Red, white and blue is taking over Dublin this weekend as almost 40,000 Americans arrive for an American football event at the Aviva Stadium.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic kicks off on Saturday, with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish facing off against the Navy Midshipmen in the opening game of the 2023 college football season.

The game is set to see the largest single movement of Americans outside of the US for one singular sporting event - with over 40,00 fans arriving from abroad.

It is thought the game could be worth over €140m to the Irish economy.

With a spate of recent attacks in the capital, however, how safe do US tourists feel coming here?

One tourist told reporter Josh Crosbie for Newstalk Breakfast: "I feel safe, [it’s] very friendly. It's wonderful."

Another said: "Dublin's been grand, the whole country's been grand.

"If this country was in the United States, the whole thing would be a national park - it's beautiful.

"We feel safe; I know that they've had some issues downtown here, but we feel grand, it's a great place."

Asked if security concerns would put him off travelling here, he said: "Not at all."

Another suggested: "We love it, it's so cool... I feel very safe."

'The same issues all over'

One couple suggested it is the same everywhere else.

"Compared to big cities in the US, it's about the same, with some homeless," they said.

"There's one crackhead passed out in a corner with a crackpipe in his hand, but that's all I've seen so far.

"We have the same issues in Montana and all over the United States, so I think it's a worldwide issue right now."

One woman said Dublin is one of the safest places she has been.

"Our cab driver told us about the police and how they don't carry weapons - it's a very safe environment, everybody's very friendly - and that kind of advice was very helpful.

"As far as all the cities I've been to in Europe, this is one of the ones I can say I feel the safest in."

Notre Dame Alumni Association Executive Director Dolly Duffy. Picture by: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk

Notre Dame Alumni Association Executive Director Dolly Duffy said the recent assaults haven't impacted demand.

"I brought my husband and five children, and my brother and his wife and two of their children," she said.

"There's a number of events: one at Jameson, one at the Guinness Brewery.

"Dublin ranks as high as can be on safety.

"I know there have been a few things happening recently that we've been made aware of.

"I've not seen the presence of any of that, in a bad way, so for me Dublin is welcoming, the people are so great.

"Everywhere you go everyone welcomes us, and so it does feel safe."

'We can take care of ourselves'

Eric, a former US Navy officer from Colorado, said he while he was aware of security concerns it didn't put him off.

"My son's 6'6'', he's a former Marine, he's a former policeman," he said.

"Apart from the fact that I'm an old guy we can take care of ourselves.

"We went out last night at 1 o'clock to get something to eat, and I didn't hear from him for an hour.

"I got a little bit worried about him, so I phoned him and he said he was downstairs at the bar."

Eric said Gardaí are not visible "at all" on the streets of the capital.

"Physical presence is crucial to deter and prevent crime," he added.

Main image: Split-screen shows a file photo of Temple Bar in Dublin, and an American flag