzz around South Bend about the game has already begun.

Dolly Duffy, Executive Director of the Notre Dame alumni confirmed to me that the numbers are expected to break all expectations.

"There has been an incredible reaction to the Dublin game," she told me."We have been overwhelmed by the interest in traveling to Ireland."

Micheal Seamon, Associate Vice President also confirmed the number and stated that the weekend in Dublin is shaping up to be a spectacular occasion.

Some Notre Dame officials believe the final total could be 25,000, an amazing number.

On Saturday $400,000 was pledged from Irish supporters to bring the Fighting Irish marching band to Dublin as part of the celebration.

A massive concert and pep rally will take place at the O2 arena in the Dublin docklands the night before the game.

Top Irish acts have already been signed up.

There will also be a special Notre Dame mass which is expected to pack Dublin's main cathedral to the rafters

The day of the game will be spectacular with the trendy Temple bar area turned into a massive Notre Dame tailgate party.

The marching band will march through Dublin's Grafton Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, and will surely be a sight to behold.

The game is being played the same weekend as the All Ireland hurling final, Ireland's second biggest sporting weekend meaning that Dublin will be chock a block with both Irish and hurling fans.

Notre Dame's Irish campus at O'Connell House in Merrion Square will also feature prominently with a major conference on America and the 1916 Rising set for the week of the game.

All in all it is easy to get excited by the game which Notre Dame is billing as 'The Fighting Irish are coming home."

It will be an incredible bonanza for Ireland in terms of tourism in particular.

I predict there will not be a hotel room to be had from Cork to Dublin.

Roll on September 2012!

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antoman | Oct 23, 2011, 04:10 PM EDT

The Yanks are coming en masse. We'll have to lock up our mothers lads. :)

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Mairin67 | Oct 23, 2011, 03:46 PM EDT

Oh dear, what a nightmare. "The Fighting Irish are coming home".....how embarrassing. I'm sure the Irish (meaning the real people that live there - remember them?) could care less especially if the all Ireland Hurling will be on that weekend. I agree, it's about the $$. I just hope the American Notre Dame fans don't act the ugly while there and keep the touting of "we're the Irish" at a minimum.....cuz you're not!

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RedBranch | Oct 23, 2011, 02:43 PM EDT

Why isn't this match being held in Belfast?

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Bailey2000 | Oct 23, 2011, 02:29 PM EDT

This is great news but I think talk of greedy hoteliers etc etc is a little misplaced. There are approximately 19,000 Hotel rooms in Dublin and probably a further 10,000 B&Bs Hostels etc. There will be plenty of competition and at present good hotels in dublin can be as little as €50.00 which I suspect compares well with most similarly sized cities in the US. Ireland badly needs this business and yes I guess our cab drivers aren't any more saintly than those everywhere else in the world but I personally have seen no sign of dishonesty in cabs in Dublin over the past ten years.

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Towngate | Oct 23, 2011, 01:37 PM EDT

The Teams are welcome so long as they arrive with their silly shoulder-pads full of dollars and leave with them empty!

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Ernesider | Oct 23, 2011, 01:14 PM EDT

Wonderful news. I'll be there supporting the United States Naval Academy. It has far more Irish connections down through it's history. Sadly most of the businesses do operate in a predatory manner but please shout stop. Negotiate before meals, deals etc. And be prepared to walk away. Plan well ahead it can be done. Go Navy!

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antoman | Oct 23, 2011, 01:02 PM EDT

Don't blow it with greed he says. Coming from an American you'll excuse me and permit me to guffaw loudly. Done. Good old capitalism and a lecture on its characteristics. Namely greed. From an American. On a Sunday. About 6pm my time. On a wet blustery day. I'm going for a few pints. I'll be back before the cheer leaders get here. Slainte.

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 23, 2011, 12:24 PM EDT

Not at all anto, I am in Ireland often enough to witness the rip off culture that permeates the hospitality sector there. Was staying in a hotel in Ireland for 2 weeks recently and socialized in the closest town of Limerick. Myself and a colleague took a cab each evening and another on the return journey. We noticed that when we called a cab no meter was used, but on the return journey from the cab stand in the city, the meter was turned on. During the 2 weeks, for precisely the same journey, at the same times, we were charge a total of 5 different fares varying from EUR 8 to EUR 14. We probably dressed like out of towners and the drivers decided what Irish people do best and 'chance their arm' for an extra few EUR. I read recently a post by an Irish born person on this site who runs a business here in the states. An employee visiting Dublin presented a receipt for a cab ride from a hotel in Dublin city center to the airport for EUR 86. Only for the businesss owner had lived in Ireland, he would never have noticed this 'rip off'. Irish people have to get over their 'cute hoor' culture because visitors do recognize when they are being ripped off and don't return. You need every tourist dollar, or pound, or shekel etc. at the moment. Don't blow it with greed.

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antoman | Oct 23, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT

@gobdawpawpaddy- Got ya rattled don't I. That pleases me. Welcome to IRISH central.

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Barbaracvm | Oct 23, 2011, 11:19 AM EDT

WHY??? Is the US football team playing in a foreign country?

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 23, 2011, 10:53 AM EDT

Acemaker, I have encountered our military quite often as they use Shannon airport and hotels in that area. They seem to be well treated. Witnessed one drunk shouting nonsense in a hotel one evening but I don't think the 6ft 3in marine was intimidated in the slightest.

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 23, 2011, 10:47 AM EDT

If you are stuck behind security in Dublin airport waiting for a connection you have little choice where to purchase breakfast. Perhaps the reason people don't dine in 'fancy places' in Ireland is they are in so many cases being ripped off. I was in Dublin last week and had lunch at a nice place (not spectacular), but a side of fries was an additional EUR 5 ($ 6.95), the same for a baked potato and if I remember correctly, a portion of sauted mushrooms. I ordered a pint glass of 7UP EUR 5.50 ($7.65). My colleague requested 2 refills(these aren't complimentary in Ireland) during lunch and nearly collapsed when he realized the total cost for 7UP. I needed a travel size toothpaste which I purchased at a pharmacy for EUR 1.69 ($2.35). I get the same size and brand for 99c in the states. EUR USD closed in NY on friday at 1.39.

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acemaker | Oct 23, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT

not one word mentioned about our Midshipmen. Surely the Brigade would be an awesome sight in the parade. But I hear reports our military is not treated well over there.

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Yardleypa | Oct 23, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT

I hope they give them value for there money maybe they will come back and make it a yearly event.

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antoman | Oct 23, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT

Breakfast (builders) roll is 5 euro's or less.

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