This topic has been discussed before but i feel its getting worse and worse each year. At the weekend and throughout the championship we've had only what i can describe as absolutely pathetic and laughable renditions of Amhran na bhfiann. Players and managers and members of the crowd can also be seen sniggering and holding back laughter at our national song due to the nature of how its sung and played. I feel its time the GAA addressed this issue and addressed it positively.

Personally i feel the anthem should only be played at provincial and national finals. Few anthems sound better than our own when it is sung with collective pride and gusto but the anthem more times than not sounds like a funeral liturgy. Especially when grounds are not near capacity, also at times when the game is not of the upmost importance and also when the tannoy systems are probably 50 odd years old. I feel the anthem would be given centre piece and importance with sole use for finals.

In my view the playing of our national song before every GAA match is a hangover from our associations beginnings. I feel the practice is outdated but if my sentiments are in the minority and most people want to keep the tradition that please let it be done in a way that respects the song for what is! The current state of things is making a joke of it!

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 10/06/2013 16:46:06    1403294

Beautiful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0dVYh2eEcYI

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 10/06/2013 16:49:58    1403301

i think it should be played before every match.
but i feel it should be played by a band only.
a singer doesnt work or even worse is when they have a singer and the band like the weekend as they are out of tune and sync altogether.
bring back the band only like the artane band in croker is a great spectacle,yet when they are in croker nowadays you dont even hear them play at half time because of music over the sound system or another band organised to play at half time.
the pipe band is also brilliant to hear playing the anthem.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 10/06/2013 16:55:17    1403308

IMO

I think it's daft that it's played before every single game.

Listen it's a grand aukl tune etc etc... something to be proud of... etc

But it' been watered down a this stage

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 10/06/2013 16:55:33    1403309

The AI final would suffice for me!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8785 - 10/06/2013 17:01:29    1403317

Some of my earliest memories the sound of the Artane boys band drumming up in the tunnel , then the anthem god the hairs stood on the back of your neck , ( 70s)
now-days not quite the spectacle it was , could be due to the amount of times we are in Croker , not so unique any more , regardless Anthem should be treated with a bit more respect , only a couple of pipe bands capable of doing it just , dont let just any tom dick or harry play or sing just to be fashionable .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 10/06/2013 17:04:53    1403324

Our national anthem should be played before every game. So what if its a hangover from our past. National pride is something that is clearly lacking from the Government table to the man on the street. I wouldn't think americans would like their anthem not played before sporting games.

Its the way it is presented. There should be a band only and not someone on the pitch singing it - nothing against them but the acoustics is bad. Lets the crowd sing the song. I also hate coming towards the end...the usual Up...or come on...it only takes a few and the last bit of the song is lost.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11654 - 10/06/2013 17:08:28    1403329

I was thinking about it yesterday and how few people face our flag and sing it. I know it's old fashioned and I don't exactly raise the roof but its important. I'd love it if everyone knew the words and belted it out together. Inter county wouldn't be the same without it.

ged (Louth) - Posts: 319 - 10/06/2013 17:11:00    1403333

Ur spot on there hill ! solo singers just dont work it needs to be a band ! we have had some shocking singers lately our national anthem needs to be given the respect it deserves.

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 941 - 10/06/2013 17:16:14    1403342

seany16
County: Dublin
Posts: 1008

1403294
This topic has been discussed before but i feel its getting worse and worse each year. At the weekend and throughout the championship we've had only what i can describe as absolutely pathetic and laughable renditions of Amhran na bhfiann. Players and managers and members of the crowd can also be seen sniggering and holding back laughter at our national song due to the nature of how its sung and played. I feel its time the GAA addressed this issue and addressed it positively.

Personally i feel the anthem should only be played at provincial and national finals. Few anthems sound better than our own when it is sung with collective pride and gusto but the anthem more times than not sounds like a funeral liturgy. Especially when grounds are not near capacity, also at times when the game is not of the upmost importance and also when the tannoy systems are probably 50 odd years old. I feel the anthem would be given centre piece and importance with sole use for finals.

In my view the playing of our national song before every GAA match is a hangover from our associations beginnings. I feel the practice is outdated but if my sentiments are in the minority and most people want to keep the tradition that please let it be done in a way that respects the song for what is! The current state of things is making a joke of it!

I agree. County final, provincial finals, League and All Ireland finals. No need for some dirge version over a tannoy that nobody can hear and everybody is to embarrassed to sing at a half empty ground in March.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 10/06/2013 17:18:11    1403348

Play it only on national finals imo. If you go to double header in croker its only second match its played at, as game one is not deserving which I find is disrespectful to the two teams playing in same comp at same stage. Dont play it at all until finals day IMO.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/06/2013 17:41:53    1403388

There was one awful rendition of the anthem, a girl and band completely off key, girl could sing but band and her out of step, timing wrong it was rather embarressing.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 10/06/2013 17:57:52    1403401

I don't think there's a need to play the anthem before every match.

Championship finals at club level, provincial and All-Ireland finals at club and county would be better in my opinion. There's an argument that the playing of it before every game cheapens the anthem too.

Also I think a lot of the time the PA systems in a lot of stadia tend to drown out any singing in anyways which should be looked at.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13822 - 10/06/2013 18:02:17    1403407

i think in munster they parade before all matches where as in leinster they only parade before provincial final.
whats people view on the parade?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 10/06/2013 18:24:48    1403434

I wouldn't blame the poor singer, more the crappy sound system he/she has to work with.

Topa_the_left (Antrim) - Posts: 250 - 10/06/2013 18:37:48    1403447

To be honest I'm not terribly patriotic and don't really care either way, but if they are going to insist on playing the anthem before each game then they need to play a better rendition, at the minute it sounds like a crackling old vinyl version.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/06/2013 18:43:14    1403456

Its a very poor national anthem. i never liked it. time for a change

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 12/06/2013 21:59:25    1405371

Thought the rendition at the weekend was embarrassing, do they not rehearse these type of things??

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2402 - 13/06/2013 09:08:20    1405383

The anthem must stay, it should be played with gusto and sang with pride, KEEP THE ANTHEM otherwise we will end up with a pile of generic crap like like Irelands Call!!!!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 13/06/2013 09:39:51    1405402

Ill second that brend!

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 13/06/2013 10:00:24    1405416