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Steelers make historic first Draft Pick in Ireland · The Irish Steelers Podcast

• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Hi folks, Welcome into the Irish Stadis Podcast. This is
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Michael mccuator coming to you from the Kingdom Kerry, the
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: beautiful County of Carrey. Just under a year ago, the
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers launched their Global Markets program for the NFL
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: the Island of Ireland for both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Today,
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: for the first time, the Pittsburgh Staeters made a pick
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: in the NFL Draft from right here in picturesque Killarney,
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: in beautiful Killarney in County Kerry, just beside the mcgillicuddy's
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: Reeks along the famous lakes at Killarney and on that
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: The pick itself was made by a very well known
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: athlete in Ireland, Kerry footballer, All Ireland Champion and Kerry
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: Captain Potty Clifford, who announced on the day that the
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: Staters selected Mason McCormick, guard for South Dakota State. That
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: was with the one hundred and nineteenth pick in the
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: fourth round of the NFL Draft. Or not just to
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: be here, but to be sitting with Potty to reflect
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: on the pick and Potty, it's fantastic to be and
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: carry how are you doing?
• 1:07
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's great. It's great to be chatting in person. Yeah,
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: it's usually over or zoom or teams or whatever. Yeah,
• 1:16
  Speaker 2: it's great to bear in person.
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: Yeah. So you make history today, the first like you know,
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: first person to ever make a pick for the Steelers
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: in Ireland for anyone. Isn't the where you're obviously a
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: massive Steeters fan. How did you feel doing it? Were
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: you nervous beforehand? Did it hit you when you were
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: going out to do it? How'd you feel?
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I suppose I was a bit nervous. Yeah, I
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: was a It was a great honor and it was
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: just like kind of surreal to to do it, but
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: very enjoyable and a great honor obviously, and it's very
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: thankful to be asked to do it.
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: It's been at it's been a bit. It's been a
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: bit of a mad year. You're obviously we were in
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: Crook Park last year in May. There's been a watch
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: party and seeing something, like I said, just sort of
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: shows you how serious Steelers are in the market. It's
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: just been fantastic to see and for you personally at
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: a fantastic moment.
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: Definitely. Yeah, I suppose being a Steelers fan makes it
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: all all this more special, but it's just great to
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: see the the effort and the amounts they're putting into
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: the to the Irish side of things, that the Steelers
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: are putting into the r side of things. It's just, yeah,
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: it's great to see and hopefully it will continue because
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: it's just it's kind of unbelieva really how much they've
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: how much they've put into it, and the access they've
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: given to our Irish fence.
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: It's never easy making a draft pick. We were joking
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: before hand, McCormick, you had to get an Irish name
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: in there as well. It's it's good crack in that sense.
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: What do you think of the process of the NFL
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: draft generally? If you think of obviously, like GA soccer,
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: the fact that an NFL team, if you finished last
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: year before you get to make the first pick, it's
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: completely different than the GA, Isn't it's crazy exactly?
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I suppose it's just obviously it's a great system
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: like it even things though, even things out, and there's
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: no there's no fans, there's no fan of any team
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: that's without hope. I suppose, because I suppose the worst
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: you do, maybe you might end up getting the best
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: players and in my turn in a few years, so
• 3:13
  Speaker 2: you're never without hope, and sure that's that's exactly what
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: what you want as a fan, to hope to be
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: a super Bowl champion at some stage.
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: It's my first time down here. Obviously the Kingdom for
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: many people in Ireland that no Carry if maybe if
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: they if they've never been here. Partly, I was in
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: Cork a couple of weeks ago and they were fair
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: themselves as a real capital to carry people look at
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: the Kingdom as a real capital.
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: I suppose I wouldn't say that, but Carry is obviously
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: a beautiful place, especially when we get the weather, which
• 3:47
  Speaker 2: is not as much as we'd like, but yeah, no,
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: it's a magical place when we get the weather and
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: the scenery.
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: Today with the mcguilli College Reeks, it was just incredible
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: to see and see your pride when you made that
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: pick as well. I want to go just with a
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: couple of things that have happened in the last few weeks.
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: Obviously the Kicking Clinic which took place at the Sport
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: Island campus a few weeks ago. It was great to
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: see some of the guys take part in that. There
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: and we've seen Charlie Smith go sign into the NFL.
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: We were talking before, just before we recorded this, but
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: Rory bagging Mark Jackson just your faults, not generally, but
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: I'm presuming that would you ever be up for trying
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: to kick on yourself or are you more of a
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: midfielder in that sense?
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: No, I'm happy, I'm happy. Well I'm doing No, I'm not.
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: I'm not thinking you WoT to put you out. It's
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: great to see. I suppose it's great to see that
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: as a pathway for for you Irish kickers. I suppose
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: we've we've grown up kicking and it probably gives us
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: maybe an advantage over other countries. Bus Yeah, look, it's
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: obviously it's just great. It's great to see and hopefully
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: a few more following Charlie Smith's footsteps.
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: Hopefully, please God, I say a lot of carryland to
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: be happy to hear out there now. The off season
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: so far, we're talking about the drafting little second, but
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: there's been some really interest in additions to the Steelers team.
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: We spoke I think it was before the Bills game
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: in January, and a lot has changed since then. Russell
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: Wilson comes in Justin Bield comes in for you, it
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: must be a very exciting time to be a Steelers
• 5:14
  Speaker 1: fan and to see those guys come in to give
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: the team another real chance next season.
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: Yeah, very exciting. Obviously a change in strategy, probably for
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: the Steelers, probably not really the Steelers a way, but
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: of course we haven't won enough playoff games lately, so
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: we need a change of strategy. And it's great to
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: see that they that they were that the Steelers were
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: open to that. And yeah, we have to be very
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: hopeful for next season with with with with Russell Wilson
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: and Justin Fields, whoever wins that battle.
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: And then.
• 5:51
  Speaker 2: It looks we've had a very good draft so far
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: as well, so very hopeful for next year. Yeah.
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: Troy Phantom, who being picked in the first round twentyeth pick,
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: you were wearing number forty three today. Did you know
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: that he wore number forty three in high school in
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: honor of the original Troy. I didn't know that until
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: I've seen it today. A really good pick up as
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: well offensive tackle. It's going to give presumably Russell Wilson
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: a lot of protection and a really good pick of
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: twenty and a great landing spot. On Thursday night when
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: a lot of quarterbacks go with to start.
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely. I suppose there was a few different There
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: was a few different ways the Steelers could go, and
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: they were obviously happy with Troy. It looks a very
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: good pick and I'm looking forward to see what he
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: can do.
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: Yet, it's going to be good to see and obviously
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: some some great selections over the last few days. At
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: the time of recording, there's a few more to go,
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: so we'll see what happens. Is the NFL for you
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: big and carry? Have you found Obviously you've been a
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: Steers fan for years, but have you have you any
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: Mats Cellar fans or have you seen anyone that's that
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: you know that I've maybe started to see what the
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: Steelers have done and started supporting them over recent months.
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: Yeah, NFL is messive in carry, and it's only getting bigger.
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: I know hundreds of NFL fans and carried all sporting
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: different teams. But no, it's great and it's it's only
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: growing so and I'm sure continue to grow.
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: It's great to see and I think days like today
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: I'll even make it grow more and more. I have
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: two or three ones to close so I had to
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: ask this, if you had to pick one famous or
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: I guess well known person from Carry or from Ireland
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: to announce a draft pick next year. Have you anybody
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: in mind? Or should I shoot some names? I said, Dahio,
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: She maybe Shannie o'she or trying? Or maybe Shannie? Ask Whaling?
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: Who knows anyone in your mind? Sticks out immediately? Yeah,
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: he'd be loving I say, you watching it? They laughing
• 7:43
  Speaker 1: In that sense, we've seen a contingent from the GA
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: and GPA head the Pittsburgh in the last few weeks. Obviously,
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: since we last spoke, we've new in and JARDF. Burns.
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: They went over to Pittsburgh and visited the facilities over
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: the last few weeks. And it just shows you, Potty,
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: since we last spoke, just how angree in the relationship
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: between the g and the Steelers is becoming. It feels like,
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: you know, obviously there's a long term commitment to play
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: a game in Ireland, but when you stand there today
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: with those local kids that play Gaelic football and you
• 8:14
  Speaker 1: make a pick and carry, does that prospect become more
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: realistic to you? Do you get even more hopeful of
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: something like that happening, even just in your own sense.
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I suppose, yeah, you you would, Yeah, you'd look.
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: It'd be a dream come true to see Steeters game
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: in Crowk Park or wherever it'd be. So hopefully that
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: would be sooner or other than later, and there would
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: be massive, massive interest in Ireland to see to see
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: something like that with.
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: The hope being over to Pittsburgh this year after now.
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: Yeah, hopefully when when the football is tacond care of,
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: it'll be great. Chah, I'd love it.
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: Finally, I have to ask, have you persuaded David and
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: the family to support the Staders yet? Is that? Is
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: that still a working progress?
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: A work progress?
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: We will see what happens. It's funny because the off
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: season just flies in and you know, from that Bills
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: game to now, I can imagine how proud you were
• 9:12
  Speaker 1: doing that today and really not not just put you know,
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: the Staters in the map, but put Carry on the
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: map also. And it was great to see Germy and
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: Marga for what you were doing for the game in
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: Ireland and taking your time as well. And thank you
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: for showing us a little bit of Carry today. I'm
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: sure you're very proud. Patty Germy Marget, Thank you very much.
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: Thanks.
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: It was great to be in Killarney in the beautiful
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: County of Carry for the Pittsburgh Staters first ever pick
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: in the NFL Draft from the island of Ireland, and
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: great to chat with Patty. If this is your first
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: time discovering the Irish Staters podcast or the Staters' efforts
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: on the Island of Ireland, please feel free to subscribe
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: to the official Pittsburgh Staters Irish podcasts emanating from the
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: Island of Ireland on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or wherever
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: you get your podcasts from. You can also search for
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: the Staters efforts in Ireland on social media on x Instagram,
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: I'm on TikTok at the user name Steelers Ireland. Thank
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: you very much for listening, Gromme and Marga how much.
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: Shout to you soon.