Whoa, whatever about the rights and wrongs of playing the anthem at matches, as anthems go, its not a bad tune. I guess its in the delivery.
For those of us who are children of the 70's and 80's, does anyone remember the anthem played at the end of RTE's transmission every night? I just found it on youtube, and its lump in the throat stuff. I remember as a kid the particular feeling of accomplishment that I'd managed to stay up late enough to see it, that I'd managed to camouflage my successfully enough into the couch to make it to the wee hours unnoticed.

Any way, when its delivered like this, I think the tune is a match for any anthem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO0rBLGPfkk

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 29/07/2014 17:14:55    1628066

A few years back i listened to all of the coverage of the 1957 all Ireland final between Louth and Cork on cd. When the national anthem was been played you could hear all the crowd singing it. It was special indeed. The smallest county in Ireland beat the biggest. 1957 was Louths heaven.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 29/07/2014 17:15:43    1628067

I honestly don't think it's necessary to play the National Anthem before games but if it is played it should be played properly and with gusto .Theres nothing worse than hearing a scratchy version on the tannoy or some local GAA bigwigs daughter sreeching it out.
Maroonatic 'lovely Laois' was indeed the single most dire 'song' I ever heard at a match.My young lad is still traumatised by the experience!

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 29/07/2014 17:49:18    1628083

InishowenMan
County: Donegal
Posts: 37

Someone mentioned about going to matches as being one of the most Irish things you can Do.Well here is a few more..
City people might not get What I mean but i am proud to be Irish because most Of my Life I have broke my back since I was a boy..
"Gathering purties" picking potatoes to you city folk..farming and working the land,Gathering winkles on the shore, busting my balls on the building Sites for most of my adult life and of Course as with most Donegal folk' working at Turf in the Hills.
All these things to me are what makes me proud to be Irish. Plus my Collection of medals that i won when I played GAA sports.

you're gilding the lilly now.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 30/07/2014 13:32:21    1628454

I cant believe this is even being discussed. The anthem 100% must be played before every game. It's part of who we are. Nationalism is tge cornerstone of the organization for god sake. It's a fantastic anthem too. Every gaa follower I've ever met knows it but maybe that's a wexford thing. . . I dunno. . .

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3575 - 30/07/2014 15:54:53    1628558

Doylerwex

I cant believe this is even being discussed. The anthem 100% must be played before every game. It's part of who we are.

Honestly though it doesn't HAVE to be played before every game, it's not necessary for the matches physically to happen. As for being part of who we are, I don't personally agree with that, I know who I am, I just see anthems as a piece of music attached to a particular place. Now they can be very good at major sporting occasions (ie internationals and other major finals etc) but some people would have you believe they are literally part of our DNA, they're not!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/07/2014 16:05:44    1628565

cuederocket

Was it not taught to you.in Irish and English in primary school ?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3575 - 30/07/2014 16:12:51    1628572

Htaem

I see what you're saying. Without getting to.philosophical here. . everything that you are is a product of your surroundings and whether you like it or not your personality is formed by influences in your culture. It's not part of your DNA but.it is a special part of Irish life. We are known for fighting spirit and overcoming adversity. Embrace it. It's beautiful

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3575 - 30/07/2014 16:36:48    1628589

Doylerwex

Hey look I know we're all products of our surroundings and I enjoy many things about Irish culture but the anthem isn't something that I personally care too much about.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/07/2014 16:45:20    1628596

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 5603

1628596
Doylerwex

Hey look I know we're all products of our surroundings and I enjoy many things about Irish culture but the anthem isn't something that I personally care too much about


100% agree.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 30/07/2014 17:08:24    1628608

Im outta school over 20 years Doyler,i really cant remember if it was even thought to us in Irish.Definately dont remember it in English.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 30/07/2014 17:08:37    1628609

Now your county's nickname makes sense

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3575 - 30/07/2014 17:24:27    1628623

Doylerwex

Now your county's nickname makes sense

Why thank you.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/07/2014 17:51:21    1628636

I can only speak for myself Doyler.Maybe every other Dub was thought the anthem in Irish and English.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 30/07/2014 18:13:05    1628648

Time for "Irelands Call", if its bland, inoffensive, non-descript sh*te you're after look no further, jobs a good'un.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 31/07/2014 16:54:35    1629040

brend

Time for "Irelands Call", if its bland, inoffensive, non-descript sh*te you're after look no further, jobs a good'un.

Tell you what brend I don't mind Ireland's Call, it's not the best nor the worst but I think a lot of people hate it simply because the rugby team uses it over amhran na bhfiann.

But I'll tell you what, I'm nationalist leaning, in that I don't really care who's incharge up north once there's peace and equality but the idea of a United Ireland is a nice one as far as I'm concerned so I'd be more than happy to compromise both our flag and our anthem to achieve that and come up with something different that everyone could agree on.

Ps, I know that would probably never work though, far too many people attached to signs and symbols.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 31/07/2014 17:19:15    1629053

Good idea Htaem, pity someone didnt design a national flag that represented the unity of the green and the orange identiies of this island, shame!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 31/07/2014 19:35:44    1629138

Haha sarcasm brend, takes a clever boy to be sarcastic, ps I often thought the flag shouldn't be too contentious because there is orange on it but again I say if we had to scrap it and the anthem for a United Ireland then why the hell not.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 31/07/2014 19:44:47    1629151

Htaem the unofficial Irish flag before the tricolour was the Leinster flag. A gold harp on a green flag. We could always go back to that for a 32 country. Not a bad oule flag.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 31/07/2014 20:16:12    1629174

Ye OLLIE the Leinster flag is grand but I'd be more in favour of just using the Meath flag and crest, bring back a bit of Irish royalty you know :-)

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 31/07/2014 20:39:06    1629184