A True G.I.F.T. — Ireland!
In this 30th year of Global Football, the 6th version of the Global Ireland Football Tournament – G.I.F.T., turned out to be a grand celebration of sports and cross-cultural education. While the primary high school teams came from America, the UK, and Ireland, on the fields of play there were also players hailing from across Europe and Africa as well. This truly has become a Global showcase of student-athletes and supporters joining the Aer Lingus College Football Classic message of “More Than a Game”.
In addition to the focal sport of American football, featured in the Dublin Friday Night Lights doubleheader at Energia Park, we were able to showcase both high school and university Rugby as well as girls Field Hockey. Those sports added greatly to the partnership between Ireland and America. That sharing message was clear at the Friday Coin Toss to kickoff the HUN School vs NFL Academy UK game at Energia Park. That ceremonial tradition was performed by the new US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, who hails from Hun’s state of New Jersey. Assisting him was Andy O’Callaghan, a Dubliner whose historic St James Gate FC is the beneficiary of games ticket sales, to support the youth of that club. The evening match featured the Kiski School near Pittsburgh vs the Irish Jr. Wolfhounds national team. In halftime of both matches, Tadgh Leader and Leader Kicking hosted their semifinals and finals of their traveling kicking competition.
The state of Iowa was grandly represented across Ireland throughout the week’s activities, led by Iowa State Cyclone football winning their game in the Aviva Stadium in front of 47,000 fans. As high school football teams from that state are not permitted to travel overseas to compete and experience cultures, boys and girls Rugby teams gladly jumped at the opportunity and joined Iowa State rugby for an evening of competition vs Irish squads at Terenure College, led by Ian Moore. The Hun School, whose highly respected football team eagerly traveled to Dublin to play the NFL Academy UK, proudly brought along their Field Hockey girls squad to train and compete on the high quality wet turf made available by UCD. Coach Tracey Arndt was thrilled to have such top level facilities for her girls, and their Thursday evening ‘friendly match’ vs a nearby high school Irish squad was a dream come true, a highly competitive one.
G.I.F.T. was created in 2012 when a dozen teams journeyed from America and England to join Notre Dame and Navy in Dublin, with 36 total football squads having now joined the historic journeys, with 46 sports teams in total from 14 states and four nations. Each year players and coaches have been recognized at the Wednesday evening GIFT Pep Rallies in picturesque Merrion Square. The first class production, featuring cheerleaders, music, video and comments by team leaders allowed the fans to welcome the athletes. On arrival day in Dublin each of our participants was welcomed to Ireland by the Gaelic Sports Experience, initiating each team member into the legendary, largest sports of Ireland. managed by the Gaelic Athletic Association. It was with raucous energy that the young men and ladies tried their hands at hurling and ‘football’, Gaelic style, then learned of the history of these native, now global sports. By staying on the University College Dublin campus throughout their 5-day stay, each student gained a firsthand appreciation for the quality of education provided in Ireland. In fact, numerous GIFT alumni have returned to UCD for undergraduate or graduate school. The top-class facilities served as ideal venues for the teams’ training, meeting, dining and sleep. Thursday’s educational tours to sites like Malahide Castle, the EPIC museum, Kilmainham Goal(Jail) and St Patrick’s Church brought to life what our students had only read about previous to this experience, providing each with broad Experiential learning-Ireland style. Each GIFT traveler served as an Ambassador in Ireland, and returned home a wiser Global Citizen.
Mix of G.I.F.T. 2025 Photos
