In preparation for the opening game of the college football season in Dublin on Saturday between Georgia Tech and Florida State, ESPN's College Gameday will be broadcast live from the city centre.
The 3hr live broadcast (2pm -5pm) is American College Football’s premier pre-game show and last season the programme reached 30 million viewers.
The live show from Dublin is the first time ever that the programme has been broadcast outside of the USA.
In preparation for the event, Dublin City Council said Dame Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 8pm on Friday 23rd and 6am on Sunday 25th of August.
Foster Place will also be closed from 3pm on Wednesday, August 21st until 6am on Sunday, August 25th.
The event is family-friendly, free, non-ticketed and open to the public.
As part of the College GameDay event experience on College Green, Dublin City Council will provide entertainment including traditional Irish musical performances, and dancing.
In addition, the street will be dressed with College Football and GameDay branding and material to promote Dublin as the host city, providing all visitors with their own photographic/Instagram memories.
Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan said: “I am delighted to welcome so many of our American friends to the city of Dublin this weekend, and this event once again proves how capable our capital city is of hosting major sporting events.
"The presence of ESPN this weekend will help showcase the beauty of our capital city to a worldwide audience”.
“Travelling College GameDay overseas and sharing the excitement and traditions of college football with sports fans from other countries is something we’ve always wanted to do,” said Seth Markman, ESPN vice president and executive producer.
“Ireland is an amazing country known for having very passionate sports fans, so we expect an incredible atmosphere and experience for this first-ever international show in Dublin.”
Bus services in the Temple Bar area on the Quays and Westmoreland Street will continue to operate.
The LUAS green line will continue to operate. Any temporary relocation of bus stops from Dame Street to other locations will be publicised via the National Transport Authority website.
The Taxi Ranks from Foster Place and College Green will be moved temporarily to D’Olier Street.
As part of a busy weekend in the capital, Dublin City Council is also delighted to announce the return of its Smithfield Fleadh for its third successive year.
The free, family-friendly outdoor event will take place on the 24th and 25th August from 12pm– 6pm at Smithfield Square, Dublin city centre’s largest dedicated event space.
The event will showcase the vibrancy of traditional Irish music in modern Ireland with internationally recognised artists and grassroots artists alike.
This year will see more opportunities for visitors to engage with the artists through music sessions, workshops and céilís for all the family to enjoy.
