Westmeath Minotaurs keen to recruit new players

One niche sport that is growing in popularity is American football and Westmeath and the midlands area is home to the Westmeath Minotaurs American Football Club.

Founded in 2011, the club has worked hard, established solid roots, and grown. In 2022, all the hard work paid off and the Minotaurs won the Harp Bowl to secure the kitted Division 1 championship. In 2024, the flag team earned top honors after a decisive win in AFI’s Glas Bowl championship game. The club now fields kitted adult, kitted youth, and flag teams.

In Ireland, the sport is managed by American Football Ireland (AFI). AFI is the National Governing Body (NGB) of the sport across the whole of the island. There are 16 fully kitted teams, over 20 flag teams, 10 youth teams, and 4 national teams within the AFI structure. The leagues’ 2024 kitted championship games were held last August at the Buccaneers RFC in Athlone.

Building on the success of last year’s event, AFI is returning the two divisional championship games, the Shamrock and Harp bowls, to Athlone’s Dubarry Park on July 19. That day will showcase the very best teams of American football in Ireland. Hopefully, July 19 will see a local team competing for silverware.

Before all of that, the two best American football teams in the world will clash on February 9 in Super Bowl 59. The game will take place in New Orleans between the Philadelphia Eagles and the reigning champions the Kansas City Chiefs. As always, the hype and excitement surrounding this game is so massive that it generates interest in people around the world.

The Irish people are included in this growing interest. Over the years, a large American football fan base has grown across this island. It is not uncommon to see American football jerseys, t-shirts, and hats emblazoned with American football clubs’ logos on the streets of Ireland.

Every year at the end of August, the first game of the American football college season is played in Aviva Stadium with thousands of people from not only America, but from around the world in attendance. For one day at least, Dublin temporarily becomes the world capital of the sport.

The interest in Ireland is such that Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), just last year stated the question of playing an NFL game in Ireland is not a question of if, but of when. Mr Goodell hinted that the game would be held sooner rather than later. So clearly, the NFL is reacting to the growing interest here and planning accordingly.

So a lot of momentum is happening at the highest levels of American football here in Ireland, but what about at the grassroots level? Are there opportunities to learn about and even play the sport locally? The answer is a definite yes; and it's closer and more accessible than you might think.

The Westmeath Minotuars welcome and encourage anyone interested in the sport to come to a training session or game and have a chat. The kitted season training is ongoing and takes place at the Mullingar Rugby Club every Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 10:00am. The 2025 season will start soon with the first games kicking off St Patrick’s Day weekend. The Minotaurs will take on the West Dublin Rhinos on March 16 in Mullingar Rugby Club at 1pm.

Even though the 2025 season is about to start, it is never too late to join the club. No experience is required. The club has fully qualified coaches to get you ready for the intensity of an American football game.

Players and coaches are from all over the midlands and the world. Everyone is welcome. Information on the club can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and the club's website. So if you’re sitting on the couch or bar stool watching the Super Bowl and wondering what it would be like to play American football, it's time to contact the Minotaurs and give it a go. For more information, contact info@westmeathminotaurs.com

The Minotaurs 2025 schedule is as follows - mark the dates in your calendar so you don’t miss these matchups:

March 16 – Home vs the West Dublin Rhinos at Mullingar Rugby Club.

March 23 – Home vs the Wexford Eagles at Mullingar Rugby Club.

April 5 – Away vs the Cill Dara Crusaders at Westmanstown RFC.

April 13 – Away vs the Causeway Giants at Limepark.

May 11 – Away vs the Louth Mavericks at Dundalk Rugby Club.

May 25 – Home vs the Antrim Stags at Mullingar Rugby Club.

June 8 – Home vs the Northwest Vipers at Mullingar Rugby Club.

June 15 – Away vs the West Dublin Rhinos at Castleknock College.