Ireland's Call

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Am I entirely alone in rushing for the bathroom when that nursery rhyme Ireland's Call strikes up at rugby matches?

I had an avocado for lunch today (I'm very posh) and almost lost it when I heard the first note.

I wouldn't exactly give douze point to Amhran na Bhfiann if I heard it in the Eurovision, but I would lead an invasion of any country that entered Ireland's Call, and wouldn't give up til I found the writer and banished him to a Siberian labour camp.

Is it just me? Does everyone else find it rousing and emotional?
 
Personally speaking, after a feed of avocado, I would hope that you would find something rousing! Not too sure about the emotional bit though.
 
Ireland's Call was and is a PC fob to the "peace process", why it needed to be installed I don't know, but even as I listened to the radio coverage on RTE you could hear and sense the lull with it's performance. It'd be great if they'd get rid of it but unless there is a general revolution in Ireland it will be there for a lot longer yet.
 
Perhaps they should sing alternate verses of Amhrán na bhFiann and God Save the Queen for parity of esteem? (Hmmmm - nice assonance there if I say so myself). I guess there'd be arguments over which verse came first then though.
 
While I'd prefer if it was Amhran na Bfhiann alone, dont we have to take account of our Norn brethren?, and from that point of view it doesnt bother me.

Its a little wake up call for those longing for a united Ireland - it aint going to happen unless theres a good dubbing down of the anthem, the flag, etc. etc.
 
Ulster Rugby has a Northern unionist tradition. Do you think it's fair to expect them to stand for Amhran na Bfhiann alone?
I think it is to their credit that they stand for it at all. Would those from Leinster and Munster stand for God save the queen? I don't think so.
 
Let's put it this way, if they play for Ireland, fine, they sing the hymn of the land, if they play for England, Scotland, Wales, play their anthems. The fob to pc insanity is not going to solve the problems. Far better is to count how many catholics have played for Ulster and compare it with actual players registered etc (this isn't a republican rant, just something pointed out by an Ulster supporter).

Barry McGuigan put it very nicely many moons ago when talking about why he fought for the British title and had a British passport. "Amateurs box for their vest, professionals fight for money". The Irish players are pro's (or supposed to be), so if they'd to stand to attention to the Chicken dance, and it's in the contract, how many would walk off in disgust????
 
almo said:
they sing the hymn of the land
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Hymn?
Far better is to count how many catholics have played for Ulster and compare it with actual players registered etc (this isn't a republican rant, just something pointed out by an Ulster supporter).
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What the hell has religion got to do with this?! :confused: :rolleyes:
 
ClubMan said:
Does Amhran na Bfhiann go anything like Amhrán na bhFiann? :p
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It’s the dyslexic’s version. :D
this isn't a republican rant
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You could have fooled me.The players play for Ireland, not The Republic of Ireland or the province of Northern Ireland. They do not play for a political entity but a geographical one.
 
Purple said:
It’s the dyslexic’s version. :D
You could have fooled me.The players play for Ireland, not The Republic of Ireland or the province of Northern Ireland. They do not play for a political entity but a geographical one.
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And they definitely don't represent any particular church/religion!
 
When Scotland play a Rugby match do they play GSTQ ?? NO ! - instead they play Flower of Scotland

When Wales play a Rugby match do they play GSTQ ?? NO ! - instead they play Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (land of my fathers)


So why should it be played for a handful of "Unionists" who CHOOSE to play for IRELAND ?

and what i mean by that before anyone jumps down my throat... a person from north of Ireland who prefers to have the Queen as their ruler. and also, I appreciate it when those Ulster men wear the Green of Ireland and give it their all ! Religion doesnt come into it hear for me... so dont go there!!!
 
RonanC said:
When Scotland play a Rugby match do they play GSTQ ?? - instead they play Flower of Scotland
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Which, like Ireland's Call is an unofficial anthem.
When Wales play a Rugby match do they play GSTQ ?? - instead they play Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (land of my fathers)
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Ditto.
Mind you QSTQ is also strictly unofficial. :)
So why should it be played for a handful of "Unionists" who CHOOSE to play for IRELAND ?
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I think you're overreacting to previous facetious comments about playing GSTQ for an Irish team!
 
ClubMan said:
Which, like Ireland's Call is an unofficial anthem.

Ditto.

Mind you QSTQ is also strictly unofficial. :)

I think you're overreacting to previous facetious comments about playing GSTQ for an Irish team!
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ah I'm not really, just trying to make a point. What really annoys me though is this...

I've been to countless International sports matches both home and abroad and everytime I feel like im the only one singing OUR (Rep. of Ireland) national anthem.. I think its a bit of a disgrace really that people dont sing it.
 
The point about counting the Catholics was just moot, I only mentioned it because of the fact that at the ultimate level they represent Ireland, and while the Amhran isn't the anthem for the whole island, they play under the tricolour.

I don't dislike Ireland's Call, but why not just sing the Fields of Athenry (oh wait, British oppression, famine, leave that out); or Danny Boy (okay, men singing a love song, to a man, maybe a bit too pink - then again, it is rugby......).

A handful of times that I represented Ireland, and stood when the anthem played, it was half way through before I got going to sing, and the last line and a half disappears in a "Go on....". Is there an option?
 
almo said:
The point about counting the Catholics was just moot, I only mentioned it because of the fact that at the ultimate level they represent Ireland, and while the Amhran isn't the anthem for the whole island, they play under the tricolour.
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Er, that doesn't really explain why you mentioned religion at all!? :confused:
A handful of times that I represented Ireland, and stood when the anthem played, it was half way through before I got going to sing
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Why - did you not know the words? Or are you not a Catholic?
 
I've been to countless International sports matches both home and abroad and everytime I feel like im the only one singing OUR (Rep. of Ireland) national anthem.. I think its a bit of a disgrace really that people dont sing it.
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Maybe you'd be better off sticking to international sports where the teams represent political entities? Soccer maybe?

In 6 nations rugby, only the French and the Italians use actual national anthems. The other 4 teams do not represent actual countries so they use various songs. There's nothing unique about Ireland in that regard.

And don't try to say you remember singing "OUR (Rep. of Ireland) national anthem" at away rugby matches. That has simply never happened.
 
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