Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE ICE HOCKEY team of the University of Notre Dame in the US has apologised for telling fans not to wear anything green or featuring the word “Irish” on it during an upcoming visit to Belfast.
On Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November, Notre Dame will be one of four US universities taking part in the ‘Friendship Four’ ice hockey tournament in Belfast’s SSE Arena.
Ahead of this Belfast tournament, Notre Dame’s ice hockey account on X posted “know before you go” guidelines to fans who were travelling.
It advised travelling fans to not wear anything that was green, or that featured the Ireland flag, shamrocks, or leprechauns.
Notre Dame’s merchandise often features a fighting leprechaun, as it is the mascot of the university’s American Football team.
In the now deleted post on X, fans were further advised to not wear anything which said “Irish” or “Fighting Irish” – the term for the university’s American Football team.
Fans were advised to instead wear Notre Dame merchandise which was navy and gold, or that featured the ‘ND monogram.
In a statement last night, the university’s ice hockey account said the guidelines were issued to travelling fans “out of an abundance of caution”.
It added that the guidelines were “not properly reviewed and should not have been posted”.
A statement on our upcoming trip to Belfast. pic.twitter.com/UVB8qRlOas
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) November 19, 2024
“Our game in Belfast is meant to bring people together and build bridges through sport, we apologise to the fans and to the people of Northern Ireland for any confusion or offence.”
The Friendship Four tournament has been held annually in Belfast since 2015 and is the first and only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One men’s ice hockey tournament to take place outside of the United States.
The tournament was conceived as a way to build upon Belfast’s Sister City agreement with Boston.
This year’s competition features the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Boston University, and Merrimack College.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
@Paul m Doe what do you identify as, a frying pan
@Fifi Ryan: a troll
@Fifi Ryan: Don’t insult a frying pan, at least it’s useful for something
Interesting that The SF article got shut down… very telling
@Paul M Doe: get a job
@Paul M Doe: # SF obsessed/ troll
@Paul M Doe: get a life you total con artist
Why is this weird? They specifically ban anthems and flags at the Belfast Giants games specifically to make it a neutral non sectarian space. It’s part of why the Giants have been around so long. One of the few sports in NI that don’t have baggage from one side or the other.
Great nights entertainment, would recommend the trip up for a game if anyone hasn’t been.
@Liam OTailliuir: The people aren’t wearing these symbols because they’re Catholic, they’re wearing them because it’s literally the motto of the school. The Norte Dam Fighting Irish. It has nothing to do with religion so I don’t know why you brought the word sectarian into it.
@Liam OTailliuir:
@Gerry Campbell: well said
@Cole Palmer: You expect loyalists to understand?
Who gives a s h 1 t
@Paul M Doe: says a man without principles..
@Clare Power: did you just assume my gender Karen? I’m deeply offended :(
@Paul M Doe: I did Paul, but to be fair, no women would come up with the drivel you put out…
@Paul M Doe: right enough you sound like a little bi*#h
@William Slevin: William welcome back…a long holiday was it…
@William Slevin: Hmmm…I don’t know… to spare you’re blushes I won’t tell anyone else about the last time u posted here… Anyway, I hope you have healed…
@Paul M Doe: you do by the fact you came here to A- read about it and B- comment about it.
@William Slevin: my lips are sealed….for now..
Good advice
Nostradamus could have predicted this
It specifically says don’t wear ‘Irish’ or ‘green’ so that’s pretty tone deaf stuff they seem to be highly suggesting that most people will not approve of this at the game so thats pretty tone deaf. The funniest thing to do with being anti Irish I’ve seen in ages is still a pic that was shared to what I sincerely hope is now a reported racist Facebook page which had devout unionists referring to Aer Lingus planes as (archaic slur goes here) planes they want to stop flying over ‘their part of Belfast’ immediately saying they’re sick of them.. knuckle dragging and just plain bizarre. No surrendurr !!
Who stole my purple sandals?
Notre Dame is itself a “catlick” term of reference and should be banned. Hahahahahaha!
@Padraig O’Brien: you should let other people tell you you’re funny. They literally use Irish symbols over in the states for Notre Dame, Boston Celtics etc. this direction was completely ridiculous and a little offensive too
have your say