Very true Yew Tree. There are cities in England which would not put up Christmas trees lest it offend someone. Now, try going to Iran or Yemen or Saudi Arabia and tell them that you are "offended" by the lack of a Christmas tree. See how far you get :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/07/2014 16:47:51    1627420

Im very patriot so i dont mind the national anthem been played. I rather a band play it then someone singing it. We are the only country in the world that dont know our national anthem or the colour of our flag. You would be amazed the amount of people that say our tri-colour is green, white and gold.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 28/07/2014 16:48:13    1627421

Htaem
County: Meath
In fairness Catholicism is our national superstition, sadly every country has one.

I think it'd be more accurate to say its the institution that hijacked our national superstition. I've always kinda felt being a Gael meant acknowledging our more pagan leanings, but that's a different discussion.

As for the Anthem, its a tricky issue. I can see what people mean when they say its overplayed. Listening to a scratchy recording of John McCormack before a league match in February, I guess that can seem a bit unnecessary. And playing a poor rendition of the anthem can be just as disrespectful. And, I've always found it irksome while watching games abroad, to be in a bar full of Irish people who spend all their time bad mouthing the country, saying what a kip it is, then they all rise for the national anthem, hand on chests etc. Not much point in respecting the anthem if you don't respect the country.

I do understand what people mean when they say it might be unnecessarily nationalistic, especially at a sporting occasion. But personally, I do still think it has a place before championship matches. Either way, I don't think its too much to ask citizens of a country to know the words of their own anthem, regardless of the language.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 28/07/2014 16:48:58    1627422

We should take a leaf out of the rugby team's song book, and play amhran na bhfainn AND the angelus before every game.
Only problem is that people might start cheering on their team before the final gong, showing disrespect.

HenryHill16 (Dublin) - Posts: 249 - 28/07/2014 17:06:43    1627438

Get each county to play their own anthem before the match. Louth could be kaisercheifs I predict a riot.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 28/07/2014 17:12:49    1627449

I suggest a national song contest, Jedward can perform the winning entries and we can have a phone in to generate some cash.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 28/07/2014 17:20:20    1627454

What about the Angelus instead of amhran na bhfainn.

There would be no problem with the words, just imagine 82,000 going "bong" in unison on AI final day.

The only problem would be fellas starting to roar three "bongs" before the end.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/07/2014 17:24:27    1627458

Or worse still on the Hill-smoking 3 "bongs" before the end.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 28/07/2014 17:31:12    1627467

The butchery of the anthem is usually committed by unaccompanied "Sean Nos" solo singers, who are oblivious to the tempo etc or the occasion and howl an unearthly wail.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 28/07/2014 17:44:19    1627479

haha arock how right you are.

Don't forget those true gaels belting it out but taking sneaky peeks at the words on the screen.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/07/2014 18:01:10    1627496

to be fair the tune is terrible. now if we had a tune like the Welsh then I'm sure we'd all love belting it out at every opportunity. I love the Welsh National Anthem. someone made a point before about each county having its own anthem, maybe there's something there to go with. Let's say if Cavan were playing Monaghan. So before the game you could have the Band playing "come back Paddy Reilly to BallyJamesduff" and then "In the Town of Ballybay"

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 29/07/2014 08:44:43    1627740

The Irish National anthem is one of the most boring pieces of music you could ever hear. Gimme the German or the French any day. Might as well play the German one anyway, seeing as they practically own us.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 29/07/2014 12:19:57    1627845

It's amazing how some get so worked up about flegs and anthems. Some here should stick to the Eurovision. The one group who definitely don't want the anthem is the players - they have to stop their warm up and go through the motions of standing around or Johnny Backwards will accuse him of high treason. Get rid except for the final

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4624 - 29/07/2014 13:25:16    1627898

I like the anthem. Nothing like hearing it being belted out before a big game.

If there is to be musical changes then Croke Park need to get rid of blaring out some s**** at the end of games so you can't even hear the crowd celebrating. Leinster final was pathetic. It is not as if the Hill doesn't make enough noise.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/07/2014 13:31:51    1627905

i think we should do away with the solo singers anyway. A band is fine and it keeps with tradition. but perhaps only on provincial finals day and all-ireland finals. is that sorted then.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 29/07/2014 13:37:30    1627908

The anthem should only be played at National League/Championship semi finals/finals; before every game is ridiculous and dilutes the anthem. Furthermore there is nothing more cringing than some wee 16/17 year old girl screeching into a dodgy microphone in the freezing cold and rain before games OR a tuneless accordion band knocking out bum notes; it is a farce at times.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9702 - 29/07/2014 14:21:53    1627935

I'l be honest here and Say that I went through a period of my Life' were i questioned and had a problem with my being Irish.
It was mainly though' due to other people and Irish society..begrudgery,jealousy,backstabbing,disloyalty,Gossiping,ignorance ect

At the end of nights out at Clubs when the anthem was being played' and under the influence I would not respect it.

Thankfully i got over my issues and refound my Irishness. Not that I was never Irish' but I am now proud of the fact.
Someone mentioned about going to matches as being one of the most Irish things you can Do.Well here is a few more..
City people might not get What I mean but i am proud to be Irish because most Of my Life I have broke my back since I was a boy..
"Gathering purties" picking potatoes to you city folk..farming and working the land,Gathering winkles on the shore, busting my balls on the building Sites for most of my adult life and of Course as with most Donegal folk' working at Turf in the Hills.
All these things to me are what makes me proud to be Irish. Plus my Collection of medals that i won when I played GAA sports.


I knew a few lines of our Anthem in English when I was a boy but it wasnt until later in my life that I made a point of learning it in our native tongue and I can now proudly sing along while looking at our Flag on match days and feel 100 percent proud to be Irish.

It wasnt that long ago that long ago the Donegal players where getting Slated for not Standing to attention During the Anthem and where huddled together with there arms around each other.I dont see the problem with this as that is what they do at Rugby matches and it brings togetherness and comradery .

Keep it and respect it' I say.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 29/07/2014 14:27:54    1627938

Have to say again. Finals only. As has been said getting up in freezing cold navan on sat eve listening to a scratched record played at wrong speed is hell of lot more disrespectful than not playing it.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 29/07/2014 14:56:41    1627957

When I was young the whole crowd singing it together put the hairs up on the back of my neck.

To me even at that tender age it symbolized everything noble about the organization- we are all members, we are equal, the youngest or oldest supporter in the stand can sing along with the star on the field should they wish.

The individual singing since the late 1990s has been another in the series of slow steps that is aping every other sports organization (particularly US field sports) and making us another bland component of the globalized world.

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 29/07/2014 15:13:55    1627968

InishowenMan
County: Donegal
Posts: 37

Thankfully i got over my issues and refound my Irishness. Not that I was never Irish' but I am now proud of the fact.
Someone mentioned about going to matches as being one of the most Irish things you can Do.Well here is a few more..
City people might not get What I mean but i am proud to be Irish because most Of my Life I have broke my back since I was a boy..
"Gathering purties" picking potatoes to you city folk..farming and working the land,Gathering winkles on the shore, busting my balls on the building Sites for most of my adult life and of Course as with most Donegal folk' working at Turf in the Hills.
All these things to me are what makes me proud to be Irish. Plus my Collection of medals that i won when I played GAA sports.

On behalf of us "city folks" - delighted for you.

You went picking spuds and found your Irishness..........different strokes I suppose.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 29/07/2014 16:29:59    1628039