Boston College Athletics
Aer Lingus College Football Classic Announcement Transcript
June 04, 2015 | Football
Yawkey Athletics Center
Boston College
Boston College Director of Athletics Brad Bates
"A few people I would like to thank before we get into some comments by several of us here. First and foremost, let me express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for his wonderful comments this morning at the announcement event in Ireland as well as to Father Leahy for his support throughout this process. It's really been a long process. We had a great vision that started a year and a half ago. It's been wonderful to see it come to fruition.
"Boston College was founded in 1863 to provide a Jesuit education to Irish immigrants by John McElroy of the Society of Jesus, who was born in Northern Ireland. From our very origins, our relationship with Ireland as a university and as a city is extensive. With that historical relationship as a backdrop, I am pleased to echo the Prime Minister's announcement here in the states that on September 3, 2016, Boston College will host ACC-member Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This game is a once-in-a-generation experience for faculty, staff, students, administration, alums, fans and the entire Boston community. We are thrilled to be a part of celebrating Ireland's 100-year anniversary of the 1916 uprising and are privileged to engage in a memorable experience between our two countries.
"We are especially honored to have the Mayor of Boston joining us this morning. We had a small exploratory group travel through Ireland last year shortly after Mayor Walsh had visited Ireland. The people there were still buzzing about your visit and the energy you left. We are thrilled to have his leadership and the support of the City of Boston behind this memorable game that will once again connect the City of Boston with Ireland. By the way, since taking office, the Mayor -- who is an alum -- has made us undefeated in games he has attended. He was at the USC game when we knocked them off last year. We will be sure to have him join us again in Dublin."
Mayor of Boston Martin J. Walsh
"I'm thrilled to be here to launch the return of Boston College football to Dublin. As Mayor, I'm grateful to see our colleges acting as ambassadors for Boston and on behalf of the United States. It highlights Boston as a leading role as a global leader in the higher educational sector. It's a great form of cultural exchange that can help foster economic development. It generates interest in Boston and fosters networking of all kind around the world. As a BC alum, I'm proud to see the Eagles return this tradition. As it was mentioned earlier, there was a game in Dublin and I was there and it was a great football game. I was a lot younger then but I had no idea that I would be standing here announcing the next time BC Eagles go to Ireland for a game.
"I only have one problem with the game being in Ireland. I have many aunts and uncles, and dozens of cousins and tons of friends who, once they see this broadcast, will be calling me looking for tickets. So that will be a little bit of a problem for me, but we are excited about it.
"Brad [Bates] mentioned that I went to Ireland last September and we talked about different ways that we could strengthen the relations ... and sports have been one of the drivers both here and abroad. We announced the new hockey tournament earlier this year at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. We are working on issues with the city of Boston with Indy car racing next year; Tall Ships in 2017 and we are working on an Olympic bid. Sports and culture are helping us develop our international profile.
This is a football game that's great for Boston College. It's great for Georgia Tech. However, it means so much more than a football game. There is a lot of history around this event."
Boston College Head Football Coach Steve Addazio
"We're excited, as you can imagine, and there is so much great Irish heritage and pride in Boston and Boston College and it is an unbelievably natural fit. To think that our kids, as part of their college experience and education here at Boston College, are going to have the opportunity to fly overseas, to a different country to experience a different culture -- for many some of their roots -- is unbelievable. I have a son who plays here now [Senior Louie Addazio], and he said what an unbelievable opportunity this is something that will last a lifetime and something that you will talk about forever.
"Earlier I heard Mayor Walsh talk about his experience traveling over there. That's what it's all about; that's what the college experience is all about. So we are so grateful for that. Obviously it's an important game for us -- an ACC game, a conference game. We are kicking off the season with a conference game, and one of the first Saturday college football games in 2016. That's going to be exciting. I know our fans are going to support it, and I know our fans are going to travel. We are just going to have an unbelievable Boston and Boston College following in Dublin, which will be really cool and special. I sit here today getting ready for this season right now and I was sitting in that chair already getting excited for 2016 and 2015 hasn't even happened yet.
"It's a great experience and I know the ACC is really behind us. I think Mayor Walsh said it - It's good for football. And it's good for relations. I'm proud to be a part of it and I thank everyone involved.
"We're going to represent Boston and we're going to represent Boston College and I really like hearing we are going to bring the trophy home. Because that's what it is all about: We are going to go there and have a great experience. And it's going to be great. We are going to get there early and enjoy everything about Dublin and about Ireland. But we are also going to go win a football game. That's something that we want to do. We want to sing our fight song `For Boston' in the locker room and in Aviva Stadium after that game - after we win -- and we want to bring that trophy home and have the best experience of all time. So thank you and we can't wait."
Counsul General Breandan O'Caollai
"It's a great honor to be here today at Boston College. Boston College represents one of the most positive chapters of Irish-American history, so it's great to be associated with such a fantastic institution on such an auspicious occasion.
"It is fantastic that you are coming. You will be blown away by the reception you will get ... You will find that the Irish are just as fanatical about sport as you are, so enjoy it at that level. You are going to a tremendous stadium and, as Dubliners would say, you are coming to the best city on the island, so you will have a great welcome there as well.
"There are many ties between Ireland and America, but particularly Boston, which is the heart and soul of Irish-America. I am very honored to be here, congratulate Boston College, Father Leahy, Coach and Brad and everybody else associated with this. Come in large numbers, spend lots of money [laughs], spends lots of time, but most of all, have a great time and of course, win the game."
Aer Lingus Executive Vice President Jack Foley
"It's my honor to announce that we will be the title sponsor for this game. For those of you who may not be aware of Aer Lingus, the Shamrock has been run independently for 75 years. We are proud that in Boston, we have been flying since 1960. We were one of the first internationally airlines to come into the city and we are proud to have that relationship.
"When the game was announced, we wanted to make a point to be a part of it. The Aer Lingus mission has always been to link Ireland to the world and to bring the world to Ireland. A big part of that world is North America and a piece of North America is Boston and we have been linked to the city of Boston for a number of reasons for a number of years. So, when it was announced that Boston College was considering this game, we came in right away and said we wanted to on board.
"In fact, it is my honor to announce that we will be flying the team over for the game. We look forward to having the team on board on the way to Dublin for the game and on the way back with the trophy."
Head of North America, Tourism Ireland Alison Metcalfe
"We are delighted to be a part of this auspicious announcement. We are delighted that Boston College has chosen to come back to Ireland and we look forward to working with everybody to make sure this game is a great success. We look forward to welcoming another 20,000-25,000 Americans to watch the game in 2016. Our previous games have been a success and we look forward to building on that. We look forward to working with Aer Lingus and with Anthony Travel to make sure it's an absolute sellout.
"We are aware of the connections between Boston College and Ireland. We know they are very, very strong and we know that this game is going to be bigger and better. This is an opportunity to not only showcase Dublin, as it is to showcase the island of Ireland."
