Mar 21 2006
For the four proud provinces of Ireland
Personal opinions are strange things. The way I view something can differ wildly from another perspective. I’m all about the seeing both sides, but sometimes you just want to shout at people to stop being such fucktards and tools. Sometimes.
Today, in the Times there are two letters bemoaning the fact that Amhrán na bhFiann wasn’t played in Twickenham. That the IRFU are sullying our national anthem by playing Ireland’s Call at away matches.
But the IRFU is one of the few all-Ireland bodies on this island. Cross-community initiatives and all that malarky. Why should unionists and loyalists be represented by the anthem of another country? Because whatever you may want, the fact of the matter is that the Republic of Ireland (Éire) and Northern Ireland are two separate entities[1]
Of course, this does then raise the point, well why don’t NI have their own rugby team, and how can we unite two states together to form one national team. But thats the problem with real life. It isn’t all straight lines and easy answers.
“Madam, - Will the IRFU have the decency to play our national anthem in Croke Park?
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Amhrán na bhFiann will be played in Croke Park, because, if the rugby team do play there next year it will be their home stadium, and they always play both Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call at home matches.
In a few days of great celebration here in the UK for Ireland, I had to suffer the indignity once again of hearing an announcement on Friday evening at Kingsholm at the A rugby international and on Saturday at Twickenham that a cheerleaders’ song called Ireland’s Call is my national anthem.
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Is it really an indignity? and an insult? Really?
Ireland’s Call is not the Irish national anthem, I’ll agree with you there. But it is the anthem the Irish rugby team use. I would prefer is both the anthem and Ireland’s Call were played, but then again I’m not a Northern Irish unionist who wants no part of the republic, am I?
I doubt the Scots complain when we refer to Flower of Scotland as their anthem, when it isn’t, not officially.
- - and no discussion of the politics here right, I’m not interested at the moment ↩
