ATLANTA—The first September game of the 2016 football season took on a whole new significance for Catholic schools Blessed Trinity, Roswell, and Marist, Atlanta, as they kicked off in Dublin, Ireland.

They were two of three Georgia schools participating in the 2016 American Football Showcase in Dublin, along with Atlanta’s Westminster School. Their respective opponents in the football showcase were St. Peter’s Prep School of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Florida schools, Belen Jesuit Prep of Miami and Community School of Naples.

Blessed Trinity and Marist administrators, cheerleaders, coaches, football players and trainers, numbering 112 and 127, respectively, made the trip. In addition, some family members decided to make the trip. Blessed Trinity stayed in dorms of Dublin City University and the Marist group stayed at a hotel in the town of Trim just outside Dublin.

For football players and cheerleaders from the two schools, the trip was more than their Sept. 2 high school matches or the game between Georgia Tech and Boston College Sept. 3. It was an educational, cultural and faith-filled experience. In addition to touring Dublin, the contingent visited local attractions, including Croke Park Stadium, home of the Gaelic games, the historic site of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne, and the 260-acre Malahide Castle, one of the oldest castles in Ireland.

The Blessed Trinity students were able to view the exterior of Dublin’s Church of the Assumption and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Outside the cathedral, led by theology teacher Father Augustine Tran, they prayed for founding faculty member Mary McCullough, who eventually lost her battle with ovarian cancer while they were in Ireland.

Marist School football players visit Chanel College, one of three Society of Mary (Marist) college prep high schools in Ireland. Two other groups of students split up and went St. Mary’s College and Catholic University School. Photo Courtesy of Marist School

One of the trip highlights for Marist students was when they split up and visited each of the three Society of Mary college prep high schools in Ireland, St. Mary’s College, Catholic University School and Chanel College. St. Mary’s and Catholic University, the oldest of the two, were founded in 1860 and 1867, respectively. Chanel is a mere 61 years old. For senior cheerleader Maggie Fitzgerald, who was making her first trip to Ireland, it was a unique opportunity.

“I really loved visiting the Marist school (St. Mary’s) in Ireland,” said Fitzgerald. “The people at the school were nice and hospitable. It was just like we were at our own school.”

On Sept. 1, the streets of Dublin were lined with thousands of people as the Boston College and Georgia Tech marching bands and cheerleaders led a parade to Trinity College for a pep rally. All six high schools’ coaches, players and cheerleaders followed behind the colleges in the parade.

“The parade was awesome,” said Katy Flanagan, a senior Blessed Trinity cheerleader. Flanagan, who was experiencing her first trip out of the United States, thought it was amazing how many local residents of all ages came out for the parade. “I felt like a celebrity,” said Flanagan. “I didn’t expect so many people to be excited about our presence. The crowd really got into it.”

The following day the three high school games took place at Donnybrook Stadium. In the Blessed Trinity game, St. Peter’s Prep won 41-28. In the final game of the day, Marist shut out Belen Jesuit 27-0. The proceeds from the games benefited Special Olympics Ireland.

On Sept. 3, their final day in Ireland, Marist and Blessed Trinity groups attended the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, where Boston College faced off against Georgia Tech before a crowd of nearly 41,000 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Before the game Marist senior cheerleaders and players had a chance to hold the Irish flag, while Blessed Trinity trainers, players and coaches were among those holding the American flag. The flags, approximately 45 feet in length, were prominently displayed on the field during the playing of each country’s national anthem. In the game Georgia Tech edged out Boston College 17-14.

That evening the six high schools gathered for an awards banquet. Blessed Trinity’s Joe Anderson and Marist School’s Jack O’Keefe, both seniors, were recipients of the Global Student Ambassador Award, which recognizes distinguished character and leadership on and off the field.

“Coach told me I had to get up and say a few words on behalf of the team at the banquet, but I was surprised by the award,” said Anderson.

After the banquet Marist and Blessed Trinity held separate vigil Masses prior to their Sunday morning departure. Marist Father Joel Konzen was the main celebrant of the Mass at their hotel in Trim and Father Tran was the main celebrant of the liturgy at Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dublin.

“In between practice and the games, we had a chance to see churches and observe first hand Ireland’s rich history of Catholicism,” said O’Keefe. He said celebrating the closing Mass was a great way to cap off the trip.

Since the excursion to Ireland, Blessed Trinity has gone on to win five of its last six games, including a 28-26 victory over Marist Oct. 21. Marist has won five of its last seven. On Nov. 4 Blessed Trinity (7-2) takes on visiting West Hall High School of Oakwood and Marist (5-3) plays host to White County High School of Cleveland.