35,000 Americans arrive ahead of football game

The Emerald Isle Classic is expected to rank alongside the Ryder Cup and the Special Olympics in terms of the numbers of tourists it attracts.

An estimated 35,000 Americans are due to arrive in Dublin before tomorrow's American Football game between Notre Dame and the US Naval Academy at the Aviva.

The event follows the huge success of the Tall Ships Races and will give Ireland a much needed €100m tourism boost.