Trinity Hosts Global Ireland Football Tournament Pep Rally

Sep 04, 2012

Over 2,000 people participating in a colourful Pep Rally for the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) gathered in Front Square on August 30th last.  Whilst not directly connected with the 2012 Emerald Isle Classic (Notre Dame v Navy Football) in the Aviva Stadium, the GIFT tournament was organised to bring 12 Championship high school and college American football teams to Ireland to take part in a series of American football matches on August 31st.

The crowd, consisting of the college football teams, marching bands, cheerleaders, their supporters and families, was welcomed to Trinity College Dublin by the Senior Lecturer, Dr Patrick Geoghegan.

During speeches by the Canadian Ambassador, the CEO of Tourism Ireland, the Public Affairs Officer from the US Embassy and GIFT’s President and Honorary Chairman, the crowd was entertained by marching bands from Hamilton High School, Loyola High School, and Notre Dame High School. 

In addition to two teams using College facilitates to train in advance of their games, Trinity’s Global Relations Office hosted lunches for Kent High School and Villanova High School.