BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND — What was meant to be a goodwill sporting event connecting the United States and Northern Ireland has gotten off to a shaky start—thanks to an ill-advised tweet from one of America’s most iconic universities.
The University of Notre Dame’s hockey team issued an apology this week after publishing fan guidelines that discouraged wearing green clothing or displaying any symbols associated with Irish identity—an ironic move, given the school’s own branding as the “Fighting Irish.”
The guidance, posted on X (formerly Twitter), was intended for supporters traveling to Belfast later this month for the Friendship Four, a college hockey tournament featuring Notre Dame, Boston University, Harvard, and Merrimack College.
‘Know Before You Go’ Gone Wrong
In the since-deleted post, Notre Dame hockey urged fans to avoid wearing green, shamrocks, the Irish flag, leprechaun imagery, or any gear featuring the words Fighting Irish or Irish. The rationale? Such symbols “may be deemed offensive to some” while walking around Belfast.
The advisory was accompanied by a graphic under the banner “Know Before You Go”, which specifically listed what not to wear. A follow-up image clarified what was considered safe: navy and gold clothing, official Notre Dame Hockey apparel, or anything featuring the school’s monogram.
The backlash was swift.
Critics online—particularly from Ireland and Irish-American communities—called the guidance tone-deaf at best and offensive at worst, especially given Notre Dame’s deep ties to Irish heritage and Catholic identity.
An Ironic Misstep
Notre Dame, based in South Bend, Indiana, is widely regarded as a cultural touchstone for Irish-American pride. Its mascot is a leprechaun, its logo features shamrocks, and its athletic identity is built around being the Fighting Irish. The university was founded in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin, a French priest, alongside a number of Irish Catholic missionaries.
To suggest that symbols of Irishness could be “offensive” struck many as both historically blind and culturally insensitive—particularly in a country where the symbols in question carry complex and deeply rooted meanings.
In Northern Ireland, green clothing and Irish imagery can indeed be interpreted through a political or sectarian lens, but local commentators noted that visitors—especially American sports fans—are unlikely to spark tensions simply by showing pride in a university with a rich Irish legacy.
Notre Dame Responds
By Tuesday evening, Notre Dame’s hockey team walked back the guidance, stating it had been posted “out of an abundance of caution” and was “not properly reviewed.”
“Our game in Belfast is meant to bring people together and build bridges through sport,” the team wrote in a follow-up post. “We apologize to fans and to the people of Northern Ireland for any confusion or offense.”
Hockey Meets Heritage
The Friendship Four is a relatively new tradition in college hockey, designed to bring NCAA teams to Belfast and celebrate transatlantic ties. For Notre Dame, whose athletic teams have traveled to Ireland before—including a high-profile football game in Dublin in 2023—the tournament offers another opportunity to engage with its Irish roots.
Notre Dame’s participation was meant to be a celebration of culture, sport, and shared history. The backlash underscores how delicate those intersections can be, especially when Irish identity is involved.
Looking Ahead
Notre Dame will take the ice in Belfast at the end of November, alongside some of the NCAA’s most storied programs. With the controversy now behind them, the team—and its fans—can focus on what brought them across the Atlantic in the first place: hockey, community, and connection.
And perhaps this time, with pride in their colors—including green—firmly intact.
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