Don't the Yanks do this before some sporting occasions? Personally I'm not too bothered either way. If we want to keep with tradition then let the Artane Boys Band play it, its the sound we grew up with and in fairness was part of the whole atmosphere!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8748 - 27/05/2012 21:48:07    1181538

Local pipe band should play. National anthem should be played before every intercounty match. No more of these opera singers, they ruin it. And yes, at every county match. I'm getting a bit sick of these "its all outdated" comments. Ye are too good for your own national anthem? Give me a break.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2574 - 28/05/2012 08:41:19    1181566

I can't believe the posters here coming out against our national anthem. That's a big problem Irish people have. A lot of Irish people seem to be ashamed of things Irish - language, music, games etc. You wouldn't hear people in other countries giving off about the playing of their anthems. I cant believe the reaction of some people here. Be proud of your anthem. Whats with all the negativity. These reactions are unbelievable.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 28/05/2012 09:06:31    1181573

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?

Eh, isn't a giant portion of this country under English rule? And then the rest is under German rule. On a principled note I think that the song should be played as part of our assertion of and pride in our Irish identity. I think that it's too rarely that our anthem is heard as it is, and I look forward to hearing it when I head off to see a came of peil or iomanaiocht.

On a personal note I really like the song. I think it's lovely. It's unfortunate that supporters sing it so weakly. I always do my best to belt it out, but I have the most wretched singing voice, so I'm not sure whether I'm doing a disservice or not. I think that either a singer or a band are fantastic. I love hearing a band at a championship game - gets me all fired up. Those dogey aul 80s cassettes that they dust off and stick on over the PA are a bit of a disaster, but the best solution would be if everyone were to man up and drown it out with their own efforts instead of being so embarrassed about it.

AnRaibh (Donegal) - Posts: 134 - 28/05/2012 09:20:35    1181584

Two points here:

1. The anthem is a 'martial air' to be sung with enmasse by the assembled crowd and with gusto!!....not in a namby pamby quasi opera style by a lone female singer who was a failed 'Rose of Tralee' regional contestant 7 years ago or something!!
2. Anyone who thinks we should stop this tradition (same thing done in rugby etc) is a 'New Irelander' whom most people would consider to be a complete soulless pain to listen to if they met them on a night out!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 28/05/2012 12:34:34    1181794

Culann
County: Dublin
Posts: 235

1181573 I can't believe the posters here coming out against our national anthem. That's a big problem Irish people have. A lot of Irish people seem to be ashamed of things Irish - language, music, games etc. You wouldn't hear people in other countries giving off about the playing of their anthems. I cant believe the reaction of some people here. Be proud of your anthem. Whats with all the negativity. These reactions are unbelievable

Well said Culann, we are always putting ourselves down. Quit the negativity, we have a fantastic heritage, country and national anthem and we should spend our time promoting it instead of criticising it.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 28/05/2012 12:59:37    1181818

All for the National Anthem, for one or two minutes everyone's singing the same song, then the battle commences. The only gripe I have is players doing stretches and jumps during the playing of the anthem.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1723 - 28/05/2012 13:17:19    1181837

Just about the daftest subject ever on this forum.
Its amazing how people forget/dont know/dont care why the GAA came about and pick up on some idiot in a newspaper column trying to be controversial.

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 28/05/2012 13:19:49    1181840

Jeez, I just completely agreed with Snuf on a topic. A sure sign that this must be something serious!

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/05/2012 13:21:57    1181843

Don't know bout anyone else, but I get goosebumps when Amhráin Na bhFiann is played before matches, it's the calm before the storm, it should never be taken away. ~PHS

Pope_has_spoken (Dublin) - Posts: 138 - 28/05/2012 13:30:36    1181851

Just about the daftest subject ever on this forum.
Its amazing how people forget/dont know/dont care why the GAA came about and pick up on some idiot in a newspaper column trying to be controversial.

Well I'm the one who posted it here and I'm the one who picked up on the column in question. And I imagine the idiot in this whole thread might be the person who throws around insults without reading the column in question which you clearly haven't, have you?

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/05/2012 13:43:19    1181868

Doublehop - Am I the only one on here who disagrees! I started to read the link but there is a limit to how much rubbish I can absorb. Catch a grip man!

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 28/05/2012 13:48:49    1181880

Don't know bout anyone else, but I get goosebumps when Amhráin Na bhFiann is played before matches, it's the calm before the storm, it should never be taken away. ~PHS

Pope - No need to sing it more than once - why the plural? ;-]

savanaghan (Tyrone) - Posts: 13 - 28/05/2012 13:49:48    1181883

I am always proud of our National Atnthem before a match. At least we are not ashamed to play/sing our Anthem like some others.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 28/05/2012 14:21:26    1181927

Its great singing it especially in Croker. Leave it as it is.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 28/05/2012 14:31:17    1181942

My point is if you read it you'd find that the piece actually agrees with what you're saying. I'd explain more but you obviously have the attention span of a goldfish.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/05/2012 14:38:19    1181953

ballybannongael
County: Down
Posts: 272

Caught out badly man!!!!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13796 - 28/05/2012 15:01:52    1181983

Doublehop

For what it is worth, I'd keep playing the anthem before big games only. County Finals, provincial finals etc.

I don't see the point of playing it before a league match in February in front of a couple hundred people on a well worn out tape deck. It cheapens the anthem imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13796 - 28/05/2012 15:04:48    1181986

lads some places there is singers that sing the anthem on the day and I wonder how in gods name did they get the gig. the prenunciation of the words is a mile out and the bad mic doesnt help some cant reach the note near the end but thankfully by the time they reach that the crowd is joining in because everyone knows the last line.

maybe every county could have a singer that can sing to do the job before the match. with a proper backing track recorded to suit that singers key.they dont have to stand in the rain or gail force wind in the middle of a pitch to sing it, that would stop the static or wind annoying the sound system they could sing it from somewhere in the stand. thats if all county boards got there act together. and this would be at county games in the league or championship.

local clubs could do something simlar but some towns have bands etc that are listenable to and could do the job. I must admit I do prefer a brass band playing the anthem better than a pipe band.
I do also agree its not always necessary to have it played before each match when on some occasions there is a double header in croke park or anywhere else the first game is played and the anthem is only played before the featured game.

lillymadfan (Kildare) - Posts: 1085 - 28/05/2012 15:12:54    1181998

If the only "issue" around playing the anthem is a crappy public address or crappy singers then its not exactly an issue is it? I am not a big fan of solo singing the damn thing its a communal song after all. If you don't like though just turn up your iPhone.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 28/05/2012 15:14:28    1182000