AT LAST the American Independence Day celebrations in Ireland got a break from the fitful Irish summer, with blazing sunshine and a warm breeze.
By the close of business on Friday, the embassy had 2,700 confirmations for yesterday’s celebrations at the US ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park.
By the looks of things yesterday, they all showed up.
It seems every bouncy castle and slide in Ireland was commandeered for the “kids’ zone” in the walled garden section of the residence.
Independent TD Shane Ross had a go on the giant inflatable slide along with his grandchildren.
Also spotted in the same area was former tanáiste Mary Coughlan, who was there with her daughter. “I was always invited, but I never had the time in the past,” she said, reflecting on how life has changed since losing her seat in the election.
“I’m just at home. I have more time with the kids. I’m going to enjoy Donegal for a couple of months and then I’m going to move on.”
The centrepiece of yesterday’s celebrations was an American football match, with tags replacing the helmets and padding, between two scratch teams made up of embassy staff, locally based marines and expatriates.
The match between the Phoenix Park Pirates and the Dublin 8s took place on a full-size American football pitch complete with grandstand, big screens and commentary.
The day was a mixture of American patriotism, with the red, white and blue in evidence everywhere, and American commerce, with part-sponsorship by Pepsi and stands supplying Starbucks, Gatorade, Budweiser and Häagen-Dazs ice-cream.
The main fare was of American fast-food fame – the hotdog and the hamburger.
Presiding over it all was the 78-year-old football-mad American ambassador Dan Rooney, who made sure that every guest knew they were entering “Steelers’ country” – a reference to the Pittsburg Steelers, the storied team owned by his family since 1933.
The ambassador had good reason to reflect on the strength of the ties between Ireland and the US following President Obama’s visit in May.
The president’s speech at College Green was shown on the big screen. And the president’s distant cousin, Henry Healy – otherwise known as Henry VIII – and Moneygall publican Ollie Hayes turned up for a short time before heading back for their own Independence Day celebrations in Co Offally.
Speaking over the din of a marching band, Mr Rooney said: “We sent out the invitations and they were all accepted. That was such a great thing. Irish-American relations have never been better.”