Monday, September 21
Terrible Towel Tour is underway: A contingent from the Steelers has already touched down in Ireland, and are making their way across the island, visiting various cities as part of a Terrible Towel Tour, presented by Aer Lingus.
Throughout the multi-day tour, which touches all parts of Ireland, the group is stopping along the way and visiting with local celebrities and dignitaries, in a Steelers branded Terrible Towel van.
The main reason for the tour is to visit the different areas of Ireland, something late Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney Sr. did while he was the United States Ambassador to Ireland and visited every county. The trip is also an opportunity to learn more about the Irish culture, while also distributing Terrible Towels to the locals in advance of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park.
Led by Max Starks, the former offensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion, getting the towels twirling along the route was first and foremost.
"I have to teach the twirl. That's the first thing," said Starks. "It's about getting a group together. It's almost like a yoga class. Warm up the elbow, get the shoulder rotator cuff going, and then you make sure you have a good grip on the towel.
"You have to pick a corner to hold the towel. You have a lucky corner or whatever corner. You bunch it up and then you just make sure that twirl is consistent. Almost like a lasso. You got to get it done."
The tour began in Dublin, which will be the main point of activity for Steelers Nation this week. Starks stopped by the Steelers Pro Shop in Dublin to pick up a supply of Terrible Towels to take along with him on the tour.
"It's amazing," said Starks. "You would love to say it's a dream come true, but I don't even think I could have that dream. So, it's something of fantasy to be able to do this."
The next stop on the first day of the tour was in Kilkenny, where the group visited the Kilkenny Castle. The Castle was founded after the Norman conquest of Ireland and rebuilt and adapted to suit 'changing circumstances and uses' over a period of 800 years. The castle, which is open to visitors, is a Victorian remodeling of the 13th century defensive Castle.
It was then on to Killarney for the final stop of the day, where they met and toured the city with Gaelic football player Paudie Clifford. Clifford, a lifelong Steelers fan, announced one of the Steelers draft picks in 2024 from a draft party in Ireland and was the perfect tour guide.
Visit the Pro Shop: Steelers fan who are traveling to Dublin for the Steelers-Vikings game, or those who live in the region, can visit the Steelers Pro Shop in Dublin.
A new 1,500 plus square foot shop opened earlier this month, featuring exclusive gear that is part of the Steelers Ireland Collection. The store also carries all the black and gold gear that any fan will need for game day and beyond.
The store, which is operated by National Merchandise, Europe's leading merchandise concessions company, will be open for the duration of the 2025 NFL season.
The store is located at 40 Clarendon Street, Dublin D02 R921.
Fans can also purchase Ireland Collection gear here.
Rally behind the black and gold: There is no doubt Steelers Nation is worldwide, and many are expected to attend the Steelers Tailgate in Dublin's Merrion Square to help kick off the festivities for the Steelers-Vikings NFL Dublin Game.
The tailgate will take place Friday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 28 and feature plenty of excitement including:
- Steelers alumni and guest appearances
- On-stage entertainment
- Football activities, tailgate games and photo opportunities
- Steelers official merchandise
- Tailgate food and beverages
- Flag football games
- Game watch party on Sunday
The full schedule for the tailgate is below:
Friday, September 26th from 4:00 - 7:00 PM IST
Saturday, September 27th from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM IST
Sunday, September 28th from 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM IST
The Steelers Tailgate is presented by Aer Lingus; supported by UPMC and Heinz.
Registration is free, but fans must RSVP to attend.
Steelers Nation takeover: Ireland is known for their pubs, and one of them will take on a Steelers feel for game weekend.
Fitzsimons Temple Bar will become the Steelers Pub and headquarters Friday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 28. The pub will be a gathering point for Steelers Nation, transformed into a black and gold hub featuring all things Steelers. There will be live content, giveaways, appearances by Steelers legends and much more.
• When: Friday, Sept. 26 – Sunday, Sept. 28
• Where: Fitzsimons, 21–22 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin D02 YK79
Friday Schedule: DVE Morning Show airs 11 AM - 3 PM IST; Legend Q & A from 3 - 5 PM IST; SNR Drive from 4 - 7 PM IST
Saturday Schedule: SNR Drive from 1 - 4 PM IST; Legend Q&A from 3 - 5 PM IST; DVE Morning Show airs 5 - 7 PM IST
--> More details: Fitzsimons Temple Bar Steelers takeover
Broadcast Crew: The Steelers will host the Minnesota Vikings in the 2025 NFL Dublin game on Sunday, Sept. 28, and the NFL Network broadcast crew has now been announced for the first NFL regular season game ever in Ireland.
The game, which will be simulcast on WTAE-TV in the Pittsburgh market, will feature play-by-play announcer Joe Davis, analyst Greg Olsen, and sideline reporters Pam Oliver and Jamie Erdahl, while Mike Pereira will serve as rules analyst.
Kickoff for the game at Croke Park will be at 9:30 am ET.
Game coverage will begin at 7 am ET on NFL Network with NFL GameDay Kickoff, live from Dublin with Colleen Wolfe.
Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.
Game Day entertainment: Award-winning music artist Myles Smith will perform at the halftime show during the 2025 NFL Dublin Game at Croke Park. Smith has showcased his sharp rise to stardom after winning the 2025 Rising Star BRIT Award as well as generating over one billion streams globally with hits such as Stargazing and Nice to Meet You. As part of his performance, Myles will be accompanied by The Line-Up Choir, a Dublin-based contemporary choir who will join for some of his biggest hits.
"It's an honor to be part of the NFL's first game in Ireland and be performing alongside all these amazing local artists," said Myles Smith. "Dublin has such great energy, and I hope my performance brings even more excitement to the day for fans attending and watching worldwide."
"We are excited to bring the very first NFL regular season game to Ireland, and there's no better stage than the legendary Croke Park," said Senior Director of Global Game Presentation and Entertainment at the NFL Tim Tubito. "Our aim is to celebrate this historic occasion with the kind of world-class entertainment fans expect from the NFL and showcasing a mix of global and local talent. With Myles Smith and a fantastic lineup of Irish performers, we look forward to creating an unforgettable game-day experience for fans to enjoy."
The NFL will look to infuse moments throughout the game to celebrate Irish culture and music. Prior to kickoff Irish star Lyra will perform the country's National Anthem Amhrán na bhFiann.
"As an Irish singer, standing at the center of Croke Park, singing in front of my fellow Irish and visitors from around the world, fills me with immense pride," said Lyra. "I am deeply grateful to the NFL for giving me the opportunity to represent my homeland at such a momentous occasion. To be part of such an iconic moment, as the NFL makes history with its first regular-season game in Ireland, is an honor I will carry in my heart forever."
"The NFL is synonymous with world-class sport and entertainment, and there's no better stage in Ireland than Croke Park," said NFL U.K. & Ireland General Manager Henry Hodgson. "We're looking forward to making Irish talent and traditions central to an unforgettable gameday experience for fans in the stadium and watching around the world."
In addition to pregame and halftime acts, there will be a host of performances by a range of local acts before and throughout the game to further bring even more entertainment around the game for the fans at Croke Park and watching worldwide, these will include:
• The Artane Marching Band
• Clada House Band
• Hit Machine Irish Drumline
-- From the NFL
Whether fans are staying stateside or traveling to the Emerald Isle, they can stay connected to the team and all the activities happening Ireland in the following ways:
• Stay Connected: Download the Steelers Mobile App for team updates and Ireland activities. Download the NFL OnePass app for game day details and additional fan information.
• Follow Along: Follow @SteelersIreland for all the happenings in Ireland via X, Instagram, and TikTok. Fans can also tune into the official Pittsburgh Steelers Irish podcast – emanating from the island of Ireland.
• Tune In: Fans staying stateside can watch the game on Sunday, Sept. 28 via NFL Network at 9:30AM EDT. Local fans in Pittsburgh can also watch the game on WTAE Channel 4.
• Featured Content: Fans can enjoy special Steelers programming leading up to game day, including A Steelers Story, Presented by Aer Lingus (Sept. 25), a new documentary on the late Dan Rooney and his impact on Ireland, and The Standard, Presented by Hyundai - Dublin Game Week Edition (Sept. 26), an inside look at the team and Croke Park's preparation for the historic matchup. Both will debut on Steelers digital and social platforms.
