Holly Connor (8) from Ballivor, with Notre Dame players Jordan Schlueter, Luke Taffuri, Duncan Morfitt and Grant Martinez before last Friday's game between Notre Dame of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Father Judge High School, Philadelphia, in the GIFT 2012 American Football tournament. Holly won the mascot's role in a colouring competition in SuperValu, Trim

Noelle Finegan

Local hotels received a very welcome boost to the tune of some 700 bed nights last week as Trim and Navan played host to two visiting American football teams and their followers for the GIFT clash at Pairc Tailteann.

Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim hosted the Notre Dame Prep side, while Navan's Newgrange Hotel was host to Canadian side, Villanova. Their visit came at a particularly welcome time for local hotels as the summer season was winding down, helping to lengthen the season.

It wasn't just the hotels that benefited, however, with many local pubs, restaurants and shops also reporting an increase in business, thanks to the American and Canadian visitors who travelled to Ireland to support their respective sides.

Knightsbrook Hotel manager Patrick Curran said they had sold 400 bed nights in addition to meals over the week,

"Given the time of year, with the children going back to school, there would usually be a lull for the first two weeks after they go back, but this has lengthened the summer season for us," he said.

To read the full story see this week's Meath Chronicle.