Some 40,000 fans of American football have descended on Dublin ahead for an historic match. 

The Aviva typically hosts rugby or soccer matches but on Saturday Notre Dame’s American football team will take on the Navy Midshipmen.

The event is expected to generate $147 million for the Irish economy and plentiful memories for the Americans visiting Ireland.

“This place is nuts,” one man told Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie.

“You guys are hopping, we were out in the Temple Bar area on Thursday night and it was rocking.”

Another visitor said she had come for the football but was also doing a lot of sightseeing too.

“We love this city,” she said.

“We’ve gone to Dublin Castle, we went to Christchurch, we went to Trinity College, we’ve done a lot of shopping.”

Notre Dame Fooball player's practice during a training session at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 30, 2012.

College football is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States and taken extremely seriously by both players and supporters alike.

With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has flown into town to support his team.

He has checked in with both the football team, the cheer leading squad and squeezed in a number of visits with local officials as well.

“I’m so pleased to be here for this great event between Notre Dame and the Navy Football team,” he said.

“I know we’re going to win because there’s this misnomer out there that Notre Dame, they’re the ‘Fighting Irish’.

“Let me assure you, the United States Navy is full of fighting Irish and we’re going to demonstrate that on the field on Saturday.”

The rivalry on the football field might be fierce - but Secretary Del Toro said many fans watching tomorrow will have divided allegiances.

“Midshipmen who come to the Navy, they’re great military service members first and foremost and they want to serve their country very proudly,” he said.

“By the way, they’re alumni of Notre Dame too; Notre Dame is the second source for Naval Officers in the United States Navy.

“So, we’re very proud of the Americans who go to Notre Dame.”

Notre Dame take on the Navy Midshipmen at 7.30 pm tomorrow.

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Main image: Notre Dame players pose after the final whistle of their NCAA college football game against Navy, in Dublin, Ireland in 2012.  (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)