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The thrill and excitement of high school American football will return to Ireland.
Truly experience the wonders that the Emerald Isle has to offer.
The ultimate Gameday experience.
Official tickets of the College Football Classic.
Voted in the top 10 friendliest cities in the world, and once you visit, you will understand why!
The land of myths and legends and the birthplace of Irish culture where vibrant history and modern life meet.
Experience Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and tap into the relaxed rhythm that defines this beautifully unspoiled part of Ireland where life moves at its own pace.
Experience what's been named "one of the greatest drives on earth", or explore the Giants causeway at the tip of County Antrim.
Stretching 2,500km along our western seaboard, the Wild Atlantic Way is the longest coastal touring route in the world.
August 10th 2023
In just a few weeks, Notre Dame Football will return to Ireland for the third-time in their history, led by their Head Coach Marcus Freeman. Get to know the man leading Notre Dame Football with our latest blog.
Coach Freeman was quite the college football player back in the day! He played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college, and carved out a solid collegiate career as a linebacker, which is one of the key defensive positions in American Football. Linebackers must be able to make tackles on running plays, but need to be agile and quick enough to cover wide receivers and deflect passes. It’s an incredibly challenging position that requires immense skill.
Freeman played in 51 games with Ohio State from 2004-2008, leading the Buckeyes to four conference titles, three BCS bowl games , and two trips to the College Football National Championship. In 2009, the budding linebacker played in the Senior Bowl, an event that showcases some of the best college football players in America.
With a strong collegiate career behind him, the next step for Freeman was the NFL. The former Buckeye was drafted in the fifth-round by the Chicago Bears in the 2009 NFL Draft but was later waived, meaning that other NFL teams could sign Freeman. The Ohio native had playing spells with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, but unfortunately a heart condition meant that Freeman had to end his professional footballing career in 2010.
After leaving the National Football League (NFL), Coach Freeman was hired by Ohio State as graduate assistant coach in 2010, and he continued to work his way up the coaching ladder. Freeman has always coached on the defensive side of the ball.
Notre Dame has a rich history of producing NFL talent on both sides of the football, and this high standard has continued under Coach Freeman.
Current Baltimore Ravens Safety Kyle Hamilton was coached under Marcus Freeman. The 6ft 4’ Safety was drafted by the Ravens in the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
More recently, three standout players from the 2022 Notre Dame Football squad were drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. All of which were coached by Marcus Freeman.
“I'm ready. I'm ready for this challenge, and I'm ready to lead this program to the greatest heights. The chance to lead the football program at the University of Notre Dame is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I would never take that for granted,” Coach Freeman speaking after being appointed Head Coach of Notre Dame Football in 2021.
We wish Coach Freeman and Notre Dame Football the very best of luck in the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic!
The official Aer Lingus College Football Classic App is now available to download at: https://collegefootballireland.com/app/#learn-more
