UL Vikings defeated Trinity College Dublin 55-8 in the opening game of the 2012 IAFL season. Report to follow soon.
Month: February 2012
Parnell Park welcomes GIFT 2012
Parnell Park in Dublin welcomes top U.S. high school American football teams from Arizona and California for Global Ireland Football Tournament
Former All-Ireland Gaelic football star Brian Mullins to serve as GIFT Honorary Chairman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Thursday, February 23, 2012 – GRANBURY, TX – The Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012 has confirmed that GAA venue Parnell Park will host two American football games featuring top high school teams from the United States playing in Ireland this summer.
Hot on the heels of announcing Pairc Tailteann as a GIFT 2012 venue, organizer Global Football has secured the 11,500-capacity GAA stadium in Donnycarney on Dublin’s northside for games on Friday, August 31.
Hamilton High School from Chandler, Arizona, which reached the Division 1 State Championship Game for the fourth year in a row in 2011, will face Notre Dame High School from Sherman Oaks, California, at 7.30pm. Two more traveling teams, who will open the two-game festival of American football at Parnell Park at 4pm, will be announced soon at www.GIFT2012.com.
Brian Mullins, the noted Gaelic Footballer who played with St Vincent’s and the Dublin Senior Team and is 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 GAA 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.
“From the start of planning this classic American football event for Ireland I have worked hard to have these showcase games played in various historical stadiums across the Dublin area, so fans of different areas of the city could come and enjoy the competition,” said Global Football President Patrick Steenberge.
“Parnell Park, the longtime home of the Dublin GAA, is ideally situated on the northside of Dublin. It allows easy access for all the sports fans in that part of the city, as well as being a very short distance from the city center for the American fans there for the Navy vs. Notre Dame game the next day. Our teams will be able to play on hallowed ground where so many Irish greats of Gaelic Football and Hurling have competed.”
Tickets for all GIFT 2012 events, which each offer six hours worth of top-quality American football action, will go on sale on March 1 at the three host venues priced 15 Euros for adults and 10 Euros for students, with free admission for children aged 12 and under.
“The Irish American Football Association are delighted with the professionalism of Global Football and Mr. Steenberge,” said IAFA President Greg Loughran, whose organization governs the sport in Ireland.
“The GIFT 2012 event will give the visiting players and coaches a taste of Ireland and it’s sporting heritage that is not normally possible to experience. The fans of American Football and even the casual spectators who attend these games will be very impressed with the intensity and excitement of the little piece of history that they have witnessed.”
The teams:
Notre Dame High School football has been one of the most consistently successful programs in the state of California since 1993, and during that time has won 14 League Championships, four CIF Championships and has been CIF runner-up three times.
Hamilton High School is one of the top football programs in Arizona and won three consecutive state titles from 2008 to 2010 and also reached the state championship game in 2011. The Huskies also won in 2006 and claimed the Fiesta Region Championship in 11 of the past 12 years and 10 straight since 2002.
Media may download action photos of Notre Dame High School for media use only and the new GIFT 2012 event logo, here.
Photo captions:
0608 – Notre Dame catch
4572 – Notre Dame rush through the defense
4755 – Notre Dame running back
4853 – Notre Dame blocks a field goal attempt
4976 – Notre Dame defense on top
5259 & 5435 – Notre Dame prepares to pass
5688 – Notre Dame field goal
9551 – Notre Dame high school enters the field
0743 – Making progress on the ground
12 – Cheers to our fans
Please credit Notre Dame High School with photo use.
About Parnell Park: A Gaelic Athletic Association venue in Donnycarney in the northside suburbs of Dublin, the venue has a capacity of 11,500 and is nicknamed The Nell. The ground hosts the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Railway Cup Dublin Cup Championships and is used by Dublin’s inter-county teams and as a training ground for major games being played at Croke Park.
About University College Dublin (UCD): One of Europe’s leading research-intensive universities where undergraduate education, postgraduate masters and PhD training, research, innovation and community engagement form a dynamic continuum of activity.
The university was established in 1854 by John Henry Newman whose classic work ‘The Idea of a University’ is one of the most enduring texts on the value of higher education and a source of inspiration for UCD’s current educational philosophy.
Today UCD is Ireland’s largest university with almost 25,000 students. It is the most popular destination for Irish school-leavers and actively promotes university life as a journey of academic and personal discovery through its highly innovative and flexible UCD Horizons undergraduate curriculum.
The University¹s Elite Athlete Academy and Sports Scholarship Program has established UCD as the preferred choice for athletes who wish to compete and succeed at the highest sporting levels while simultaneously attaining a degree at UCD. The programme supports high calibre athletes striving for sporting and academic success to allow them to reach their maximum potential inside and outside the classroom.
About Global Football: Under the guidance of President Patrick Steenberge, a former Notre Dame quarterback and high school All-American at Erie Cathedral Prep, Global Football has produced football games in 19 nations during the past 16 years. Working partners include USA Football, NFL, Super Bowl Host Committees, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Notre Dame, Penn State, Pop Warner, Tanzania Sports Council and dozens of NCAA Division III colleges as well as National Football Federations worldwide. www.globalfootball.com
About the Irish American Football Association (IAFA): The National Governing Body for American Football in Ireland is recognised by the Irish Sports Council and the Federation of Irish Sports. It is affiliated to the European Federation of American Football (EFAF) and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The Irish American Football League (IAFL) plays adult, full contact American football U.S. college football rules and has also established an 8v8 league to allow new teams to progress.
About Anthony Travel: The leader in university and sports travel management, playing a critical role in the success of the Emerald Isle Classic and Global Ireland Football Tournament. Providing over 10,000 guests with comprehensive travel solutions to Ireland, Anthony Travel is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience.
For information about the Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012 please visit www.GIFT2012.com or email Patrick@GlobalFootball.com. All team and fan travel for GIFT is being expertly handled by Anthony Travel, which also manages all team and fan travel for the Notre Dame and Navy. Contact Sheldon Baxter for details, or visit www.anthonytravel.com/globalfootball/gift.
IAFOA Newsflash 23 February
News, Rules questions & Game Information
Newsflash 23 Feb (updated on 24 Feb with suspension carried over from 2011 season)
Additionally – several presentations from the IAFOA Level 1 & 2 Clinics on the main rule changes for 2012.
L1 New Rules – Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Also – a link to a very good video on youtube to explain the new Blocking Below the Waist Rule
2012 IAFL Season Starting
The 2012 IAFL kicks of on Sunday 26th February for what promises to be one of the most exciting seasons of football ever to be played in this country. The league has expanded to 11 teams and adopted a new two division format. There is also a new play-off structure whereby the two division winners will get a bye into the Shamrock Bowl semis and the 3rd placed team will travel to the 2nd placed team in each division in the wildcard round.
IAFL North:
The new IAFL North division will contain the 3 teams who played in last years IAFL North namely Carrickfergus Knights, Craigavon Cowboys and Belfast Trojans. Two teams from the western suburbs of Dublin – West Dublin Rhinos and Dublin Dragons have been added to the division. The IAFL North is noted for its close rivalries and the addition of local rivals the Rhinos and Dragons should mean this division maintains this reputation. The Knights are the bookmakers favourites to win the division. However, the Cowboys, Trojans and Rhinos have improved over the past 12 months and should give the Knights a run for their money. The Rhinos in particular, have been aggressively recruiting over the past off-season. Indications are that the Dragons will be stronger than in 2011. They have expanded their squad, added some new coaches and have a core of veteran players returning. Overall this will be a tight division with teams regularly taking points off one another in close games.
IAFL South:
The new IAFL South is made up of the Munster teams, 3 teams from Dublin and newcomers Tullamore Phoenix. The main feature of this division is that it contains both of last seasons Shamrock Bowl finalists – the Dublin Rebels and University of Limerick Vikings. Both teams are expected to be as strong as ever and have a lot of experienced veterans. It’s difficult to predict which will come out on top in this division. UCD was the most improved team in 2011 and should win some games, however, they are short on experience in some areas. Fellow university team, Trinity College are coming off a jekyll and hyde style 2011 whereby they started strong and faded as the season progressed. In spite of having the least experienced squad in the IAFL they are expected to have more consistency this season. The Cork Admirals have changed their coaching lineup and increased the number of veteran players their squad in a bid to rebound from a poor 2012. A lot is expected from newcomers Tullamore Phoenix, who have been the most successful DV8s team since the inception of the programme. The Rebels and Vikings are the class of this division, however, the remaining four teams all see themselves as being in the running to make the play-offs.
Previews of upcoming games will be published on a weekly basis.
GIFT comes to Navan
Contact: Michael Preston
www.GlobalFootball.com Tel: (001)- 781-363-0305
Global Football Notes 2011-24 MP@MPrestonSports.com
Twitter @GlobalSportsGuy www.AmericanFootball.ie
Top U.S. high school American football teams from Arizona
and Philadelphia to play regular season-opener at
Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Ireland, on August 31
Trim welcomes Notre Dame Prep, Father Judge and fans to a ‘Feile Americana’ five-day festival as Greater Dublin embraces Global Ireland Football Tournament
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, February 17, 2012 – GRANBURY, TX – Two top high school American football teams from the United States will open their regular season at the famous Páirc Tailteann, home of Meath Gaelic Football and Hurling in Ireland, on Friday, August 31 as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) 2012.
The clash between the Notre Dame Preparatory High School Saints from Scottsdale, Arizona, and Father Judge High School Crusaders of Philadelphia will kick off at 7.30pm local time in Navan. Two more traveling teams, who will open the two-game festival of American football at the 20,000-capacity venue at 4pm, will be announced soon at www.GIFT2012.com.
“The great bond between our two nations is well documented,” said Meath GAA Cathaoirleach (President) Bernard Allen. “I trust our visitors will enjoy their historic visit to an equally historic county. Coiste na Mí (County Meath) is determined to make their stay an unforgettable one.
“Páirc Tailteann has hosted many great games since it opened in 1935. Australian youth teams played in the Navan venue, so the United States teams will be joining an elite group of great sports personnel who will display all that is good in sport. We hope the memories they will take with them from the Royal County will endure well into the future.”
The ‘double-header’ at the historic GAA stadium 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 three different venues in and around Dublin by Global Football. The games will be played on the eve of the Emerald Isle Classic being played at the AVIVA Stadium between Notre Dame and Navy.
Media may download action photos of Notre Dame Prep for media use only, here.
Tickets for all GIFT 2012 events, which each offer six hours worth of top-quality American football action, will go on sale on March 1 at the three host venues and through Ticketmaster, priced 15 Euros for adults and 10 Euros for students, with free admission for children aged 12 and under.
The Irish American Football Association (IAFA) endorses the GIFT 2012 event and one of their member teams, the Trim Bulldogs, County Meath’s first and only American football club, will provide support for the games at Páirc Tailteann. With more than 20,000 gridiron fans expected to travel to Ireland in the last week of August, the town of Trim will add to the celebrations by holding the ‘Feile Americana’. The 5-day festival will showcase the very best of music, arts and cuisine from both sides of the Atlantic from August 29 to September 2.
Bulldogs head coach Garland Drake said: “I am delighted to hear GIFT 2012 has confirmed their commitment to Meath, the Royal County, to play two competitive games in Páirc Tailteann. This will heighten how popular American football is becoming in Ireland. It is truly an honor for County Meath to have been chosen as a destination for Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012, which is so aptly named.”
Trim’s pubs and hotels will have live music each night of the festival, ranging from traditional Irish music to jazz, country and bluegrass. An American-style drive-in cinema will provide entertainment for the whole family on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event will be centrally located in the town’s Porchie Fields and will be showing up to three movies a day free of charge. A pedestrian viewing area will accommodate those who prefer sit out in the open air to enjoy the screenings.
Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon will provide locals and visitors alike with the chance to experience the very best in traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic. The Music Stage along with a selection of food and beverage vendors will provide a relaxing atmosphere, where people can sit out and enjoy the music that our festival has to offer.
The beautiful green area at the front of Trim Castle’s Dublin gate will be transformed into a quintessential American style country fair, with the best of Irish and American artisan foods and crafts on sale. The market will give all comers the opportunity to indulge in everything from Californian Blueberry muffins to New England Clam Chowder, a New Yorker Hot Dog to the Deep South’s Creole Cookin’ as well as the many unique foods and flavors that Ireland has to offer.
Other events over the weekend will include a Gala Dinner and Charity Auction and an exhibition game featuring County Meath’s very own Trim Bulldogs.
The GIFT visiting teams will immerse themselves in the local community during the event. Notre Dame Prep will hold public training sessions at the GAA fields in Trim and the Saints will also stay in the town’s Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort. One of the other teams playing in Navan as part of the GIFT event will stay at the New Grange Hotel there, a bedroom community west of Dublin, and local schools will be encouraged to form a cultural exchange with their American counterparts.
Patrick Steenberge, President of GIFT 2012 organizer Global Football said: “I have been in Ireland numerous times with many teams and only recently had an opportunity to visit County Meath. The people there are just what we Americans all think of when we think of the Irish: warm, friendly, proud and engaging.
“Trim is just a lovely drive from Dublin and boasts the largest Norman castle in Ireland, with the Boyne River flowing through it, and their burgeoning American football team will insure our games in nearby Navan will be well-attended. Páirc Tailteann Stadium is an ideal showcase for our games.”
The teams:
Notre Dame Prep won back-to-back Arizona Class 4A Division II championships in 2007 and 2008 and just missed out on the championship in 2010, losing a heartbreaking 49-48 game to Williams Field, then made the first round of the playoffs in 2011.
Philadelphia’s Father Judge High School’s team finished with a won 7 lost 4 record in 2011. The football program, which competes in the Philadelphia Catholic 4-A league, has won five championships (1964, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1984) and most recently reached the championship game in 2008.
About Páirc Tailteann: The Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Navan, County Meath, Ireland, is the home of the Meath Gaelic football and Hurling teams. The ground has a capacity of between 20,000 and 23,000 and is the venue of the annual Meath GAA club championship finals of which the winners receive the Keegan Cup (for Football) and the Jubilee Cup (for Hurling). It is the principal GAA stadium in County Meath, which boasts 60 GAA clubs, and was opened in 1935.
About the Irish Association of American Football (IAFA): The National Governing Body for American Football in Ireland is recognised by the Irish Sports Council and the Federation of Irish Sports. It is affiliated to the European Federation of American Football (EFAF) and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The Irish American Football League (IAFL) plays adult, full contact American football U.S. college football rules and has also established an 8v8 league to allow new teams to progress.
About Anthony Travel: The leader in university and sports travel management, playing a critical role in the success of the Emerald Isle Classic and Global Ireland Football Tournament. Providing over 10,000 guests with comprehensive travel solutions to Ireland, Anthony Travel is sure to deliver an unforgettable experience.
For information about the Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012 please visit www.GIFT2012.com or email Patrick@GlobalFootball.com. All team and fan travel for GIFT is being expertly handled by Anthony Travel, which also manages all team and fan travel for the Notre Dame and Navy. Contact Sheldon Baxter for details, or visit www.anthonytravel.com/globalfootball/gift.
Media note: Please contact Global Football media representatives Preston Consulting to request a word document version of this press release, event photos, for more information.
Michael Preston: MP@MPrestonSports.com 781-363-0305
About Global Football
Headed by President Patrick Steenberge, a former Notre Dame quarterback and high school All-American at Erie Cathedral Prep. During the past 14 years, Global Football has produced football games in 19 nations. Working partners include USA Football, NFL, Super Bowl Host Committees, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Notre Dame, Penn State, Pop Warner, and numerous Division III colleges as well as National Football Federations worldwide. www.globalfootball.com
ISC increases funding to American football
The Irish Sports Council has increased the funding granted to Irish American Football Association (IAFA) for 2012. The IAFA’s Core Grant remains static at €22,000, however, it’s Women In Sport grant has increased by €1,000 to €3,000 thus giving the organisation an overall increase in funding.
This increase in funding comes in spite of there being severe cuts to Government expenditure in most area including a reduction in the overall amount of money available to fund National Governing Bodies of sport. The IAFA generally invests Core Grant monies in grassroots development initiatives such as coaches education and schools flag football. Over the past 12 months, the number of participants in the schools flag football programme has risen dramatically and the IAFA is in the process of expanding the programme to girls schools, hence the increase in WIS funding. The increase in the numbers participating in these programmes has resulted in a 40% increase in the overall participation in the sport during 2011.
UL Vikings to play U.S. College team in June
The University of Limerick will host NCAA College Football team, University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire in a prestigious challenge game to take place in Limerick on June 10th 2012.
The Blugolds are a well supported Division III programme who play in the WIAC Conference. They are coached by Todd Glaser and have 9 all-conference players on their current roster. The game is being arranged in conjunction with Global Football who are also arranging the GIFT Tournament involving 8 NCAA and High School teams next August/September.
The UL Vikings are one of the top teams in Ireland and have been frequent participants in the Shamrock Bowl in recent years. In 2011, they won IAFL South with a 8-0 regular season record.
