The Emerald Isle now touched with Carolina Blue

Editor’s note: Carolina beat TCU 15-10 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Aug. 29. Read more about the game in this GoHeels recap.

DUBLIN — Chancellor Lee H. Roberts looked around in wonder at the sanctuary of the 800-year-old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the area known as Medieval Dublin. The building was conceived in the 12th century, constructed of local limestone and features a cruciform-styled nave running the length of a football field.

Ever since Carolina agreed more than a year ago to open its 2026 football season in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Carolina’s chancellor had immersed himself in Irish history and culture and its connections to Carolina and the state of North Carolina.

He learned that the University’s first leader, called the “presiding professor,” in 1794 was an Irishman named David Kerr, who was born in Downpatrick, Ireland, and graduated from Trinity College.

He looked back in time at the profound impact the Scots-Irish immigrants had in settling and developing the state of North Carolina.

He looked at the here and now, at how 40% of Ireland’s exports are pharmaceuticals and how Carolina has the No. 1 ranked pharmacy school in the nation and Chapel Hill is in the thick of the Research Triangle Park, a global hotbed for pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

It all kept making perfect sense, and here on Friday morning, Aug. 28, was the cherry on top. Roberts was inside this massive and historical structure for a ceremony for some visitors from Texas to present a plaque for display in the church honoring the 10 Irishmen who died in the 13-day Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Among the guests were Davy Crockett’s great-great- grandson as well as dignitaries from Chapel Hill and Fort Worth.

“It was a remarkable experience,” Roberts said. “You do not get something like that at every football game.”

And he learned something he didn’t know: Among a handful of North Carolinians who died at the Alamo was Claiborne Wright.

“My mother’s maiden name was Claiborne,” he said. “Who knows ….?”

Therein is the kernel of why this game made sense to Roberts. Take the football game as the trunk of the tree and expand it in myriad directions in keeping with the event organizers’ theme that the week is “much more than a game.”

“The University of North Carolina is our model partner on ‘much more than a game.’ They’re the gold standard,” said event founder John Anthony. “They have leaned into the idea of making this a university event like none other we’ve had here. It’s been brilliant.”

The deans of the UNC School of Medicine, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School attended and networked with Irish educators and business leaders.

The Carolina Bluegrass Band, an all-student ensemble within the music department, performed at a symposium at the Royal Irish Music Academy on Thursday afternoon and Friday night took the stage with Irish folk musicians at a Dublin pub.

The 50 first-year students who’ll begin studies this fall at University of Limerick through Carolina Global Launch will be given tickets and will sit together on Saturday.

Roberts was quick in a good-natured way to counter any “biggest and best” claim from anyone from the state of Texas, mentioning that the Tar Heel women’s soccer team would stage an exhibition match Friday night, and no team in the history of the world could match its 23 national titles.

“This week is amazing,” said Carolina Student Body President Devin Duncan.

“This is exactly what a global, public-education university should be doing — helping students to take what they learn in the classroom wherever they go and represent our state and university around the world.”

Magnus Egerstedt, executive vice chancellor and provost, and other University leaders visit Trinity College Dublin ahead of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. (Michael O’Malley/UNC-Chapel Hill)

And, of course, there was a lot of fun — with or without a grander purpose.

Tar Heel fans explored all corners of Ireland for a week leading up to the game, scattering Carolina Blue to contrast with the omnipresent green of Ireland. It’s the land of shamrocks, corned beef, Guinness stout, horse racing, Gaelic football, James Joyce and Bono.

“This might interest you,” Roberts told one gathering, furthering the historical tidbit theme. “Bono and U2 performed a concert in Kenan Stadium in the mid-1980s. It was a rainy day, and he thanked Chapel Hill for providing them weather that reminded them of home.”

Chancellor Lee H. Roberts presents Lord Mayor of Dublin Daryl Barron with a gift — a replica of the Old Well — at a welcome reception.
(Doug Van Sant/ALCFC)

The visitors from North Carolina hiked. They explored ancient castles. They partook of dark ale and hearty steak pies. The women’s soccer team petted the sheep at Causey Farms outside Dublin.

Former Tar Heel football player Pat Crowley and his wife, Leah, traveled the southwest corner of the island, hitting the Dingle Peninsula, Connemara National Park and the Aran Islands.

“It’s a beautiful country with more mountains than I expected,” Crowley said. “We made it to the top of several.”

Another visitor was Ethan Albright, a former Tar Heel lineman. He and his wife, Kathy, were making their second trip to the Aer Lingus game. Their son Lawson was a tight end for Northwestern when the Wildcats played Nebraska in 2022 in Dublin and left with a 31-28 victory.

“We loved the vibe that week,” Albright said. “They created a bowl game atmosphere. It was a lot of fun at the stadium. The fans were loud and really into it.”

The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs kick off Saturday at 5 p.m. Dublin time. No matter the final score, the week will have been a victory for Roberts and the University community and everyone who made the trip to Dublin.

“It’s what Ireland is all about,” said Anthony. “If you don’t have fun in Ireland, it’s your own fault.”