by Rachel Gaffney
Growing up in Ireland, rugby was very much part of my life. From as young as five years old, I attended rugby matches at Cork Constitution rugby club and throughout my school years learned how to sing the rugby songs when supporting schools or indeed my home province, Munster. Rugby lovers reading this will understand the rivalry between Munster and Leinster. The red Munster jersey has pride of place in my home and indeed in my heart.
Before moving to the United States I could never quite understand the exuberance associated with football, from portable stadium seats with school names emblazoned on the back to lap top covers and golf bags with the university logo boldly displayed. Although long graduated from their respective colleges, people continued to have a strong connection with their alma mater. Proudly wearing the shirts, indeed proudly displaying the name on the back of their cars on decals. In fact the legacy and loyalty of their alma mater is as important as their family name. These fraternities are families and as a stranger in a new land I was in awe . Sixteen years living in this country has given me quite a bit of perspective. I learned that this enduring bond is developed from as early as 8th or 9th grade.
Four U.S high school football programs will play their 2012 regular season opening game in Dublin, Ireland , on Friday, August 31. These schools will be taking part in GIFT 2012- The Global Ireland Football Tournament- and will play in one of three double headers during the same weekend as the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen meet in Dublin on September 1st.
I am now the parent of 2 teenage boys, both of whom play this national pastime. A game that did indeed evolve from the game of rugby. The ‘Father of American Football’ , Walter Camp, changed the rugby rules back in 1879 and thus saw the divergence from rugby to football. Now, in an ironic twist, my son will visit my home as one of the football players for Jesuit College Preparatory School Dallas, when they come head to head with their brother school from Chicago, Loyola Academy.
Loyola Academy is located in Wilmette, on the North shore of Chicago. This Jesuit co-educational college prep is indeed the largest Jesuit high school in the United Sates with an enrolled student body of approximately 2,000. Head Coach, John Holocek led the team to a 2010 Chicago Catholic Championship and the Prep Bowl Championship in 2008. During his five years at Loyola , their football team has qualified for the IHSA largest school division state playoffs each year and reached the semifinals in 2009 and 2010.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring an array of travelers from our school community to Dublin” said Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ.
“We are delighted to share this journey with our brother school, Jesuit Dallas, another extraordinary Jesuit preparatory school”
Our school, Jesuit Dallas is led by head coach Brandon Hickman. A school that is one of two private schools that belongs to the University Interscholastic League and competes in District 9 of Class 5A, the state of Texas largest classification.
“Jesuit looks forward to the opportunity to play football against Loyola Academy at such an exciting venue” said President Mike Earsing
“Football is a big program at Jesuit and now it is providing additional opportunities outside the gridiron to learn, grow and experience other cultures. We are indeed excited about getting to play Loyola Academy in a football game but we are more excited about developing a relationship with another great Jesuit school” says Steve Koch, Director of Athletics at Jesuit Dallas.
The entourage accompanying both the Jesuit Rangers and Loyola Ramblers will descend upon Dublin in force like a well planned military maneuver. Coaches and cheerleaders, doctors and parents, all with a role to play. Trunks filled with equipment and uniforms. Dublin last witnessed this massive descent from the United States in November 1996 when Notre Dame played the Naval Academy. Now they will experience an increase in population over night as high schoolers, parents and grandparents accompany them.
You see, this is more than a football game, much much more than a football game. It is a cultural connection and in a lot of cases it is a connection with their roots.
Fundraisers began last year. Fathers grilled burgers at football games, cheerleaders hosted spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts, tee shirts were sold , Irish Whiskey tastings and Irish cultural evenings have been hosted every month in Dallas, all to raise funds for this team to experience this cultural event.
Although there will be two practices in Dublin for the teams, there will of course be time to visit and experience the island that is Ireland.
No year in Irish history is as well known as 1690. The ‘Battle of The Boyne’
This was the infamous battle that William III won against King James VII.
Players and dancers from the Rangerette drill team from our sister school, Ursuline Academy will visit this historical site.
Accompanying our group will be a guide provided for us by the University College Cork, thanks to their International Student Recruitment department and help from Lisa Brett.
When we leave this famous site we will visit the town of Drogheda where many activities are being planned, thanks to Julie Anne Lawler, project manager for Irish National television station,RTE’s project ‘Local Heroes Drogheda’. This will be a great opportunity for both visitors and residents to connect, make friends and forge new relationships.
When you are second and third generation Irish, connecting with your roots means everything to you. As the great Irish statesman , orator and author , Edmund Burke once said “People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors
If you happen to be in Ireland and see large posses dressed in blue and gold , sporting fighting Irish logos , donning the Jesuit Ranger emblem or wearing the Loyola Rambler uniforms with pride, please take a moment to reflect on the incredible effort, time and money it took to get them there.
While grilling those burgers, flipping those pancakes or selling the tee shirts, these families worked together as a community, making friends along the way, strengthening and enriching the Jesuit community, all the while paving the way for their kids to enter that third and final phase of their education. Now, with this perspective it is so easy to understand the exuberance associated with this national sport that is football.
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