The Aer Lingus College game will take place at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 24th August 2024. The game will see Georgia Tech return to Dublin for the first time since 2016, while it will be the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) State Champions Florida States’ first-ever game in Ireland.
The Georgia Tech team features David Shanahan, a Kerry native and a member of the 2017 Kerry All-Ireland Minor football winning team. Remarkably, David is the first Irishman to earn a full scholarship to play American college football. This will be Shanahan’s fourth season with The Yellow Jackets. In his three previous seasons the Kerry man has amassed an impressive record, punting 179 times for 7,632 yards, with his longest punt reaching a distance of 71 yards. Notably, Shanahan made it to the shortlist for the Ray Guy Award last season, an award that honours the best punter in college football.
Florida State University, known as the Seminoles, will travel to Dublin to play their first game ever in Ireland. The Seminoles finished the 2023 regular season undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record, their first undefeated season since 2013. The three-time National Champions and 2023 (ACC) State Champions are one of American college football's most widely supported teams, playing their home matches at the 79,560-capacity Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
Waterford has designed and crafted two trophies for the game; the Keough-Naughton College Memorial Football Trophy and the Coach’s Award. From the initial design to the finished product, a significant amount of craftsmanship is required to create these unique sporting trophies.
The Keough-Naughton College Football depicts an American football mounted on three individual sculpted pillars of crystal, resting on a beautiful base and plinth. The concept for the trophy is a ball in flight while the pillars represent the players’ arms catching the ball.
The Coach’s Award is a masterful replica of an American football helmet. The instantly recognizable shape, sparkle, and quality reflect the unique craftsmanship of Waterford Crystal.
More information on the game can be found here
