The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced on Thursday a €3,500 donation to American Football Ireland (AFI) to acknowledge the support they have given the team and to help further their efforts to grow and teach the game across the island of Ireland.

The donation was initially presented to American Football Ireland by Steelers Director of Business Development & Strategy Dan Rooney at the team’s sold out Watch Party at Croke Park on Sunday.

American Football Ireland have partnered with the NFL team on a number of occasions in 2023 & 2024, helping to share the skills of the game through football clinics for young athletes. Coaches from the organisation have co-hosted five sessions with the Steelers in Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and most recently in Newry, Co. Down.

Approximately 500 athletes between the ages of 9 to 18 to date have participated in the clinics.

American Football Ireland board member Alan Lomasney commented “On behalf of American Football Ireland, I would like to thank Mr. Dan Rooney & the Pittsburgh Steelers for their kind donation. We are delighted to be working with the Steelers to help grow the sport of American Football across the island of Ireland & we look forward to continuing that relationship into 2025 & beyond”.

Daniel Rooney, Director of Business Development and Strategy, added “We’re appreciative of the efforts of American Football Ireland, not only in the successful events that we’ve hosted together, but also in their overall desire to teach and grow the game of American football in Ireland. We look forward to continuing to work with American Football Ireland in the future.”