Parnell Park to host high school American Football

Parnell Park, Dublin will host two American Football games featuring top high school teams from the United States as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012.

The announcement comes just a week after Páirc Tailteann, Navan was also confirmed as a GIFT venue.

Parnell Park will host the meeting of Hamilton High School from Chandler, Arizona and Notre Dame High School from Sherman Oaks, California, at 7.30pm on Friday, August 31. Two more traveling teams, who will open the two-game festival of American football at Parnell Park at 4pm, will be announced soon.

Former Dublin footballer Brian Mullins, now the Director of Sport at University College Dublin, will serve as Honorary Chairman for the games at Parnell Park. All 12 participating GIFT teams will hold training sessions that will be open to the public and media at UCD on Thursday, August 30, the day before they kick off their new season in Ireland.

“Through my role at UCD and having played football and hurling at Parnell Park over the years, I am really excited and enthusiastic about this event,” said Mullins, who holds four All-Ireland medals. “I want to congratulate everyone associated with these games for their hard work in making this happen.

“I encourage all Irish sports fans to come along and sample a different code of football at a traditional Gaelic sports venue and enjoy what will be a great evening of entertainment. It is an honor to be asked to serve as a GIFT Honorary Chairman, and as Director of Sport at UCD, I am eager to welcome the American football teams to our campus for their training.”

Dublin Chief Executive John Costello said: “The Dublin GAA Board are delighted to host these games in Parnell Park. We can guarantee that those who travel to Ireland to either play or attend this event will have a memorable experience.

“Dublin is a great sporting city and it is also a unique opportunity for our residents to experience American Football in Parnell Park.”

The ‘double-header’ in Dublin is one of three American football showcases that day featuring a total of 12 teams from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin being staged at Parnell Park, Páirc Tailteann in Navan, and at a third venue still to be announced. The games will be played on the eve of the Emerald Isle Classic at the AVIVA Stadium between Notre Dame and Navy.