The annual rivalry game between Notre Dame and Navy will return to Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 26, 2023, the programs announced Friday.
The Fighting Irish and Midshipmen were scheduled to play in Dublin in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to scrap the trip and, ultimately, the game. It was the first year the two teams didn’t meet on the gridiron since the rivalry began in 1927.
It will mark the third time Notre Dame and Navy play in Ireland. Aviva Stadium, a rugby and soccer stadium in Dublin, will host the game. It previously hosted in 2012, and prior to that they faced off at Croke Park in 1996.
Notre Dame gave up a scheduled home game in order to reschedule the Dublin showdown. Typically, the Fighting Irish host Navy in South Bend, Ind., in odd-numbered years while the teams play at neutral sites around the country in even-numbered years.
Navy and Notre Dame also announced the extension of their series contract through 2032.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide another opportunity for our team and fans to experience the culture and hospitality of Ireland,” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. “This trip overseas continues to strengthen our academic and athletic presence around the globe. Bringing a Notre Dame football home game atmosphere to Ireland has been a goal of ours and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Naval Academy to make it happen.”
“The Navy fan-based support and enthusiasm for this game in Ireland is already overwhelming and with the ongoing support of the Prime Minister and the Irish government, it will again be an extraordinary experience,” Navy AD Chet Gladchuk said in a statement. “We look forward to our visit and a competitive contest against Notre Dame in a country that knows no bounds for hospitality.”
–Field Level Media