Irish National Anthem

[Claireabella]

Why can't the "Soldier Song" be sung in English in England? I know they sing it in Gaelic anyway, but i've been told they CANT sing it in English! Does anybody know anything about this?

[Octavius]

Amhran na bhFiann  - I think it is only right that they sing it in their native tongue.  You wouldn't imagine the French singing their national anthem in English or German would you?

The song is regarded by many nationalists as the 'national anthem' of the whole island of Ireland, and so, for example, it is sung at Gaelic Athletic Association matches held anywhere on the island. However Unionists reject the use of Amhr n na bhFiann in this way, and so it is "Ireland's Call" that is used as an all-Ireland anthem by the Irish rugby team.

The Soldiers Song was sung by rebels at the GPO in the Easter Uprising in 1916, perhaps that is shy, historically it might have been banned...

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Amhran-na-bhFiann

 

[tartanwiz]

It was no doubt stirring in its day, but now appears outdated and rather racist, with lines about 'The Saxon foe across the sea'.

[maxi29]

Unfortunately, Octavius, they sing the Soldier's Song AND Ireland's Call, the anthems tend to go on a bit. And when Ireland played South Africa recently, we had to endure BOTH teams playing two anthems - that seemed interminable.

[brachiopod]

We'd never sing 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' in English.

Apart from the fact that these are National Anthems and therefore should only be sung in the mother-tongue, there's the fact that translations never rhyme or fit the tune without radical alteration.

[donegal]

Amhran na bhFiann should be sung in irish all the time and never in english!!!