On Thursday evening, the US Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith was back in the Ambassador's Residence in Phoenix Park, hosting a reception for the National Football League's American Bowl 1997.
The park deer seemed completely unfazed by the arrival of the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers in their midst, and they even ignored the Golden Knights, a US parachute team, as it landed in the grounds of the American Ambassador's residence. The welcome wagon was out in force for the NFL players, and Thursday's reception was the first of many social engagements which will lead up to the big game at Croker tomorrow.
The team members played a golf tournament at St Margaret's yesterday, then attended a reception hosted by the Provost of Trinity in the grounds of the College; then on a pub tour of Dublin city.
Tonight, the NFL players attend a charity dinner at the Burlington Hotel, hosted by the Ireland Funds for the Irish Youth Foundation and Special Olympics Ireland. Sitting at the Ambassador's table will be her brother, Senator Edward Kennedy and his wife, Victoria and other high-flying guests include Tony O'Reilly and his wife, Robin, Gavin O'Reilly and his wife, Alison Doody, Tony Smurfit and Sharon Smurfit, and Gerald and Clodagh Kean. Nick Kouramianos, head of Cable And Wireless and president of the American Chamber Of Commerce in Ireland, will also be there, as will Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears. Broadcaster Ian Dempsey will be sit at the Special Olympics' table, and Aonghus McAnally will compere the evening's entertainment.