Great blog entry from John Fogarty on the Examiner website on the GAA match day experience... sound systems, big screens and in particular poor renditions of Amhrán na bhFiann. I think that feeling where you're adrenalin is pumping as throw-in time grows near and then you feel almost forced to idly stand still for a minute listening to bad recordings or struggling singers is an anti-climactic sensation we're probably all familiar with:
http://sport.irishexaminer.com/post/2012/05/24/National-anthem-still-an-issue-for-GAA.aspx

This is not anything to do with playing the anthem in the six counties so please try and not let another thread descend into that rubbish.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 26/05/2012 13:42:15    1180842

I completely 100% disagree with this article. I think one person singing the anthem beautifully is much better than a large band that completely drown out the crowd and that throw in so many random instruments that the tune of the anthem is almost lost. I say one singer is good but i agree we need to get more people to join in.

galballygael23 (Tyrone) - Posts: 235 - 26/05/2012 15:40:13    1180897

Another question is why do they have to play the anthem before each game anyway, it's not like there's two national teams going head to head so why is it necessary at all?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 26/05/2012 16:26:43    1180926

Time to stop playing that silly outdated anthem before matches, it's a sports match not the x-factor

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 26/05/2012 17:02:05    1180954

26/05/2012 17:02:05
bad.monkey
County: USA
Posts: 3023

1180954 Time to stop playing that silly outdated anthem before matches, it's a sports match not the x-factor

Maybe not played before every game but playing it before all finals and the other very big games(semis etc) is fine.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 26/05/2012 20:05:50    1181023

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 3639

1180926 Another question is why do they have to play the anthem before each game anyway, it's not like there's two national teams going head to head so why is it necessary at all?

it's not played before each game..............what are you on about it's not like there's two national teams going head to head ?

Gammy_Knee (USA) - Posts: 1482 - 26/05/2012 20:30:27    1181033

I just don't think there is any point playing the national anthem of our country when our country isn't actually playing, that's all, simple really.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 26/05/2012 21:42:33    1181067

It is absolutely essential to play the national anthem before matches, and indeed to fly the tri-colour, because the GAA is as much a nationalist organisation as it is a sporting one. Anybody who has a problem with either of these things, needs to review what they are doing associating with the GAA.

The quality of the anthem before some matches should be better though, personally I think it sounds much better when its played by a band rather than sang by an individual. The wind can interfere with the mic when it's being sang.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 27/05/2012 10:09:02    1181100

The anthem needs to be sung before the game as one of the aims of the GAA is to keep Irish culture and heritage. Not playing the anthem is another case of people losing their sense of Irishness only a few generations after fighting hard to win it.

OgraAnDun (Down) - Posts: 406 - 27/05/2012 10:22:32    1181105

It's essential? Why what happens if you don't play the anthem before a game, my guess is everything will still work out grand but I'd imagine I'm gonna get some vile patriotic spiel.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 27/05/2012 10:28:05    1181111

Drop it. And the GAA is just a sporting organization plain and simple, no matter what some people here seem to think. For God's sake even the rules were even largely based around those of the Englsh game of soccer (including goal-posts and team formations) as there was no evidence as to how the games mentioned in such as the Cuchaillan myths had been played. That's not to say that at least hurling is not a great game.

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 323 - 27/05/2012 10:43:59    1181121

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 3642

1181111
It's essential? Why what happens if you don't play the anthem before a game, my guess is everything will still work out grand but I'd imagine I'm gonna get some vile patriotic spiel.

Sure I already said, the GAA is not purely a sporting organisation, it is a cultural one, and as a consequence, nationalist in its thinking. But don't take the patriotic spiel from me, read part 1 of the GAA's official guide.

The Gaelic Athletic Association today is an organisation which
reaches into every corner of the land and has its roots in every
Irish parish. Throughout the Country, legions of voluntary
workers willingly make sacrifices to promote its ideals and carry
its daily burdens. why does the Association receive this unselfish
support?
Those who play its games, those who organise its activities
and those who control its destinies see in the G.A.A. a means
of consolidating our Irish identity. The games to them are
more than games - they have a national significance - and the
promotion of native pastimes becomes a part of the full national
ideal, which envisages the speaking of our own language,
music and dances. The primary purpose of the G.A.A. is the
organisation of native pastimes and the promotion of athletic
fitness as a means to create a disciplined, self- reliant, nationalminded manhood. The overall result is the expression of a
people's preference for native ways as opposed to imported ones.
Since she has not control over all the national territory,
Ireland's claim to nationhood is impaired. It would be still
more impaired if she were to lose her language, if she failed to
provide a decent livelihood for her people at home, or if she
were to forsake her own games and customs in favour of the
games and customs of another nation. If pride in the attributes
of nationhood dies, something good and distinctive in our
race dies with it. Each national quality that is lost makes us so
much poorer as a Nation. Today, the native games take on a
new significance when it is realised that they have been a part,
and still are a part, of the Nation's desire to live her own life, to
govern her own affairs.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 27/05/2012 10:46:43    1181126

Just let the crowd sing it, have a band with good loud instruments and the crowd will join in. The problem is that many county grounds in particular have a crackly old PA system and that makes the anthem sound terrible. Every county has a local pipe band I suspect - use them.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 27/05/2012 10:59:29    1181143

You see, I knew I'd get patriotic spiel :-) Anyway point is, rules once written are not cast in stone forever if they were we'd have zero progress and also, we've been a republic since 1949 (or there abouts) so playing the anthem to promote our irishness seems pretty redundant to me at this stage. Everyone knows we're not under English control anymore so why can't we just get on with it?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 27/05/2012 11:02:21    1181145

Have a look at the context in which the word 'today' mentioned in above. Does that 'today' have any relevance with the one in which we now live? Have a look around you in this age of mass-movement of people and re-examine the narrow-minded myth of what 'Irishness' means. Hurling is a bloody great game but for the love of God it is about time to get rid of this nationalist faeces that encrusts it.

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 323 - 27/05/2012 11:08:25    1181147

Why do so many gits even on this site see something wrong with being proud of being Irish and celebrating being Irish. What's wrong with being proud of our games. Like if you don't like Being Irish or are somewhat embarrassed by being Irish go bury you head in a bucket. God so over this whole crap from all those losers who don't even have the balls to wear a green jersey.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 27/05/2012 13:41:11    1181223

The GAA celebrates being irish, and is a way for people to express their identity as irish people. The National Anthem is also a way of expressing ourselves as irish. Its done everywhere and i dont se the problem of it.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 27/05/2012 13:44:32    1181225

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 3643

1181145
You see, I knew I'd get patriotic spiel :-) Anyway point is, rules once written are not cast in stone forever if they were we'd have zero progress and also, we've been a republic since 1949 (or there abouts) so playing the anthem to promote our irishness seems pretty redundant to me at this stage. Everyone knows we're not under English control anymore so why can't we just get on with it?


Whats the whole English comment gotta do with. Lots of sports in lots of different countries play their national anthems before games. The nrl, afl and soccer constantly do so in Australia for club and origin games. Your comment sounds ignorant and small minded. It's make me laugh at times how those who make these kinds of comments as being so worldly and that they have moved on etc... But infact it sound quite the opposite.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 27/05/2012 13:49:22    1181229

When I started this thread I thought the debate would be very much around how the anthem is presented on the day. That was the point of the blog in question. I didn't think for a second people thought it shouldn't be played. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but to me it's always been a part of the day and I see no reason why that should ever change.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 27/05/2012 14:00:43    1181235

Let it flow, Doublehop, let it flow ;) . I don't share anything in common with the likes of the Nick lad other than the human form and a love for the recently-imagined and constructed game of hurling in the likeness of an also relatively-recently constructed game already being played on a neighbouring island that constitutes the bulk of what is now known as Britain. The games are great (even though I personally don't give a monkeys about Gaelic Football), but recognise them for what they are - just games. It is true that everybody is entitled to their opinion and I have no problem in arguing that the National Anthem should be dropped. God pity any poor clown that needs that moronic dribble to give them a sense of pride in their existence. That's my final spoke, Doublehop. Apologies for gate-crashing your thread.

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 323 - 27/05/2012 15:20:14    1181261