The north County Dublin town of Balbriggan is to take part in the NFL Draft, one of the world’s most prestigious sports events, this Saturday, April 25.
The Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS), located in Balbriggan, will play host to a player draft for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, ensuring the Dublin town is seen around the world.
The NFL Draft is a three-day event held every April where all 32 NFL teams select new players from the college football ranks.
The Packers want to bring a distinctly Irish theme to one of American football’s biggest stages, highlighting the passion of their fans in Ireland and celebrating the country’s rich musical heritage.
Acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James will take part in the festivities, alongside young musicians from the Institute, playing the harp.
The Irish Institute of Music and Song is a non-profit organisation and premier music campus, featuring the 400-seat Lark Concert Hall and a dynamic academy dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Irish performers.
James, a patron of the Institute, is one of Ireland’s most recognised musical talents, with more than two billion Spotify streams. He has toured globally with artists including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.
The Dublin-based Draft moment is part of the Packers’ broader commitment to growing the game internationally through the NFL’s Global Markets Programme.
The Packers’ Irish connections will also be represented on-site at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where their nominee for International Fan of the Year, Stephen O’Brien, will announce an additional day three pick.
A native of Arklow, Co Wicklow, O’Brien founded the UK and Ireland Packers fan club and has become a leading voice in the team’s international fan community.
In recognition of his impact, the Packers commissioned a large-scale mural in O’Brien’s hometown.
Steve checking in from a meet and greet with @nflcommish Roger Goodell and the other International Fans of the Year in Pittsburgh! #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/yzWJ0deiEm
— UK and Irish Packers (@ukpackers) April 22, 2026
The Packers are the league’s most successful franchise, with 13 championships, including four Super Bowls.
The NFL Draft is televised live across ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network in the US, and Sky Sports and DAZN internationally.
The 2025 event was the second most-watched draft in history, averaging 7.5 million viewers across the three-day event.
Balbriggan is currently the site of a €60 million economic, infrastructural, and social plan, ‘Our Balbriggan’ led by Fingal County Council, launched - following a community engagement in which 25% of the town’s population took part - seven years ago.
According to Michael T Dawson, CEO of the Irish Institute of Music Song educational campus, hosting the event is an ‘incredible’ boost for Balbriggan.
“This is a wonderful honour for the Irish Institute of Music Song, The Lark Concert Hall, and the town of Balbriggan,” he said.
“The IIMS Harp Ensemble, a group for young harpers aged 9-18, directed by Dr. Helen Lawlor and Aoibheann Galvin, which often collaborates with international artists, proved the key factor in capturing the NFL Draft.
“Its appeal was instrumental in attracting the NFL Draft to Balbriggan.”
Michael T Dawson, CEO of the Irish Institute of Music Song educational campus. (Fintan Clarke)
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