Over 180 Young Leaders gathered at the Lansdowne Rugby Club on the Eve of the Emerald Classic, Friday, August 31st for an All American Style Tailgate. The Irish Young Leaders took advantage of the rare summer weather to fire up the barbecue and hang some bunting to welcome guests from across the US.
Lansdowne Rugby Club was the ideal venue with Aviva Stadium as the backdrop and Dublin Thunder, a local cheerleading troop, welcomed the guests with Go Navy & Go Notre Dame cheers! Guests enjoyed drinks courtesy of our drink sponsors—Jameson, Heineken & El Comandante—and danced the night away to classic American tunes. Special guests included life size versions of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam.
The highlight of the night for many was watching their fellow young leaders try to test their agility on the Bucking Bronco. Guests were encouraged by the cheerleaders to give it a whirl and comforted with chants of “We are proud of you!” when they quickly got thrown off. Congratulations to Gerard Ryan, member of the Dublin Young Leader Committee, who set the endurance record for the night.
Special thanks to our corporate sponsors, Mason, Hayes + Curran and Blueface. Not only did their support allow for such a great evening but they also suited our guests up with footballs and Navy/ND caps.
