Eoin O’Sullivan has been appointed as the IAFA’s new Finance Officer, which along with the Commissioner and Communications Officer, is one of the three key posts in the Associations administration.
Eoin played as a defensive end on the Vikings team which reached a number of Shamrock Bowls as well as being involved in the administration of the team. In recent years, he has been a member of Drogheda Lightning.
Super Bowl XLVIII is coming up on February 2nd, featuring the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. Last year, a massive 164.1 million people watched the Super Bowl on TV in the US alone, and this year’s promises to be no different.
Whether you follow the NFL or not, many people make the effort to watch the Super Bowl but it can be difficult to find a venue showing the game. Well you’re in luck as many of our teams around the country host Super Bowl events in their communities and we wanted to give a definitive listing of these events so you’ll know where to go. We’ll add to this list as more become available.
Belfast Trojans – Madison’s Hotel, Belfast
Are you ready for the first big party of 2014? Your undefeated national champions are once again teaming up with Madisons Hotel and Budweiser NI to bring you Ireland’s biggest Super Bowl Party. The Trojans will be bringing you the big game over three floors on multiple giant screens. While you watch, you can take advantage of their amazing drinks promotion from Budweiser and forget about your New Year’s diet with their Tailgate party kitchen. There’ll also be music, prizes, VIP’s and more crazy gridiron fans in one place than anywhere else in the country.
For full details check out their Facebook event page.
Carrickfergus Knights – Swift Bar, Carrickfergus
The Carrickfergus Knights are hosting their Super Bowl night in The Swift bar in Carrickfergus. Kicking off at 7pm, the Knights will have drink promos and competitions all for £5, which includes some food to keep you going while the game will be shown across 12 screens.
For full details, check out the Knights’ Facebook page.
Craigavon Cowboys – Fabric Bar, Lurgan
The Greatest Show on Turf will be shown on multiple screens including one large screen. The Cowboys are expecting large numbers, so get your tickets early to avoid disappointment. There will also be a Madden Tournament and a Man vs Food competition in the build up to the big game, so be there early. The Cowboys will also be running a Touchdown Lotto so get ready to party with the Cowboys! #CowboysFamily.
For full details, see the Cowboys’ Facebook events page.
Drogheda Lightning – Planet Bar, Drogheda
The Planet bar in Association with Drogheda Lightning present the Super Bowl 2014 Party. Join them for the Biggest Super Bowl party in Louth on Sunday 2nd of February. Their pre-party kicks off at 6pm with Finger Food and a DJ and their live build-up starts at 8pm followed by full match coverage. They’ll be decking the place out with American decor as well as having great drinks promos & much more.
For full details, see the Lightning’s Facebook event page.
Dublin Dragons – Sinnott’s Bar, South King Street, Dublin
The Dublin Dragons are hosting a Super Bowl night in Sinnotts Bar on South King Street in Dublin, kicking off at 8pm. Entry is free and the game will be shown live on their 10 big HD screens. There’ll also be buckets of beer, wings & hotdogs & much more.
For full details, head on over to the Dragons’ Facebook event page.
Dundalk Mavericks – Brubakers, Dundalk
The Dundalk Mavericks have teamed up with Brubakers in Dundalk to bring you the Superbru party! Join them to celebrat the end of the 2014 NFL season and the beginning of their first season in the IAFA. They’ll also have finger food and drink promotions on the night.
For more information, head over to the Maverick’s Facebook page.
Dublin Rebels – Harry’s on the Green, Dublin – SOLD OUT
The Dublin Rebels have teamed up with Harry’s on the Green to bring you the original and best Super Bowl Party in Dublin. The venue will be transformed into a heaven of AV Multimedia with the big game being shown live in HD on multiple TV screens including a massive HD projection screen. Harry’s will be serving food ALL night until the early hours of the morning to help kill those half time hankerings and Harry’s on the Green will be running plenty of drink specials like buckets of beers. Exact details will be announced shortly. And lets not forget the very famous and sexy Dublin Rebels Cheerleader will be there on the night doing their thing 🙂
For more information, head over to the Rebels’ Facebook page.
Meath Bulldogs – Navan RFC
The Meath Bulldogs are hosting their Super Bowl event in Navan RFC. Kicking off at 9pm, not only is entry free but you’ll get a free hotdog with your first drink!
For more details, head on over to their Facebook page.
North Kildare Reapers – Darkie Moore’s, Lexlip
The North Kildare Reapers are holding their Super Bowl night in Darkie Moore’s in Lexlip Village. Starting at 9pm, they’ll have a late bar, big screens and great drink promotions and are also running competitions including some with a cash prize!
To get in touch and to find out more, head over to their Facebook page.
South Kildare Soldiers – Judge Roy Beans, Newbridge
The South Kildare Soldiers are holding their event in one of Newbridge’s finest establishments, Judge Roy Beans on Edward Street. Great tasting finger food and crisp cold beers, it’s going to be a great night in store. They’ll also be holding a few competitions on the night, including Guess the Score and the SKS Raffle, so put your money where your mouth is! This is proving to be a night of fun and great entertainment so head down and join their event and bring your football buddies. Who know’s you may even join their team!
For full details, check out their Facebook event page.
Trinity College Dublin – Captain America’s, Grafton St, Dublin
Trinity Football is pleased to announce it will be hosting Super Bowl Sunday at Captain America’s on Grafton Street in Dublin. We want to welcome all interests so whether you’re an expert, rookie or just want to have a drink and eat chicken wings, come on down and enjoy one of the best nights of the year.
For further details and get your hands on some tickets, head over to their Facebook event page.
UCD – D2, Harcourt St, Dublin
The UCD American Football Club are are organising a Super Bowl night in DTWO! The venue has a reserved area for us and a dance floor downstairs to celebrate! Tickets are €7 but if you show your ESN card, you’ll get them for only &euro5.
For further details on the event and how to get your hands on some tickets, head over to the UCD Facebook event page.
UL Vikings – Flannery’s Bar, Limerick
The UL Vikings are teaming up with Flannery’s Bar in Limerick to host their 7th Annual Super Bowl Party, in association with Coors Light. They are serving hotdogs and burgers in the Courtyard and we will be showing the entire game on our huge screen…and the other 6 screens. Join them from 9pm on Sunday 2nd February to see Super Bowl 2014. Please note entry will not be permitted after 1am.
All the details are available on their dedicated Facebook profile
West Dublin Rhinos – The Woolshed, Parnell St, Dublin
The West Dublin Rhinos would like to invite everyone out there in Rhinoland to join them at Dublin’s premier Sports Bar The Woolshed to take in Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2nd. Kick Off is at 11:30pm but get there early to secure your seats. It’s a night out not to be missed and remember unlike some other Super Bowl venues entry is free. Also food will be available until 1am.
For more details, head on over to the Rhinos’ Facebook page.
IAFA members occupying certain positions, as follows, are now required to undergo Garda or PSNI vetting every 5 years:
All people in any of the above positions should apply to be vetted by 31st January next.
Any future appointees to positions which require vetting should apply to be vetted on appointment.
Michael Smith, is the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person. He can be contacted at vetting
Procedure for those living in the Garda area (Ireland, Republic of):
The IAFA is participating in the Federation of Irish Sport Access Garda Vetting Faciltiy scheme, which is endorsed by the Irish Sports Council. The FIS liaises with the Garda Central Vetting Unit on behalf of the IAFA.
After reading the guidelines (link below), complete the Garda Vetting form (link also below) and submit it to the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person via your club. The original hardcopy of the form must be submitted – photocopies or electronic versions will not suffice. Cost is €10 per form (payable to Federation of Irish Sport).
Please note that you must be vetted specifically for American football as vetting applications are considered in terms of the specific role you occupy. Any existing vetting for any other reason e.g. your employment, will not suffice.
Guidelines for completing form
Procedure for those living in PSNI area (Northern Ireland):
In Northern Ireland, the AccessNI scheme applies.
Persons liable for vetting should, after liaising with their clubs Child Protection/Code of Ethics Officer, apply for a Basic Check by AccessNI – details on the following link:
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/accessni-criminal-record-checks
Your Disclosure Certificate should be forwarded to the IAFA Vetting Facility Contact Person via your clubs Child Protection/Code of Ethics Officer.
A meeting of league teams was held in Trinity College Dublin on 11th January last to finalise the 2014 league structure and line-up. 2014 will see a record 19 teams playing competitive league football in one of the IAFL’s three divisions as follows:.
Shamrock Bowl Conference:
The SBC will continue as the elite division in Irish football. It will comprise of 10 teams in two geographic divisions. However, following feedback from teams, interdivisional games are being reintroduced. As teams will still be playing 8 regular season games, they will play less divisional games. Who plays who will depend on geography, with each team playing local divisional rivals twice and the other teams in their division once. Interdivisional games are also geographic to reduce travel.
The SBC will have 7 returning teams and the top 3 IAFL1 teams from 2013. Cork and UCD drop to IAFL1.
SBC North:
Belfast Trojans
Dublin Rebels
Carrickfergus Knights
Craigavon Cowboys
Dublin Dragons*
SBC South
Trinity College Dublin
University of Limerick Vikings
West Dublin Rhinos
North Kildare Reapers*
Waterford Wolves*
* Promoted teams.
IAFL1:
The introduction of IAFL1 in 2013 is seen as one of the great success stories of recent years. This year will see an interesting mix of teams comprising of 3 returning IAFL1 squads and two squads with SBC experience. As with 2013, the division is expected to be close and competitive. All five teams will play home and away against each other:
U.C.D.
Meath Bulldogs
Drogheda Lightning
Mullingar Minotaurs
Cork Admirals
IAFL2:
When the SBC/IAFL1 split was approved before the 2013 season, provision was made for the introduction of a third tier of football – IAFL2, if and when required. The IAFA has decided to activate this provision for 2014 to accommodate the four new applicants with mainly inexperienced squads. They will play a 6 game regular season. Subject to ability and completing their schedule, these teams will move onto IAFL1 in 2015. Whether or not IAFL2 remains active in 2015 will depend on whether or not another batch of entrants joins the league.
Dundalk Mavericks
Galway Warriors
South Kildare Soldiers
Tyrone Titans
Play-offs/Championships:
SBC play-offs remain the same, with the exception that the two 3rd place wildcard spots are replaced by two ‘at large’ wildcard spots.
New Championship games are being introduced for IAFL1 and IAFL2 – to be played between the top two teams in each division.
Timeframe:
The start and finish dates will be largely the same as they were c.3 years ago – most teams will start in the second half of March, with the championship games in August. In recent years the SBC start had crept forward to February.
Schedules will be circulated to all team managers shortly.
Derek Ward has been coopted onto the IAFA Board to fill the final vacant internal place on the Board. His term of office will be until the AGM in late 2014.
Derek has a long association with the sport going back to the 1980s/1990s when he played with the Dublin Celts. He was Head Coach of the Dublin Lightning team which won Shamrock Bowl XI in 1996. He took a few years out of football from the late 1990s onwards during which time he was heavily involved in softball in a number of roles including manager of the Irish National Softball team. In recent years he returned to football as a member of the West Dublin Rhinos coaching staff.
The IAFA Board now consists of the following people:
Michael Smith (President), Matt Craig, John Judge, Declan McNally, Alan Orr, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Cillian Smith & Derek Ward
Be part of one if Ireland’s great sporting success stories.
We are now in 2014, which means that the new season is fast approaching. Before the end of this month, the majority of teams will be in pre-season training. 2013 fades into memory and teams become optimistic about their prospects for 2014.
The audit/application process has produced a record 19 teams who want to play competitive football in 2014. Dundalk, Galway, South Kildare and Tyrone will all be making their IAFL debuts alongside a reconstituted Cork Admirals. The only omission from 2013 is Tullamore, giving a net increase of 3 teams.
The divisional line-ups and schedules will be determined over the next couple of weeks following a Board meeting this weekend and league workshop on 11th January. 2013 saw the introduction of two tiers of league football – the Shamrock Bowl Conference and IAFL-1. The introduction of a third tier – IAFL-2 is currently under consideration for 2014.
One of the great success stories of Irish sport and, indeed American football worldwide, has been the expansion of the sport in Ireland from 4 teams in the 2002 league season to the 18 we have today. No other competitive sport in Ireland has seen such phenomenal growth in such a short period of time.
For any young athlete wanting to take up the sport for the first time or any veteran eyeing a return to the gridiron, now is the perfect time to join your local team. You’ll get the benefit of a full pre-season of training, which should see you being able to take the field when your team kicks off it’s season in c. 3 months time. All teams welcome newcomers.
2014 Team Line-up and contact details:
Belfast Trojans: trojans@americanfootball.ie
Carrickfergus Knights: knights@americanfootball.ie
Cork Admirals: admirals@americanfootball.ie
Craigavon Cowboys: cowboys@americanfootball.ie
Drogheda Lightning: lightning@americanfootball.ie
Dublin Dragons: dragons@americanfootball.ie
Dublin Rebels: rebels@americanfootball.ie
Dundalk Mavericks: mavericks@americanfootball.ie
Galway Warriors: warriors@americanfootball.ie
Meath Bulldogs: bulldogs@americanfootball.ie
North Kildare Reapers: reapers@americanfootball.ie
Mullingar Minotaurs: minotaurs@americanfootball.ie
South Kildare Soldiers: soldiers@americanfootball.ie
Trinity College Dublin: trinity@americanfootball.ie
Tyrone Titans: titans@americanfootball.ie
University College Dublin: ucd@americanfootball.ie
UL Vikings: vikings@americanfootball.ie
Waterford Wolves: wolves@americanfootball.ie
West Dublin Rhinos: rhinos@americanfootball.ie