'Full circle' as NFL's Steelers celebrate Newry roots

Dan Rooney, from the Pittsburgh Steelers, says "It's definitely full circle to be standing in the town my family comes from"

Standing on a Newry hill overlooking the County Down GAA stadium, Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers says he couldn't feel more at home.

It was from here that his ancestors came – emigrating in the 1840s first to Wales and then to America.

Ahead of his team's NFL showdown in Dublin this weekend, the Steelers bandwagon rolled into the border city for an engagement at St Mary's High School.

It was an opportunity for the family, who have guided the team to six Superbowls since 1933, to strengthen their roots.

"It's really neat to be standing in Newry right now," he said.

"It's definitely full circle to be standing in the town my family comes from.

"Growing up, my grandfather and father always talked about their love for Ireland and the importance of Newry.

"We've done the research and know that the family emigrated out of Newry in the 1840s – eventually ending up in Pittsburgh.

"Seeing the way my grandfather lived – his commitment to the Pittsburgh Steelers, to our home town, and to Ireland. It's something that's special to me."

It was just before the famine that James Rooney made that first move. He'd been working at a foundry on Newry's Edward Street but when it closed in 1846 he took the decision, like so many others of his time, to leave.

That first move was across the Irish sea. The next move, by Daniel Rooney, who was born in 1874, would change everything.

Daniel ran a pub with his wife and together they raised nine children. One of them, Arthur J, would found the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1933 and the rest, as they say, is sporting history.

At Thursday's event in Newry, Dan was presenting scholarships to two young students – it's part of an initiative launched by his grandparents, former Irish Ambassador Dan and his wife Patricia. Their connection to this city ran deep.

As well as being a leading light in the Ireland Funds, Ambassador Dan, who died in 2017, was fundamental in establishing the Newry-Pittsburgh Partnership in 1990.

This sporting, political and social journey is charted on the walls of The Rooney Room in the offices of what's now the AAB Accountancy firm.

'What an opportunity'

Feargal McCormack, who's worked with the Rooneys for decades, says they wanted to "enhance socio-economic opportunities in Newry"

The man who built the room, Feargal McCormack, has worked with the Rooneys for decades.

"They wanted to enhance socio-economic opportunities in Newry and among the first things they did was establish the Rooney Fellowship which was a $250,000 endowment to send a student from what's now known as the Southern Regional College in Newry to Pittsburgh," he said.

"There they'd go to university and do a work placement at HJ Heinz and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"What an opportunity for a young person coming from Newry, which at the time had male unemployment of nearly 30%."

Newry's fortunes have improved in the years that have followed, but the Rooney commitment to the city has continued.

'A good head on his shoulders'

On Thursday, two local students, Tegan McKibbin and Jodie Sterritt, received scholarships. Their schools (St Mary's and Newry High School) also received $10,000 grants.

Dan Rooney also says he's watching the progress of another Newry prospect.

Charlie Smyth is from the nearby village of Mayobridge – he's currently carving out a career as a kicker for the New Orleans Saints.

"I've seen Charlie kick," Dan said. "He's an incredible athlete and he's also a great man. Getting to know him a little, he's a really personable guy with a good head on his shoulders. So we are certainly rooting for his American football career."

Who knows, someday a Newry player could line out for Newry's NFL team. That would truly be a full circle moment.