The Westminster Schools Football Team To Open 2016 Season in Ireland

The Westminster Schools varsity football team will open its 2016 season in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Aer Lingus Football Classic. This will mark the first time an athletic team from Westminster has competed abroad and the third time in five years that American football has been played in Dublin.

On Friday, September 2, 2016, the Wildcats will take on the Community School of Naples (Naples, Fla.) and will be one of four teams from the metro Atlanta area to play against other top high school programs from the U.S. and Mexico. The day-long high school tournament, known as Dublin Friday Night Lights, is an official event of the Aer Lingus Football Classic, which culminates on Saturday, September 3, with a matchup between Boston College and Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium. Other affiliated events will include pep rallies, pre-game tailgates, business meetings and academic forums.

“The opportunity to participate in Dublin Friday Night Lights and the Aer Lingus Classic supports our School’s philosophy that sports are about much more than what happens on the field,” said Tim Downes, Westminster’s Director of Athletics. “By providing our students with a unique international experience and by joining four leading Atlanta area institutions in Ireland, we’ll connect football with our students’ understanding of the value of a global community.”

Downes views this opportunity as part of a growing trend to include international travel and learning as a part of a complete educational experience for Westminster students. The trip to Dublin will include practices and a pep rally prior to the game, but players and coaches will also visit several significant historical sites in the area and also tour a local university.

Additional information is available at collegefootballireland.com.