Washington - Daniel Rooney, the owner of American football champion Pittsburgh Steelers, was sworn in Wednesday as the new US ambassador to Ireland. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presided over the ceremony at the State Department for Rooney, 76, who has played an influential role in the Irish-American community.
Rooney, a lifelong Republican, endorsed then candidate Barack Obama for the presidency, a move that made headlines in the highly contested state of Pennsylvania. Obama went on to win the state.
Rooney, through charitable groups, supported the Irish peace process and co-founded the American Ireland Fund in 1976, which has raised more than 300 million dollars for peace and education programmes in Ireland.
His Steelers have won six Super Bowl titles, more than any other team in the National Football League. The Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals for the championship on February 1. Obama backed the Steelers in the game against the team supported by his rival in the November election, Arizona Senator John McCain.
Obama announced his nomination of Rooney on March 17.
