Tag: Aer Lingus College Football Classic

Neale Richmond, Ireland’s deputy minister for foreign affairs and trade, on Friday visited TCU’s campus, where he spoke to the economic, educational and cultural benefits of the Frogs’ game in Dublin next August.

Richmond was joined by former Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh, and together they talked with TCU Chancellor Daniel Pullin and Athletic Director Mike Buddie about the reasons for exporting American football from Fort Worth to Dublin. The Horned Frogs will face the University of North Carolina.

“It’s much more than a game,” said Richmond. He described the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic as a key to strengthening Irish-American relations.

For one, Richmond said the games are a tourism driver, attracting upward of 30,000 visitors to Dublin each August. And last year alone, he said, Ireland welcomed roughly 50,000 guests from Texas. Richmond hopes to see that number grow before, during and after TCU’s Dublin game, which is scheduled for Aug. 29.

Richmond added that Texas is Ireland’s largest U.S. trading partner, and he believes the game will serve to bring together more Texan and Irish businesses.

From Pullin’s perspective, competing in Dublin will help elevate TCU’s profile on the international stage. He pointed out that TCU already has a robust partnership with University College Dublin, and Pullin’s hope is that seeing the team play overseas will encourage more students to take advantage of study-abroad opportunities.

“I think there’s a high return on investment,” Pullin said of the payoff for moving a home game to Dublin.

Because it’s held during “week zero” of the season, when there are only a handful of other games, the Dublin matchup typically draws high ratings. Pullin feels those tuning in will not only view TCU as being competitive on the field, but from an academic standpoint as well.

“Our commitment to be driven as an academic enterprise should resonate all over the world,” he said.

When asked about American football’s place in Irish culture, Richmond said it’s popular and only becoming more so.

“It’s certainly bigger than you think,” he said of Irish fandom. “You find a lot of Irish people who, every weekend, will watch college football and the NFL. They are passionate about the teams they follow.”

Richmond said those traveling from Fort Worth next year to see TCU play will be met with a high level of excitement and energy, and he assured fans that Dublin is “ready for a purple invasion.”

Those planning to make the trip are encouraged to visit a new website, frogs2ireland.com, for ticket and travel package details.

This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM.