ORANGE SLICES

By Laurie Paolicelli
Guest Columnist

Eight Time Super Bowl Champion & UNC Head Coach Bill Belichick announcing the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, TCU vs. UNC, August 29th in Aviva Stadium.

Although here at Orange Slices we generally prefer to write about the people, places and good deeds taking place in Chapel Hill and Orange County, we’re making an exception this week.

This week we’re hoping you’ll consider getting out of town and traveling to Dublin, Ireland, during the last week of August. A big ask!

Why?

The occasion is a historic one.

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels will face the TCU Horned Frogs in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Eastern Time, which conveniently translates to 5 p.m. in Dublin—just about the time the Irish have perfected the art of gathering with friends and discussing life’s important topics.

This game marks the first international football game in Tar Heel history and kicks off the second season under legendary coach Bill Belichick.

So there’s a football game. But there are other good reasons to go too.

First, because we love the Tar Heels and believe the people of Ireland deserve to experience firsthand what happens when several thousand North Carolinians wearing Carolina blue arrive in a city and begin discussing basketball, football, barbecue and whether Michael Jordan remains the greatest athlete in human history.

Second, we would like Ireland to see how wonderful Tar Heel fans are, become completely charmed by them, and then hop aboard that direct Aer Lingus flight to North Carolina to explore Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough.

And third—if we’re being honest—we enjoy a little friendly bragging. Imagine the photographs if the largest cheering section in Dublin is filled with Tar Heel blue.

That’s the kind of thing that becomes family legend.

The Irish are famously warm, witty and welcoming. They possess an uncanny ability to tell stories that somehow become funnier with each retelling. They also have a gift for making complete strangers feel like they’ve been friends for years.

Tar Heel fans, on the other hand, are known for discussing UNC sports with complete strangers for years.

It’s a perfect match.

Dublin, Ireland

Visitors can expect to encounter ancient castles, lively pubs, musicians seemingly hiding around every corner and streets that have witnessed centuries of history. Dublin is a modern European capital city filled with art, culture, technology, music, and history that manages to feel both ancient and energetic at the same time.

And the food? Tar Heel travelers will likely encounter hearty Irish breakfasts, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, fresh seafood, brown bread, sausage rolls, and enough potatoes to make North Carolinians briefly question whether they have been underachieving in the potato department all these years.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the trip won’t even be the football game.

It may be the stories shared over meals, or the music heard in a small corner pub, or the realization that people separated by an ocean often have more in common than they think.

And for one weekend, North Carolina and Ireland will become connected through sports, friendship and a shared appreciation for good stories.

Which, when you think about it, sounds both very Irish and very Tar Heel.

Just don’t be surprised if you come home with a few extra pounds, hundreds of photographs, several new friends, and a sudden desire to tell long stories that improve with every telling.

The Irish have been known to have that effect on people.

For ticket information, travel packages and details about joining fellow Tar Heel fans in Dublin, visit: www.tarheels2ireland.com

Dublin Aviva Stadium

Five Fun Facts Before You Go to Dublin

1. Bill Belichick Has Six Super Bowl Rings

Tar Heel head coach Bill Belichick enters his second season at Carolina as one of the most successful coaches in football history. During his time with the New England Patriots, Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach and helped redefine modern professional football. Dublin may be accustomed to legends, but seeing Belichick pacing the sidelines in Carolina blue will certainly be a historic first.

2. Aviva Stadium Sits on Sacred Sporting Ground

The Tar Heels will play at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, a modern 47,000-seat venue built on the site of the historic Lansdowne Road Stadium. Sports have been played on this location since 1872, making it one of the oldest international sporting sites in the world. In Ireland, sporting traditions run deep, and Tar Heel fans will be stepping into a venue that has hosted rugby championships, soccer matches, and international events for generations.

3. The Irish Love Walking

One of Ireland’s favorite pastimes is simply going for a walk. Whether it’s a stroll through a village, a hike along the coast, or a ramble through the countryside, walking is woven into everyday Irish life. Visitors may discover that what begins as a “short walk” can quickly become a three-mile journey filled with stories, laughter, and at least one recommendation for a nearby pub.

4. Guinness Is King—But Not Alone

The most famous beer ordered in Dublin is undoubtedly Guinness, which has been brewed in the city since 1759. However, locals also enjoy Smithwick’s Red Ale, Harp Lager, and an ever-growing collection of craft beers. For many visitors, a stop at the Guinness Storehouse is practically a rite of passage. Even those who don’t drink often find themselves fascinated by the history, advertising, and panoramic views of the city.

5. Ireland Has More Sheep Than You Might Expect

Depending on the year and region, Ireland is home to several million sheep—often outnumbering people in rural areas. Visitors traveling outside Dublin may find themselves sharing scenic roads with flocks grazing on impossibly green hillsides. Consider it a reminder that while Dublin is a thriving international capital, much of Ireland remains wonderfully connected to its agricultural roots.

Share your thoughts with me here, Laurie Paolicelli

Disclaimer: Published by Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Public Relations team, this story includes interviews and repurposed content from websites and partner press releases. For more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie Paolicelli.

Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This reporter can be reached at Information@TheLocalReporter.press