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It's fitting that the first regular season NFL game to be held in Ireland will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers' connection with Ireland is a long and rich one, dating back to the 1840s during the Famine, when the Rooney family left Down for America, eventually making their home in Pittsburgh.
In the early 20th century, Dan Rooney and his wife Margaret established a café and saloon on the first floor of their family home in Pittsburgh's North Side, near the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team's ground.
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It was in this sports-loving environment that their eldest son, Art Rooney (1901-1988), began to nurture his love for his city and football.
Art, who also played baseball, basketball, and even tried out for the 1920 Olympic boxing team, eventually bought an NFL franchise in 1933 for a mere $2,500, which would become the Pittsburgh Steelers, reports the Irish Mirror.
Under his guidance, and later that of his son Dan Rooney (1932-2017), the franchise evolved into one of the most successful and well-known names in American football, boasting six Super Bowl titles.
However, the Rooney family never forgot their Irish roots. In 1976, Dan Rooney, alongside Tony O'Reilly, established The Ireland Fund to champion peace and reconciliation, community development, education, and arts and culture in Ireland, generating hundreds of millions of dollars.
Amongst its numerous initiatives is the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, which remains one of the nation's most coveted awards.
The family's deep connections to Ireland reached a pinnacle when Dan Rooney was appointed U.S. Ambassador in 2009 during Barack Obama's presidency.
Despite being a lifelong Republican, Rooney was tremendously impressed by Obama and emerged as a pivotal figure in the 2008 election, leveraging his status and popularity as the Steelers' owner to help Obama secure crucial blue-collar regions across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
Obama, who was present at Rooney's funeral in 2017, remarked following his friend's passing: "Dan Rooney was a great friend of mine, but more importantly, he was a great friend to the people of Pittsburgh, a model citizen, and someone who represented the United States with dignity and grace on the world stage.
"I knew he'd do a wonderful job when I named him as our United States Ambassador to Ireland, but naturally, he surpassed my high expectations, and I know the people of Ireland think fondly of him today.
"And I know the people of Pittsburgh, who loved him not only for the Super Bowl championships he brought as the owner of the Steelers, but for his generosity of spirit, mourn his passing today."
Amongst those paying tribute was Irish President Michael D Higgins, who stated that Rooney's contributions to peace and reconciliation in Ireland had left a "real and tangible legacy".
Taoiseach Enda Kenny hailed Rooney as "a personal friend" whose efforts "brought both the United States and Ireland closer together".
Rooney played a crucial role, working alongside figures such as Aidan J. Prendergast, who served as president of the Irish American Football Association, in introducing American Football to Ireland during the 1980s.
Subsequently, whilst serving as U.S. Ambassador, Rooney facilitated Notre Dame and Navy's appearance at a packed Aviva Stadium in 2012.
The Rooney family's influence continues through Art Rooney II, the current Steelers owner, who has been instrumental in bringing the NFL to Croke Park this forthcoming weekend.
At the announcement of the Steelers' visit to GAA headquarters, Art Rooney II commented: "We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season.
"The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland.
"We are thrilled to be part of this historic event to represent Pittsburgh in a game that brings the NFL to the great sports fans in Ireland."
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