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Dan Rooney Front Runner For Irish Ambassadorship


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Dan Rooney Front Runner For Irish Ambassadorship

Thursday, January 29, 2009 – updated: 6:24 pm EST January 29, 2009

 

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney is reportedly on the short list to be named the next ambassador to Ireland.

 

The Rooney family roots are in Newry, Northern Ireland and he visits the emerald isle frequently.

 

Rooney was an early supporter of President Obama and campaigned for him and last week gave him the game ball from the AFC championship game.

 

Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle said he thinks Rooney is a great choice to be ambassador to Ireland.

 

“I can't think of a finer ambassador for the United states to Ireland than Dan Rooney. The work they've done with the Ireland Institute the Rooney’s have been involved with work in peace and reconciliation,” Doyle said.

 

According to the Irish Times, the appointment is expected to be announced around St. Patrick’s Day,

Copyright 2009 by WPXI.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

http://www.wpxi.com/news/18597363/detail.html

 

 

Won't hurt Irelands chances of getting an NFL game

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  • 4 weeks later...

I grew up in Dublin, played college ball in Dundalk and American College Dublin. When I was at Dundalk my coach was from Newry and we played against Newry in a "friendly" game at their gym once. I guarded a guy who was 6'11" in that game and I'm 6'1, lol. All our big men were out sick and I could jump higher that anyone else. I used my low center of gravity to force him to shoot from distance and held him to like 4 points.

After that I transferred to American College and was taught English Composition by Dan Rooney's son Peter. The library there is also called the Rooney Library because Dan Rooney donated the money to maintain it. He gets my vote for sure

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Definitley not a Mccaskey!

 

Dan Rooney Front Runner For Irish Ambassadorship

Thursday, January 29, 2009 – updated: 6:24 pm EST January 29, 2009

 

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney is reportedly on the short list to be named the next ambassador to Ireland.

 

The Rooney family roots are in Newry, Northern Ireland and he visits the emerald isle frequently.

 

Rooney was an early supporter of President Obama and campaigned for him and last week gave him the game ball from the AFC championship game.

 

Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle said he thinks Rooney is a great choice to be ambassador to Ireland.

 

“I can't think of a finer ambassador for the United states to Ireland than Dan Rooney. The work they've done with the Ireland Institute the Rooney’s have been involved with work in peace and reconciliation,” Doyle said.

 

According to the Irish Times, the appointment is expected to be announced around St. Patrick’s Day,

Copyright 2009 by WPXI.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

http://www.wpxi.com/news/18597363/detail.html

 

 

Won't hurt Irelands chances of getting an NFL game

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  • 3 weeks later...

Obama taps Steelers’ Rooney as Irish ambassador

 

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Barack Obama on Tuesday selected Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland, turning to a lifelong Republican who provided the Democrat critical campaign support during the White House race.

 

The 76-year-old Rooney endorsed Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton during Pennsylvania’s contentious Democratic primary; Clinton won the contest last April. Rooney later campaigned for him in Steelers country in western Pennsylvania, and Obama went on to win the state last November.

 

The grandson of an Irish immigrant, Rooney in the 1970s helped found the American Ireland Fund, an organization that has raised millions for advocacy of peace and education in Ireland. His legacy is reflected in a Steelers-themed bar in a disused linen mill in one of the roughest parts of northwest Belfast.

 

In announcing the nomination on St. Patrick’s Day, Obama called Rooney “an unwavering supporter of Irish peace, culture and education.”

 

Obama said in a statement that he has confidence that Rooney and Secretary of State Clinton “will ensure America’s continued close and unique partnership with Ireland in the years ahead.”

 

Rooney’s father, Arthur J. Rooney, founded the Steelers in 1933. The son took over the presidency of the team in 1975 and is a Hall of Fame owner. His Steelers won the Super Bowl this year, shocking the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 on Santonio Holmes’ tiptoe catch for a touchdown with 35 seconds to play.

 

The “Rooney Rule,” which requires any team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one minority candidate, was developed by an NFL committee Rooney chaired. Rooney has also participated in labor negotiations between the league and players.

 

Dan Rooney’s son, Art Rooney II, who took over as team president in 2003, said he was happy for his father. In a statement, Art Rooney said the Steeler operation will continue as they have in the past with the goal of winning another Super Bowl.

 

Associated Press writer Shawn Pogatchnik contributed from Dublin, Ireland.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-r...p&type=lgns

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