Iowa State University Athletics
Exploring Ireland: Preparing for the 2025 Aer Lingus Classic
10.25.2024 | Football, Athletics
Members of the Iowa State Athletics Department spent three days in Ireland over the summer, preparing for the 2025 Aer Lingus Football Classic next season. This is the third in a three-part series on things to do in the Dublin area outside of the 2025 Aer Lingus Classic against Kansas State, slated for Aug. 23, 2025. Click here to read the first story in the series and click here to read the second story in the series. Travel and hospitality packages for the game are available now at Cyclones2Ireland.com. To learn more about the game, visit CollegeFootballIreland.com.
Kildare Village, located within County Kildare's rolling countryside, is home to more than 120 boutiques including Armani, Louise Kennedy and Mulberry. Its beautifully landscaped, open-air setting is just an hour southwest of central Dublin and perfectly situated for routes to regions including Cork, Limerick and Galway. With boutiques from homegrown Irish and international luxury brands – offering year-round savings on the recommended retail price – sit alongside restaurants and cafés such Dunne & Crescenzi L’Officina’s ultra-modern Italian, where you can enjoy all-day dining and on-the-go culinary treats. Enjoy renowned hospitality with an array of guest services, including a multilingual Concierge, Personal Shoppers, Hands-free Shopping and Kildare Village from home. Open seven days a week and less than an hour from Dublin, Kildare Village is easy to reach by road and rail.
Kildare Village
While shopping at Kildare Village, which had to include a stop at the Nike Store, we found some Irish children that were excited to throw on the Iowa State jersey and toss an American Football around. As it's not very common in Ireland, just the sight of an American Football peaks the interest of the Irish.
Irish National Stud and Gardens
The Irish National Stud is a Thoroughbred horse breeding facility in Tully, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland. It was formally established by incorporation on April 11, 1946 under the National Stud Act, 1945 and is owned by the Irish Government. Some of the best thoroughbred horses in history call the Irish National Stud home, including Invincible Spirit, Lucky Vega and Hurricane Fly. One of the highlights of the Irish National Stud was the “Irish Racehorse Experience". Using an iPad, you do everything associated with your horse from picking it's trainer and attributes to actually racing the horse in a simuated race where you are the jockey (by the way, the author of this story won the race).
The Irish National Stud’s Japanese Gardens, renowned throughout the world and the finest of their kind in Europe, are far more than simply a treat for the eye. They also provide comfort to the soul, achieving exactly the objective that was set out when the gardens were created between 1906 and 1910. Devised by Colonel William Hall Walker, a wealthy Scotsman from a famous brewing family, the gardens were laid out by Japanese master horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. Their aim was, through trees, plants, flowers, lawns, rocks and water, to symbolise the ‘Life of Man’.
This might have been the highlight of the trip. Johnnie Fox’s situated in Dublin is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland, and steeped in history since 1798. Renowned for being the highest pub in the country, nestled in the peaceful township of Glencullen & surrounded by the beautiful scenery & serenity of the Dublin Mountains. We attended a Hooley Show on a Wednesday night and the place was packed. The Hooley show at Johnnie Fox’s offers hugely experienced, traditional Irish Musicians, and the world-famous, talented Johnnie Fox’s Irish Dancers, all accompanied by a four- course meal of delicious Irish Fayre. The moment the stage rises and the music fills the room, you can feel the magic in the air. As the show goes on, the energy in the room builds, you find yourself being transported to a different world. The atmosphere is electric, you can’t help but be swept up in the excitement of it all. Every moment is a feast for the senses, from the dazzling costumes to the fast beat choreography. By the time the show ends and the performers take their final bow, you’ll be left feeling exhilarated and amazed. In addition to the show being amazing, the meal was one of the best I've ever had. I doubled up on seafood, with Fox's Seafood Chowder as my appatizer and Fox's Seafood Pie as my main meal. I wasn't disappointed. Top it off with a little Homemade Apple Pie and it was a great night.
