Rugby Anthems

[Mags22]

What is the first of the Irish anthems called? (Not 'Ireland's call) I think they are both great

[ichkeria]

Sorry answered the wrong question before(!)

The two anthems are only played at home games in the republic. The first is the National Anthem of the Republic: Amrhan na bhfiann. The second anthem is the rugby anthem specially commissioned to be written by Phil Coulter in recognition of the fact that the Ireland team represents all 32 counties. That's really the team's anthem now

[DTCwordfan]

Thanks, ichkeria, didn't know that and it makes sense.

[Duncer]

It would be more representative to me if they played only "Ireland's Call". I know Amrhan na bhfiann has great resonance for many, but, as ichkeria has already pointed out, the team represents BOTH traditions/countries.

[ichkeria]

Funnily enough though to me Amrhan na bhfiann is as much a rugby anthem as the other. That's from years of watching the Ireland team and hearing only that and moreover only hearing it in that context. I sing along to both while feeling for the players and the president and co stood in the cold and wet while it's all happening.
The other thing of note re the anthems is that I don't recall ever hearing God Save The Queen booed or barracked down the years.

[Duncer]

Croke Park??

As someone brought up in north Belfast and subjected to all sorts of sectarian abuse and intimidation, (please, no posts about these things being a two way conduit, I am all too well aware of that), I see it and the Irish flag, rightly or wrongly, as oppressive, sectarian and mono-cultural. In sport representing both countries I believe it should be dropped, as the Queen was when we played at Ravenhill.

Strangely, I have no problem with it whatsoever when the ROI are playing at home as it is their anthem.

[ichkeria]

Don't think there was a problem at Croke Park was there? There was a lot of fuss beforehand of course
Of course, the Irish flag does have orange on it for a reason, but the significance has got lost over the years, perhaps understandably

[Duncer]

I suspect the troubles obliterated all hope for the orange part of the flag to have any real meaning, and the tricolour is seen more as a symbol of hatred and oppression in many quarters, especially in Belfast and Londonderry, and I fully accept that my flags and symbols are seen in much the same way. Furthermore, too many people fly/wave green, white and yellow flags as they cannot bear to have the "orange" in their flag.

If we ever do achieve a United Ireland I suspect we will have to copy South Africa and design a new flag, although I would hope it is not a technicolour pair of y-fronts like theirs.

[slaney]

My brother was at the Croke Park match (2007) and he said the reason that God Save the Queen came over so clearly was that many (Southern) Irish fans were singing it - presumably as a reaction to all the fuss from certain quarters beforehand.

[Duncer]

I remember hearing talk of protests but, thankfully, it appears to have been misplaced.

Personally, I'd ban all national anthems as they are a load of hokum indulging in false misplaced pride and nationalistic claptrap, but that's only my opinion.