Numbers show how Ireland was ‘Much More Than a Game’ for Carolina
Carolina participated in a week's worth of research, academics, service and other events around the season-opening football victory in Ireland.
The Carolina football team’s season-opening victory over TCU may have been the centerpiece of a week in Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, but Tar Heels spread Carolina Blue across Dublin in many other ways.
University leaders, faculty, staff, students and alumni truly made the week “Much More Than a Game,” participating in events that spanned research, medicine, business, innovation, arts and more.
These numbers tell the story of Carolina’s visit to the Emerald Isle.
From business to the arts, pharmacy to public service and beyond, Carolina had representatives from 23 different units take part in “Much More Than a Game” events while in Ireland.
Carolina leaders including Provost Magnus Egerstedt, Barbara Stephenson, vice provost for global affairs); Kim Brouwer, interim dean of UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy; Penny Gordon-Larsen, vice chancellor for research; Devin Duncan, student body president; and María Estorino, University librarian, visit Trinity College in Dublin. (Michael O’Malley/UNC-Chapel Hill)
As part of the Carolina Global Launch program, students each year begin their Tar Heel journeys at the University of Limerick, located in Ireland’s third-largest city. This year, 38 students from that program were able to attend their first Carolina football game while abroad.
The live Rameses mascot couldn’t make the international trip, but thankfully a friend — or cousin, perhaps — stepped in.
Seamus is from a farm in Ireland run by the Hogan family — the same name (no relation) as Rameses’ family in Chapel Hill. He donned blue horns and a Carolina Blue jacket for the football game against TCU.
Seamus, the Irish “cousin” of Carolina mascot Rameses, poses for photos. (UNC-Chapel Hill)
More than 70 student-athletes from Carolina’s football and women’s soccer teams traveled internationally for the first time for their games in Ireland. Some team members took advantage of the Phillips Passport Initiative, a program that funds first passports for undergraduates.
Dozens of Carolina volunteers participated in the Localise Day of Service at Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin, assembling 150 care packages on the morning of the football game.
Carolina leaders, Rameses, cheerleaders and more pose for a photo during the Localise Day of Service at Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin. Those in attendance included Aime Wall, dean of the UNC School of Government, and Lynn Blanchard, director of the Carolina Center for Public Service. (UNC Chapel Hill)
Tar Heels participated in 40 events throughout the week, including a visit to Trinity College, Investicon, a football clinic with local children and more.
Tar Heel musicians provided tunes throughout the week. The marching band played at pep rallies and other gigs around the city in addition to the game, and the Carolina Bluegrass band performed at several spots in Dublin — including a set with Rhiannon Giddens at the Royal Irish Music Academy. Altogether, 108 Tar Heel musicians made the trip to provide a soundtrack to the visit.
Carolina’s football team spent part of its time in Ireland teaching American football to local children while also learning about traditional Irish spots. The day before they beat TCU, 40 Tar Heels visited Ballyboden St. Enda’s GAA Club for the clinic.
Carolina defensive back Reggie Love II speaks to Ballyboden St Enda’s players during the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic North Carolina Football Clinic at Ballyboden St Enda’s Gaelic Athletic Association Club in Dublin, where Tar Heel football players taught American football skills to local youth and learned Gaelic football skills from them. (UNC-Chapel Hill)
The women’s soccer team blanked Irish professional team Shelbourne FC 3-0 in an exhibition Friday night behind goals from Scottie Antonucci, Summer Denigan and Bella Devey. The matchup was the most-attended women’s soccer match ever at Dublin’s Tolka Park, which opened in 1924.
Tar Heels Scottie Antonucci (left), Summer Denigan (center) and Shaela Bradley (right) celebrate during Carolina’s 3-0 exhibition victory against Shelbourne FC on Aug. 28. (UNC-Chapel Hill)
The Tar Heels’ victory over TCU, televised on ESPN, drew 4.9 million viewers with a peak of 5.8 million to make it the most-watched game of the weekend and the second most-watched Week Zero game since 2019.
Benjamin Hall runs with the ball during the Tar Heels’ victory. (Jeffrey Camarati/GoHeels)
Other ways Carolina made an impact in Ireland:
- 150 alumni attended events in Dublin, according to Carolina Alumni.
- $98 million, or 85 million euros, in estimated economic impact for Dublin the week of the game.
- 9 UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media students reported live across Dublin for the events, gathering content for an upcoming documentary.
- 49 selfies Provost Magnus Egerstedt took with Tar Heels across Dublin during the week.
- 3,981 Tar Heel fans attended the game at Aviva Stadium, according to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
- 3,112 miles were traveled from Carolina’s campus to Aviva Stadium.
- 49 consecutive minutes Carolina football held TCU scoreless to secure the victory, including shutting out the Horned Frogs in the second half.
