Donnybrook Stadium will play host to a triple-header of high school American Football games, on Friday, September 2, with all proceeds from the day’s events being donated to Special Olympics Ireland.
The three games will mark the opening of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, taking place at the Aviva Stadium the following day, Saturday, September 3.
Ireland and Leinster rugby star, Jamie Heaslip, and Dublin’s three-time All-Ireland Gaelic football winner Paul Flynn, will serve as Honorary Chairmen for the event and Ambassadors for ‘Game-Week 2016’, where they will attend a number of events in the lead-up to all the weekend action, including the parade, pep rally and the Boston College CEO Lunch at the Mansion House. The duo will also perform the pre-match coin toss and present awards at a dinner attended by all six high school teams.
The games at the 6,000-capacity venue will kick off at 11am, 2pm and 5pm. Admission to the stadium is free of charge for children under 16, while adults may make a voluntary donation of €10 for their entry, with all proceeds being donated to Special Olympics Ireland.
American Football Showcase games:
o 11am Westminster School (Atlanta, Georgia) vs. Community School Naples (Naples, Florida)
o 2pm Blessed Trinity (Atlanta, Georgia) vs. St. Peters Prep (Jersey City, New Jersey)
o 5pm Marist School (Atlanta, Georgia) vs. Belen Jesuit (Miami, Florida)
Donnybrook Stadium is no stranger to American football, having hosted two matches in 2012. United States Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney performed the coin toss before Loyola Academy (Illinois) faced Jesuit Prep Dallas (Texas) and two college teams, John Carroll University (Ohio) and St Norbert College (Wisconsin), did battle.
Under the banner, ‘Much More than a Game’, the six high schools’ players, coaches, bands and cheerleaders will take part in a parade through the streets of Dublin that ends with a pep rally at Trinity College Dublin on Thursday, September 1. More than 3,000 visitors associated with the high school games are expected to travel to Dublin.