The yanks are in Dublin this weekend and they are here in force, ahead of today's American football game - the Aer Lingus College Football Classic - between Notre Dame and Navy, at the Aviva Stadium.
College Green and Dame Street have been pedestrianised until 10pm tonight, while the CEO of Aer Lingus has said that it is the largest movement of US citizens internationally for a sporting event.
College football games are famous for their fanfare and party atmosphere which runs throughout the entire day, and, as you can see from some of the clips below taken earlier today, they have brought their traditions to Dublin.
Notre Dame And Navy Fans Take Over Dublin City Centre
Overflow crowd on (Notre) Dame Street as the marching band performs in Dublin City Centre #NDFootball #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/iDixmdL879
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) August 26, 2023
Wild Rover on Notre Dame Street. Electric 🔥@cfbireland pic.twitter.com/PoyKQGKd0j
— Pro Football Ireland (@NFLIreland) August 26, 2023
However, there are many who are less than pleased at the scenes in Dublin today and the lengths that city officials are going to to accommodate the US tourists.
One argument being levelled against the event is that nothing of this magnitude is sorted for All-Ireland final weekend, where people rightfully feel that a huge opportunity is being missed to make more of a festival-like occasion for the biggest days on the Irish sporting calendar.
It also brings into question why there is not more effort to permanently pedestrianise that part of the City centre, and bring it more in line with other large European cities.
There is certainly no harm in the Americans coming over and enjoying themselves to the fullest, but it is fair to question why this effort cannot be made for the country's own citizens.
More effort has been made to decorate Dublin for American Football than there was was for an Irish women's team in the World Cup. Yeah that's embarrassing https://t.co/0R7c03IHtr
— Emma-just about done She/Her 🇮🇪✊🇵🇸🇺🇦 (@branfan91) August 25, 2023
College American Football Game:
✅ Main Dublin thoroughfare closed & renamed Notre Dame Street for Tailgating & Entertainment
✅ Exhibition games and entertainment @ RDS
✅ Range of business, sporting and academic summits to coincideAll Ireland Finals:
❌ Nothing
— Declan Lee (@DeclanLeePR) August 25, 2023
SEE ALSO: A Look Back At One Of The Most Infamous Days In Ireland's World Cup History
