pplocal
County: Tyrone
Posts: 3797

1027640 I don't have the figures at hand obviously but I don't think its seen as threatening to Nationalists as say the N.I. football team might be. Of course it has traditionally been a sport played mostly by Protestants but it is becoming more and more popular in Catholic schools. I hate the idea that it's any way relevant what religion people are at sport events, I was at the Glasgow game on Friday and there was nothing at all that could be considered . The official flag of Ulster rugby is in fact seen as a Nationalist flag and there were a number of them at the game, I have one myself. When you have the situation that we have compromises have to be made and in fact it is Unionists who have made the biggest sacrifices when it comes to the Irish rugby team. I do genuinely think the way Rugby is handled and run here is something that should be aspired to by other sports
_______________________________-
Fair enough pp, but can't we for pity sake settle on a tune that will lift the hearts of the team, inspire them, drive them on, maybe even a paddy version of the haka, anything but that bland, inoffensive guff that we have now?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 05/09/2011 19:17:12    1027707

Pomeroy

Why do you hate your country so? Did an Irishman beat you up once or something? Have you no pride at all in being Irish, if you are Irish? This 'Ireland' team refuses to stand to our national anthem, and people still support them, yet Celtic's Irishness is questioned on here. Some people are ridiculous.

HorseOutside (UK) - Posts: 398 - 05/09/2011 19:35:52    1027729

pplocal
County: Tyrone
Posts: 3797

1027640 I don't have the figures at hand obviously but I don't think its seen as threatening to Nationalists as say the N.I. football team might be. Of course it has traditionally been a sport played mostly by Protestants but it is becoming more and more popular in Catholic schools. I hate the idea that it's any way relevant what religion people are at sport events, I was at the Glasgow game on Friday and there was nothing at all that could be considered . The official flag of Ulster rugby is in fact seen as a Nationalist flag and there were a number of them at the game, I have one myself. When you have the situation that we have compromises have to be made and in fact it is Unionists who have made the biggest sacrifices when it comes to the Irish rugby team. I do genuinely think the way Rugby is handled and run here is something that should be aspired to by other sports

I agree with you about religion and sport. I'm not sure about the way rugby is handled becaouse I haven't been to Ravenhill. I would agree about compromise. That is why I would play both songs. Anything that promotes inclusiveness and participation is to be encouraged in any sport. From what you say that seems to be the case in Ravenhill.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6180 - 05/09/2011 19:47:54    1027745

05/09/2011 19:35:52
HorseOutside
County: UK
Posts: 274

1027729 Pomeroy

Why do you hate your country so? Did an Irishman beat you up once or something? Have you no pride at all in being Irish, if you are Irish? This 'Ireland' team refuses to stand to our national anthem, and people still support them, yet Celtic's Irishness is questioned on here. Some people are ridiculous.

Then why are they not called the republic of ireland rugby team... there is players whos national anthem is not amhran na bhfiann, what would you reccommend them sing instead of it.
Im Irish and proud to be but the playing of the songs before a match doesnt affect me in the slightest because i go and watch games because of the sport and the match that will be played not whatever songs are sang before it. I would not care if everyone sang he wheels on the bus before the game as its the match and the sport that matters not a song
Are you actually saying you do not support the irish rugby team because they do not sing amhran na bhfiann at away games..................
Are you actually comparing the irishness of a scottish coccer team to a team that represents ireland. Seriously?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/09/2011 19:48:37    1027747

'Fair enough pp, but can't we for pity sake settle on a tune that will lift the hearts of the team, inspire them, drive them on, maybe even a paddy version of the haka, anything but that bland, inoffensive guff that we have now?'

True but what would that be? Danny Boy, the Fields of Athenry? Whatever it is people aren't going to be happy with it. I don't particularly like the song myself but agree with the sentiments behind it, perhaps it's something the IRFU could look at changing

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 05/09/2011 19:59:16    1027761

Imagine how motivated the lads must have been after Brian Kennedy and Paul Byram singing it before the England game, 2 teak tough hardmen.

jonny1951 (Mayo) - Posts: 1431 - 05/09/2011 20:08:57    1027775

Its fairly simple, its how ireland play on the pitch that matters not what song they sing while standing around.
I hate the processional crap that goes on before games, i would imagine most of the players dont particularly like the processional stuff either as they have to stand around for 5 minutes(taking away some of the benefits of doing a warm up away) for both anthems and then kick off, i know adrenaline will play a part in keeping you warm some bit but surely wouldnt it be better if none of the pageantry was used at all and the players ran out onto the pitch and the match began immediately

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/09/2011 20:25:12    1027790

Crank up the Tempo a bit and its sorted - not a mention of a bullet or a queen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwpEDYXAbJg&feature=fvsr

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 05/09/2011 21:09:53    1027827

The question remains why are Nationalists excluded from rugby in the North and what is the IRFU doing about it? We always hear moans that the GAA should be reaching out more to Unionists but never rugby doing more to include Ulster Catholics......why?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 05/09/2011 21:28:29    1027849

ruanua
County: Donegal
Posts: 3847

1027827 Crank up the Tempo a bit and its sorted - not a mention of a bullet or a queen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwpEDYXAbJg&feature=fvsr
____________________________
On second thoughts Irelands Call isn't so bad after all!!!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 05/09/2011 21:46:03    1027873

05/09/2011 21:28:29
Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 4136

1027849 The question remains why are Nationalists excluded from rugby in the North and what is the IRFU doing about it? We always hear moans that the GAA should be reaching out more to Unionists but never rugby doing more to include Ulster Catholics......why?

They are not excluded from playing. Plenty do, its just the schools u/age that get a lot of attention are primarily protestant faith schools and many clubs are made up of old boys of these schools,
Ulster are setting up clubs in predominanttly catholic areas more and more every year
Id say there is plenty of catholics involved in the north

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/09/2011 22:01:36    1027892

Its just an interim sop until a united Ireland is implemented and then it will be back to "The Soldiers Song",and Plunkett and the likes of him can feck off!!!

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 06/09/2011 08:26:45    1027904

A brave call by the IRFU. I say "WELL DONE". Rugby is a great example of what the island of Ireland can do
when every-one works together.

We will slowly move into a future where parochial small minds do not feel undermined by what c.d. is played at a match.

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 06/09/2011 11:00:57    1028086

05/09/2011 22:01:36
ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 172

1027892 05/09/2011 21:28:29
Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 4136

1027849 The question remains why are Nationalists excluded from rugby in the North and what is the IRFU doing about it? We always hear moans that the GAA should be reaching out more to Unionists but never rugby doing more to include Ulster Catholics......why?

They are not excluded from playing. Plenty do, its just the schools u/age that get a lot of attention are primarily protestant faith schools and many clubs are made up of old boys of these schools,
Ulster are setting up clubs in predominanttly catholic areas more and more every year
Id say there is plenty of catholics involved in the north

_____________

My understanding is that in Enniskillen Rugby club the majority of the underage players are from that Nationalist community. The local royal school "Portora" plays in the Schools cup and I think places a restriction on schools team players from playing club rugby at the same time. The local Collegiate school St Michaels does not have a rugby team which means that a lot of the Michaels lads play underage club rugby

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 06/09/2011 12:00:11    1028148

06/09/2011 12:00:11
ruanua
County: Donegal
Posts: 3849

1028148 05/09/2011 22:01:36
ormondbannerman
County: Clare
Posts: 172

1027892 05/09/2011 21:28:29
Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 4136

1027849 The question remains why are Nationalists excluded from rugby in the North and what is the IRFU doing about it? We always hear moans that the GAA should be reaching out more to Unionists but never rugby doing more to include Ulster Catholics......why?

They are not excluded from playing. Plenty do, its just the schools u/age that get a lot of attention are primarily protestant faith schools and many clubs are made up of old boys of these schools,
Ulster are setting up clubs in predominanttly catholic areas more and more every year
Id say there is plenty of catholics involved in the north

_____________

My understanding is that in Enniskillen Rugby club the majority of the underage players are from that Nationalist community. The local royal school "Portora" plays in the Schools cup and I think places a restriction on schools team players from playing club rugby at the same time. The local Collegiate school St Michaels does not have a rugby team which means that a lot of the Michaels lads play underage club rugby

If you go to a rugby playing school and are in the main cup squads at senior and junior level(one that plays in the main senior cups ie campbell college, methodist college or blackrock, st marys, clongowes in leinster or rockwell, cbc, pbc, st munchins in munster etc) you cannot play for a club in the club leagues and you can only play in the cup competitions at the end of the season

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 06/09/2011 12:09:27    1028153

This is nonsense, the players from the unionist community should be made accept amhrán na bhfiann and stand for it as their anthem. It should be imposed on them, just like God save the queen is played before NI soccer games, despite some players being from the nationalist community.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 06/09/2011 12:43:25    1028178

06/09/2011 12:43:25
Ned_Stormcrow
County: Cavan
Posts: 21

1028178 This is nonsense, the players from the unionist community should be made accept amhrán na bhfiann and stand for it as their anthem. It should be imposed on them, just like God save the queen is played before NI soccer games, despite some players being from the nationalist community.

it should not be imposed on anyone

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 06/09/2011 12:55:58    1028197

Sure, Ireland's Call doesnt exactly get the team completely pumped before a game but its the good intentions of the CONCEPT of the song which justify it. Why should the protestant Ulster players stand for an anthem that doesnt represent them or the Island of Ireland. As much as i truly love the melody of AnbF and i know all the lyrics etc, i cant help but feel it should be kept as a republican song, and not our national anthem. After all, the lyrics dont exactly inspire comfort among the Ulster players.

The anthem has become outdated. Sure even watching the Republic playing soccer, more than half the players dont know the words at all! You see them miming as the camera sweeps past them before a game. On a different point, at least the majority of the Irish rugby players come from the island of Ireland, unlike some soccer fella from downtown Jamaica who had an irish granny lol

spiderpig123 (Down) - Posts: 175 - 06/09/2011 12:57:48    1028199

Another sop to unionism.....

Padraig_Dub (Dublin) - Posts: 100 - 06/09/2011 14:16:47    1028318

Ormond, you seem to have your own agenda and just ignore what others say and think

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 06/09/2011 18:37:17    1028565