Notre Dame Hockey has issued an apology after issuing guidelines for fans traveling to Belfast that some deemed "offensive."
The Fighting Irish men’s ice hockey team will travel to Northern Ireland to take part in the Friendship Four collegiate ice hockey tournament at the SSE Arena Belfast on November 29 and November 30.
While the tournament was launched in 2015, this is the first year Notre Dame will be participating. The Fighting Irish will face off with the men’s ice hockey teams from Boston University, Harvard, and Merrimack.
The winner of the Belfast-based tournament, the only college ice hockey tournament that takes place outside of the US, gets to bring home the Belpot Trophy.
Before traveling from South Bend to Belfast, Notre Dame Hockey issued - and deleted - "Know Before You Go" guidelines on what is and isn't appropriate for fans to wear in Northern Ireland.
Several media outlets report that Notre Dame Hockey said in its original post on X on Monday: "We can’t wait to see your Notre Dame in Belfast gear inside SSE Arena.
“Just a reminder to avoid our Irish symbolism, that may be deemed offensive to some, while out around town.”
What not to wear in Northern Ireland? Green, "Fighting Irish," "Irish," shamrocks, Ireland flag, and leprechaun, according to Notre Dame Hockey.
What to wear in Northern Ireland? Navy and gold, monogram, and Notre Dame Hockey.
While the original X post has been deleted, copies of Notre Dame Hockey's Belfast guidelines are still in circulation on social media.
The Belfast Telegraph reported that Notre Dame Hockey's post about its Belfast guidelines was deemed "embarrassing" and "offensive" in the replies.
Notre Dame Hockey's list of what and what not to wear in Northern Ireland.
In a twist, the guidelines were issued less than a week after Notre Dame Hockey shared a link to the specialty jerseys that the team will wear in the Belfast tournament.
The navy tops prominently feature the word "Irish," as well as a shamrock - two things fans were advised not to wear while "out around town" in Northern Ireland.
Notre Dame Hockey's specialty jerseys for the Friendship Four tournament also take inspiration from the Book of Kells.
Still not over these threads for Belfast ✨
🔗 https://t.co/pTW6Ej8bfK#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/QvHX07jffv
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) November 12, 2024
The day after posting its guidelines, Notre Dame Hockey issued an apology "to fans and to the people of Northern Ireland for any confusion or offense."
Notre Dame Hockey said they posted the guidelines "out of an abundance of caution," but acknowledged they were "not properly reviewed and should not have been posted."
A statement on our upcoming trip to Belfast. pic.twitter.com/UVB8qRlOas
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) November 19, 2024
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