Here is everything to know about the Rooney family's Irish roots, from their origins to their move to the U.S., and how their connections to home have been maintained for centuries.
Rooney family Irish roots, explained: What to know about Steelers owner's Ireland ties, from ancestors to politics originally appeared on The Sporting News
JUMP TO:
- Rooney family Irish roots
- How the Rooney family stayed connected to Ireland
- Dan Rooney ties to Ireland
- Does Pittsburgh have a large Irish population?
- How did the Rooney family get wealthy?
- Art Rooney II net worth
- Art Rooney II age
While the NFL's first-ever game in Ireland took place during the 2025 season, the league's connection with the country was established long before.
The NFL tapped the Pittsburgh Steelers to take the field in Dublin, Ireland — a fitting selection, given the franchise is owned by the Rooney family, one of the most prominent Irish-American families in the worlds of sports and business.
As they founded the franchise, the Rooneys have been synonymous with the Steelers since their inception in 1933. At the time, the Rooney family had been in the United States for less than 100 years.
Here is everything to know about the Rooney family's Irish roots, from their origins to their move to the U.S. and how their connections to home have been maintained for centuries.
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Rooney family Irish roots
Where is the Rooney family from in Ireland?
The Rooney family is from Newry, Northern Ireland. Newry is a town in County Down and County Armagh. It is located near the border of the Republic of Ireland.
When did the Rooney family move to the United States?
The Rooney family moved to the United States in 1884, settling in Pittsburgh.
The family first moved to North America in the 1840s, as James and Mary Rooney emigrated from Ireland to Canada during the Great Famine. They had a child, Arthur, and later returned to Europe, moving to Wales when Arthur was 21 years old.
After Arthur was married, he and his wife had a child and moved back to Canada before moving to Pittsburgh in 1884.
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How the Rooney family stayed connected to Ireland
The Rooney family has stayed connected to Ireland in various ways.
Dan Rooney, the franchise owner from 1975 to 2002, maintained formal connections through an organization and a role in the political world. Other members of the family have continued to cultivate those connections.
Dan Rooney ties to Ireland
During his lifetime, Dan Rooney maintained several connections to Ireland through charity and politics. He was a co-founder of The Ireland Funds and spent years as a United States Ambassador to Ireland.
What is the Ireland Funds?
The Ireland Funds is a global philanthropic network established in 1976.
Dan Rooney established the network alongside Tony O'Reilly, former CEO of Heinz. Notably, the Steelers and Heinz are both Pittsburgh-based businesses. It was established with the goals of "Peace, Culture and Charity," and it works to get worldwide support for Ireland, especially from Irish-Americans.
Per the website, "The Ireland Funds’ vision is of peace, equality and opportunity across the island of Ireland and among Irish communities worldwide."
There are United States chapters located in Boston, Chicago, Naples, Fla., New Jersey, New York, Palm Beach, Fla., Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
Rooney was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland in 2009 by President Barack Obama.
Rooney was in office from July 3, 2009, through Dec. 14, 2012, when he resigned from his post to return to Pittsburgh. Rooney died five years later, passing away on April 13, 2017. He was 84 years old.
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Does Pittsburgh have a large Irish population?
Pittsburgh is considered one of the most Irish cities in the United States.
Roughly 16 percent of the Pittsburgh population self-reported Irish ancestry, according to the Statistical Atlas. Factoring in Pittsburgh's population of around 300.000, there are around 50,000 citizens with Irish ancestry in the city.
How did the Rooney family get wealthy?
The Rooney family's primary source of wealth has been its ownership of the Steelers franchise.
Art Rooney, born in 1901, applied for an NFL franchise in 1933, the first year of the Steelers' existence. The football team was known as the Pirates from 1933 to 39 before adopting the Steelers nickname. During World War II, the Steelers merged with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1943 season and merged with the Chicago Cardinals during the 1944 season.
The Steelers have been an independent franchise since 1945 and, as of August 2025, are valued at $6.5 billion, per Forbes.
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Art Rooney II net worth
The Rooney family's net worth is difficult to nail down, as its last Forbes update came in 2015.
At the time, the family was believed to be worth around $1.2 billion, which was close to the franchise's value in 2015. In 2025, the franchise was worth nearly five times its $1.35 billion value in 2015, meaning the Rooney family's net worth may have seen a similar increase.
Art Rooney II age
Art Rooney II is 73 years old. He was born on Sept. 14, 1952.
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Category: Football