brendtheredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 7386

1405402 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!!!!
____________

Nah scrap it...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 13/06/2013 10:39:54    1405447

I think it is all about the way it's sang to be honest. I've always thought that the anthem was something to be sung out proudly to show of your pride in your culture as oppose to pride in your voice. I sing the anthem around the county at championship matches and I always feel it can motivate a team when it's sang well and belted out in tune as oppose to a good wee soprano making an opera solo out of it or a scor champion mumbling over the words.

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 13/06/2013 11:02:11    1405463

It should be nothing to do with pride, but more to do with respect. Too often we have people given the task of singing the national anthem who don't know the words, or people who sing it with their own special air (just to show off), or people singing in such a high key that no-one in the crowd can properly sing along.
Also this idea of cheering, jeering and generally disrespecting the last few lines of the anthem is wholly inappropriate, this includes both players and specators.
Finally there is nothing more cringeworthy than standing near a person, or seeing a person on tv 'singing' the national anthem without knowing the words and just singing rubbish. If you don't know the words, please don't sing at all.

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 13/06/2013 11:26:08    1405490

I'll second that MDF. It could be the best, most uplifting song in the world but it's no good if it's just mumbled out as a sort of obligation rather than a part of the build up. I sing it every single time but I'm very much in a minority among my match going pals and a lot of the rest of the crowd. As a season ticket holder who is allocated tickets in the Cusack Stand, I find the fans in this area particularly poor at this (apologies to the fans who attend that part of the ground and always belt it out but that's very much the impression I get). I think playing the anthem before each game is great and adds to the atmosphere but only if the crowd do their part too.

Don't get me started on how the RTE commentators talk over the anthem, right up to the singing part (you know who you are). You can do this as a DJ on the radio for a Snow Patrol song but not for our national anthem.

Kurt_Angle (Dublin) - Posts: 567 - 13/06/2013 11:30:09    1405496

There's nothing wrong with the national anthem, as long as it's given the respect it deserves. I was always anooyed going to Croke Park, singing the anthem, and the last 2 lines being drowned out by fans roaring their county's name. And if anyone tries telling me the hairs on the back of their neck didn't stand up when it was played during the Ireland V England rugby match in 2007, then I'll call you a liar. Now if only we could get that kind of rendition on All-Ireland final day...

Ballboy (Dublin) - Posts: 88 - 13/06/2013 11:36:31    1405502

The way our Anthem is played around the grounds is a disgrace, the old squeaky,fuzzy, static recording..play it with a band or not at all. Give it the respect it deserves.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 13/06/2013 11:57:28    1405535

"The Association is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic Games and pastimes."

The playing of the national anthem before GAA events is an integral part of the promotion of the national identity, it goes hand in hand with the stated aims of the association. What we don't need is these anti-patriotic "citizen of the world" elements infiltrating the association with a firm will to dumb down the cultural ethos of the GAA.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 13/06/2013 12:12:44    1405556

The playing/singing of the anthem is an integral part of a GAA match for me, especially Champo in Croker. You hush the morans, take off your hat, turn to your right to face the flag and belt her out - wait until the last word is sung then swing back to the pitch and let rip a big roar of 'COME ON DUBLIN' and away ya go. Special stuff.

It does amuse me though to see people looking at you funny when you turn to face the flag - I can see the 'whats he looking over there for' look on their faces before they cop on and usually sheepishly turn themselves.

DNS1916 (Dublin) - Posts: 64 - 13/06/2013 12:35:50    1405595

Well said crossfieldball couldn't agree more

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2402 - 13/06/2013 12:52:04    1405616

The issue I have with the national anthem, Is the sheer amount of people who don't know the words to it. I don't know about everyone else but I know when I went to primary school and was in first class, We where made learn the words of amhran na bhfiann.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 13/06/2013 12:53:21    1405619

Pretty sure everyone on here is going to e in agreement !! Although every year the COME ON WEXFORD!!! seems to come earlier in the song! Had a debate one time with a mate of mine telling me it's not as special in GAA because we are all Irish. . .I think that makes it all the more significant. Celebrating our culture together with the utmost respect and sportsmanship no matter what county you are from.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3743 - 13/06/2013 12:57:13    1405627

Actually just noticed the parade thing aswell. I think that's really important. Growing up we were in every leinster final and the anticipation as a chap watching your heroes and waiting for them all to pass you but while the artane band were playing the boys of wexford or mccalpines men. I think it's magic and it would be a massive diservice to the sport if it was lost

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3743 - 13/06/2013 13:02:09    1405635

The National Anthem is hopefully here to stay. I don't care who plays the game its our National Anthem.

I've heard that the Artane Boys Band were asked to play at all venues around the country but the GAA said they had to play all their gigs in Croke Park. What flutes made that decision? Too uppity to travel down the country. Talk about blowing your own trumpet. They have brass necks if you ask me. I've been told by a reliable source that they even have their own changing room. All bells and whistles.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 13/06/2013 13:06:27    1405643

that version in Limerick on Sunday was dreadful.i'd do better myself at the end of a disco.play the music and let the crowd sing it."the greatest gaa albumn" has a fine rendition of it.play that and let the crowd join in.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 13/06/2013 13:54:46    1405707

The National Anthem is hopefully here to stay. I don't care who plays the game its our National Anthem

_______

I agree :)

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 13/06/2013 13:56:27    1405709

We have to keep our anthem before all big games. To hear it sung in Croker, Thurles, Cork, Killarney, etc. before big games and with a good band would make you stick out your chest and be proud to be Irish. Saying that however, the recent trend of some unknown "warbler" having a go at venues around the country is a travesty. The rendition in Limerick last Sunday was as bad an effort as I have ever witnessed. Newbridge is another venue where you have an awful "screech" to put it mildly. If it cannot be done well it is preferable to leave it out.

AwbegRover (Cork) - Posts: 136 - 13/06/2013 14:06:46    1405724

When the National Anthem is performed by a singer before a game they seem to be obsessed with singing it as slowly as possible!!, that really annoys me, then you get the Artane band or other band at grounds around the country and its a real up-tempo song that just really bugs me

leitrim4sam (Leitrim) - Posts: 700 - 13/06/2013 14:58:54    1405791

I remember being at a game and they didn't play the national anthem before it and I was do disappointed I could hardly concentrate on the first ten mins of the game! Threw me right off!

victorkeane (Dublin) - Posts: 28 - 13/06/2013 16:06:11    1405897

I love the Welsh national anthem. to hear that played and sung properly with the whole of the crowd singing along would surely make the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention.
the irish anthem in contrast is a dirge. how about. "a Nation Once Again" or Faith of our fathers.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 13/06/2013 18:12:20    1406004

The most dreadful rendition of Amhráin na bhfiann I ever heard was before the New York v Mayo match in 2009. The singer was mixing up the words and putting additional words in it and the crowd started laughing in bemusement.

The best rendition was before the 1998 All Ireland Final, the singer sang it as if he was on an opera stage.

Covie.in.D7 (Mayo) - Posts: 164 - 13/06/2013 21:58:16    1406200