The Gathering Bowl 2013 was launched by South Dublin Deputy Mayor Cllr Mick Duff with Jason Sherlock on Thursday the 15th of August at Tallaght Stadium.
The Irish American Football Association (IAFA), The Gathering Dublin, Tallaght Stadium and South Dublin County Council are delighted to introduce the teams playing in The Gathering Bowl, which will take place at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday 31st August 2013 at 7pm.
The game will feature two top class teams who are among the best in their category of the sport. Canadian team, the Greendell Falcons will play the Bristol Academy Pride from the European US High School league. Both teams will be bringing full squads of players to this transatlantic battle played on neutral territory in Dublin. For Irish fans, this will be the only opportunity to watch this level of American football in Ireland in 2013.
Deputy Mayor of South Dublin Cllr Mick Duff remarked on the international teams in attendance; ‘’I am delighted to invite international teams and visitors to the area to compete in the Gathering Bowl at Tallaght Stadium. South Dublin is Ireland’s premier business, sport and leisure destination. Don’t forget to ‘#MeetToCompete’ if you are attending the event!’’
Alan Orr, Irish American Football Association Communications Officer expressed the excitement within the IAFA for this upcoming game ‘We are so delighted to host two international teams from two different backgrounds as part of the Gathering Bowl. We look forward to seeing local people attend the game and embrace the sport of American Football’.
Admission is free, tickets are required please logon to www.americanfootball.ie.
The Gathering Dublin is a South Dublin County Tourism project in partnership with the Gathering Ireland. This project is supported by South Dublin County Council, Failte Ireland, the Irish Sports Council, Fingal LEADER Partnership, Cuisine De France and The Square Towncentre.
For more information www.thegatheringdublin.com.
Background Information:
Greendell Falcons:
The Falcons are a community based team from Manitoba, Canada. They recruit players from the Winnepeg area and field a number of teams at various age groups from 7 year olds right up to high school (15-17) and college (18-22) aged players. Their top level team plays in the Manitoba Major Football League. The Falcons squad for The Gathering Bowl – their “Euroteam” will feature players from both their high school and college aged squads. A number of players from the Falcons have progressed onto Canada’s top level professional league, the CFL.
Bristol Academy Pride:
Though based in the UK, the Pride play in the US High School system. They play in the DODDS Europe League which is the European section of the American High School League for the US Military bases. This league features teams based in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. These games are played in stadia and regularly attract up to c.2,000 spectators. In 2012, the Pride were ranked in the top 4 in Division 1 of the DODDS league. A number of Bristol players have won scholarships to NCAA college football teams in the United States in recent years.