Irish superfan boasts 10,000-piece collection, including pieces of the Golden Dome

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- ABC57 has been highlighting some of the biggest Irish fans in Michiana, and this week, we are going inside the home of Jonnie Rectenwal, who boasts one of the biggest Irish collections in the area.

Rectenwal says he's been an Irish fan for his entire life, but he never really had much interest in collecting memorabilia, until a few years ago, when he saw an item he couldn't turn down.

"Then it was just I need another ball, and then another ball," said Rectenwal.

From signed footballs to pieces of the old bleachers, and even authentic tickets from games played before World War II. If it has the interlocking ND on it, Rectenwal has to have it.

The 34-year-old South Bend resident didn't start his Irish paraphernalia obsession until 2019.

"It was just Facebook marketplace, there was a football where it was Tony Rice, Ara, Lou, and Ross Browner. For whatever reason, I wanted it, and then right after that, I could not stop," said Rectenwal.

It’s not just Notre Dame memorabilia for Rectenwal; in his fan cave, you’ll find assorted items for the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Reds, and even some hockey royalty.

For Rectenwal, his memorabilia worlds collided a few years ago, when star Notre Dame offensive lineman Quenton Nelson was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Colts.

"The defensive end Chubb got drafted to the Broncos, and I knew what would happen next, we needed offensive line help, and the best offensive lineman was on the board, and it was just so perfect, it was electric actually, I fell to my knees," said Rectenwal.

With nearly 10,000 pieces in his collection, it was hard to get Rectenwal to pick a favorite.

"It's a 1947 playbook from John Panelli," said Rectenwal.

But getting him to pick an item that he doesn't think any other Irish fan has? That one was easy.

"When they were regilding the Dome in 2023, every day, I went at 6 a.m., and I got my tweezers, and a little baggie, and I picked up gold flakes, that fell from the Golden Dome when they were getting regilded."

There are pieces and artifacts from Notre Dame Stadium all over Rectenwal's fan cave, including a giant piece of limestone that weighs almost as much as he does.

"I love stadium stuff, I can't get enough stadium stuff, and I know there are tunnels in between buildings and underneath the stadium, I want something from that tunnel, or I want to go inside that tunnel," said Rectenwal.