Six high school football teams from Florida, Georgia and New Jersey were warmly welcomed at Dublin Airport as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Before game day they were whisked away for a whirlwind trip across Ireland.

The schools’ players, coaches and cheerleaders — a contingent of around 800 people — ventured to ancient castles, traced familial roots, walked the streets of Dublin and participated in cultural exchanges throughout the trip.

The journey took Belen Jesuit of Miami and Blessed Trinity of Roswell, Georgia, to the Republic’s craggy western coast, while other groups enjoyed sightseeing more locally, with time spent at some of Dublin’s most important cultural heritage spots. The other teams taking part in the adventure were Atlanta’s Westminster School and Marist School, Community School of Naples, Florida, and St. Peter’s Prep School of Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Approximately 400 people attended the inaugural Boston College Chief Executives Club Global Forum in Dublin on Sept. 2. Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of the Coca-Cola Co., was the keynote speaker at the event, which was held at The Mansion House.

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Special Olympics Ireland has been chosen as the official charity of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2016 between Boston College and Georgia Tech which takes place on Saturday, September 3rd at 12.30pm in the Aviva Stadium.

The announcement was made at a photo call attended by Special Olympics Ambassador Jon Bon Jovi in Aviva Stadium along with Special Olympics Ireland athletes James Kelly and Fiona Bryson.

In one of numerous fundraising activities that will take place in the week prior to and at the game itself it was announced that from Saturday, 23rd July in celebration of the partnership, one euro will be donated to Special Olympics Ireland for every ticket bought for the game. Ticket prices range €45 to €110 for premium level. There are a number of family tickets (2 adults + 2 children) available from €120, all subject to booking fees via ticketmaster.ie.

Supporting the announcement Jon Bon Jovi said he was delighted that Special Olympics Ireland has been selected as the official charity, “I have been a supporter of Special Olympics for many years and I have seen the impact throughout the world in terms of driving its message of inclusion and tolerance. It was a real privilege for me to have been a part of the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games and to see at first hand the superb job Special Olympics Ireland do for their athletes and families. I would encourage everyone to support this great initiative.”

Matt English, CEO, Special Olympics Ireland, also commented; “Special Olympics Ireland is thrilled and immensely proud to be selected as the official charity partner of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Boston College and Georgia Tech. As a sports organisation first and foremost, we are delighted to be connected with such a prestigious event. Any money raised will be of great help to support the programme of sports and training we currently offer to 9,100 athletes in 360 clubs around the country. It is also very satisfying to be re-engaging with legend and Special Olympics Global Ambassador Jon Bon Jovi and Aer Lingus who continue to be our long term travel partner.”

Over 20,000 visitors from the US are booked to travel for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on September 3rd for what promises to be a week long activity of events throughout Dublin. Trinity College will be the venue for the official Welcome Village and as such will host a variety of social, cultural and business-oriented activities. In addition to over 100 football squad members per team, Boston College and Georgia Tech are both travelling with a 150 piece strong marching band and cheer-leading troops and the renowned pre-game pep rallies and tailgate parties will be among the many highlights to take place at the Trinity College campus.
Stephen Kavanagh, Aer Lingus Chief Executive, added; “Aer Lingus and Special Olympics Ireland enjoy a long standing partnership since the staging of the Special Olympics World Games in Ireland in 2003. We are very proud of this partnership and it’s fantastic to have our great friends in Special Olympics Ireland come on board as a partner for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.”

1,000 Extra Seats added between Dublin and Boston to support the Aer Lingus College Football Classic