The first American football game in Ireland took place in 1942. Two teams of U.S.servicemen played before 8,000 spectators at Ravenhill in Belfast. This game was staged to raise money for the Red Cross. In 1946, a similar game, involving US servicemen on the way home from the Second World war, was played in Croke Park, Dublin. This is believed to be the first time a “foreign” sport was played at the GAA’s historic venue.