Football game to mark July 4th

A full scale American football field has been set up at the home of the US ambassador in Dublin to mark the country's Independence Day.

US Ambassador Daniel Rooney, who is also chairman of the US football team the Pittsburgh Steelers, begins his second year in office this weekend.

He will host the first annual Irish American Flag Football Classic at his Phoenix Park residence to mark the 4th of July.

Representatives of Ireland, the US and other countries will take part in the game this afternoon.

The football pitch was designed and built by staff from Croke Park and includes specially designed bleachers.

The ambassador took up his post last year after he was appointed by US president Barack Obama.

In addition to being chairman of the former Super Bowl winners, Mr Rooney was one of the founders of the American Ireland Funds for the promotion of peace and has also funded the annual Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.