Real_Slim_Shady
County: Meath
Posts: 67

1440999
Get rid of it altogether. Singing national anthems at intercounty fixtures has no place in today's society and should be dropped for several reasons:

1. There are no competing nations involved - whatever reasons there are for playing it at international events there are none at national events.
2. 80% (or higher) of those present don't know the words. Everyone will profess to but in reality most of those in attendance could not belt it out from start to finish and end up muttering the words once they get beyond the opening lines.
3. In an increasingly multi cultural society more non nationals are attending and playing games. This maybe relatively low but why should some lad who is playing for a county despite not being Irish be subjected to this nationalistic ritual?
4. Its not respected by fans. "Come on Meath/Dublin/Da Lillies" etc gets roared earlier and earlier before the end of the thing making a mockery of the entire affair.

I can sense the tsunami of objections I am going to get on this one but I have always believed this is one of the more embarrassing parts of a day out at a GAA match.

Let the attacks begin!

+1

I agree totally. Play it before County, Provincial and All Ireland finals, by all means but it doesn't need to be played over a rubbish PA system at every drab National League fixture.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 24/07/2013 13:36:42    1441052

bannapublican

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7phMAwCbfY

there you go the dublin gospel choir in action

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 24/07/2013 13:45:35    1441072

Leave all half time entertainment at Croke Park to the Artane Band. Rousing renditions of county anthemsof competing teams are much more appreciated by fans than tripe dished up of late from second rate acts nobody has ever heard of..........

beal (Mayo) - Posts: 1388 - 24/07/2013 13:45:36    1441073

Well said Real_Slim_Shady, I concur!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 24/07/2013 13:48:34    1441080

Sorry slim I must have got out the wrong side of the bed

Gaa is our natonal sport and in my eyes the anthem should be played.
Now I will conceed that lot of the time particularly at county grounds it's performed poorly

Maybe I'm in the minority and just old fashioned!

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 24/07/2013 13:54:45    1441089

I think it should be kept. I also think it should be extended! We only sing the chorus (and the ignorant majority start cheering through last line), we should at least be singing the 1st verse too!
Look at most other nations- their anthems seem to last way longer, and have more content stirring more national pride. Ours seems like it's forced out to get it over with!
And don't get me started on that dirty Ireland's Call! In rugby matches at home, both are played to appease the protestants from ulster- fair enough, it's a rugby anthem, but should be played 1st instead of 2nd. And to make matters worse they only ever play that song away from home, not both! Are the rugby fraternity so embarrassed of their roots they don't even sing the national anthem!?

beansycpn (Down) - Posts: 128 - 24/07/2013 14:03:21    1441104

i'm with you on this west Kerry......

beal (Mayo) - Posts: 1388 - 24/07/2013 14:04:37    1441107

From last sundays Game Now Thats What I Call Music 1979

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mvML-pE0xY

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 24/07/2013 14:07:45    1441114

i agree with beal,them bands take away from artane band as nowdays they go around the pitch and you cannot hear them at all.
its either some ceile band or crap band playing on a little stage or the announce system is playing something which means the artane band arent even heard only thing you hear them doing is amhran na bhfiann

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 24/07/2013 14:17:55    1441130

FORTYFIVE.....something similar happened at McHale park last sunday. The band was on the pitch to provide half time entertainment but all the time was taken up introducing and talking about mayo's 1988 team. The band had to leave without playing a note!

beal (Mayo) - Posts: 1388 - 24/07/2013 14:21:21    1441140

I think they should play it at all games, it has it's place in history, both in terms of the 16-21 struggle, and the struggle those Gaels in the North had far more recently. It was a safe place to be Irish, and I for one, am proud of it, and hope it continues.

What really winds me up is the complete lack of respect almost every county in Ireland shows the anthem by roaring over the last two lines. Arrrggghh!

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 24/07/2013 14:32:30    1441154

You are not alone westkerry!
My problem is with people who cant sing the words,its hardly a lot to expect people to learn the words of their national anthem.To hear a rousing rendition of it at Croker on All Irelans final day is very special and no way should we apologise for it..All together now folks"COME THE DAY AND COME THE HOUR,,,,,,

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 24/07/2013 14:38:23    1441166

Regarding the anthems not sure if any other counties are at it but, its good to see Meath lining out 1 to 15 in position this year old school style rather than taking to a huddle for the anthem. Small observation but makes me happy!

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 24/07/2013 15:07:29    1441207

Have to disagree there high king. I much prefer when the teams stand arm in arm looking at the flag! I don't like the idea of everyone lining out in there positions for the anthem

victorkeane (Dublin) - Posts: 28 - 24/07/2013 15:50:04    1441271

With HighKing on that one - if they are going to persist with them it looks a lot better than some sort of soccer style huddle.

Look - I'm in agreement there is a place for playing the Anthem on All Ireland days but thats about the need for it.

Real_Slim_Shady (Meath) - Posts: 153 - 24/07/2013 15:58:54    1441283

I'll never understand why sooo many people try to bluff the lyrics fo the anthem, if you don't know either learn it or keep quiet. The vast majority of people who the camera focusses on during the anthem are quite clearly mouthing different words altogether

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12390 - 24/07/2013 16:04:39    1441289

What really was a joke last Sunday in Monaghan was when the pipe band came on before the senior final & couldn't be hearsd over the sound system which continued to play pop music & ear splitting volume.
I really felt for the band members who had travelled from Enniskillen, got paid shag all I'm sure, and then had to stand in the middle of the field unable to be heard over some X-Factor wannabe.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 24/07/2013 16:09:02    1441291

Breffni39
County: Cavan
Posts: 8561

1441289
I'll never understand why sooo many people try to bluff the lyrics fo the anthem, if you don't know either learn it or keep quiet. The vast majority of people who the camera focusses on during the anthem are quite clearly mouthing different words altogether

Quite right! I don't know the words neither in English or Irish so I just look to the flag , what really grids my gears is people young and old in a drunken stooper making up jokey words while mocking and laughing must be a 6 counties Ulster thing as I never noticed any other supporters from outside these 6 counties doing this ..

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 24/07/2013 16:21:08    1441313

Keep the anthem, the GAA's aims are to promote our culture and the anthem is part of that.

OgraAnDun (Down) - Posts: 406 - 24/07/2013 16:57:04    1441377

Also, who doesn't know the words? Should have been taught it at school!

OgraAnDun (Down) - Posts: 406 - 24/07/2013 17:03:01    1441384