Ireland's Call

[Fat Tom]

What a fucking joke.
I know its probably been debated on here before.
But its such a ridiculous anthem.
Why not sing our proper national anthem.
Those boys are playing Rugby for Ireland.

What a fucking joke.

[jungle]

I can understand why they don't play Amhrán na bhFiann, but Ireland's Call is shocking. I've memories of them playing Danny Boy before Ireland's Call existed. At least that would be better.

Phil Coulter, not exactly a man to inspire a nation.

[Fat Tom]

I can understand why they don't play Amhrán na bhFiann.

Why the team is Ireland, is it not?

[dancefreak2003]

What a fucking joke.
I know its probably been debated on here before.
But its such a ridiculous anthem.
Why not sing our proper national anthem.
Those boys are playing Rugby for Ireland.

What a fucking joke.


not even going to start this one.

[jungle]

Why the team is Ireland, is it not?

And Amhrán na bhFiann is the anthem of the Republic of Ireland. There are guys on the team - Trimble, Bowe, Humphreys, the Bests - who would be alienated by the anthem, never mind not included by it.

[Fat Tom]

Why don't Nortern Ireland have a team so?
Or the ones who are offended by the Irish Anthem play for England?
Do they only choose allegiance to Ireland because they are not good enough for England?
The Irish Soccer team has had plenty of players who didn't relate to the Anthem but they still stood proud when it was played out of respect to the fans and the nation they were representing.
Could the ruggers not do the same?

[jungle]

Why don't Nortern Ireland have a team so?
Or the ones who are offended by the Irish Anthem play for England?
Do they only choose allegiance to Ireland because they are not good enough for England?
The Irish Soccer team has had plenty of players who didn't relate to the Anthem but they still stood proud when it was played out of respect to the fans and the nation they were representing.
Could the ruggers not do the same?
Because those guys regard themselves as Irish. Representing England would not be acceptable to them; with the exception of Kyran Bracken (and he is from the Republic anyway), I can't think of one Irish player who has chosen to represent England. It just happens that their definition of Irish doesn't match yours. Rugby has worked well as a 32 county, cross religious sport since 1921, so there's no need to upset that. It's one of the few positive examples people can look at.

[showcase cork]

Why don't Nortern Ireland have a team so?
Or the ones who are offended by the Irish Anthem play for England?
Do they only choose allegiance to Ireland because they are not good enough for England?
The Irish Soccer team has had plenty of players who didn't relate to the Anthem but they still stood proud when it was played out of respect to the fans and the nation they were representing.
Could the ruggers not do the same?

Jeez Tom, don't know where to start on this one mate!

OK, I am sure you would agree that there are certain players in the past who have opted to play for Ireland because they probably would never play international football for their or their parents birth nation (not naming names Clinton Morrison!!)

When this happens they stand there with the rest of their team mates and look lost when the National Anthem is played and I feel quite embarrassed for them. This is because they are NOT Irish, do not feel Irish and therefore shouldn't be playing for Ireland simply because they are not good enough to play for someone else.

However there are so many arguments to this thread that it could and probably will go on forever so I will leave it there being a non-Irishman!!

[Fat Tom]

Because those guys regard themselves as Irish. Representing England would not be acceptable to them; with the exception of Kyran Bracken (and he is from the Republic anyway), I can't think of one Irish player who has chosen to represent England. It just happens that their definition of Irish doesn't match yours. Rugby has worked well as a 32 county, cross religious sport since 1921, so there's no need to upset that. It's one of the few positive examples people can look at.

Why the need for the introduction of another Anthem if these guys consider themselves Irish so.
I don't have a definition.
I don't need one.
I am Irish.
Irish people have a national Anthem.
If these guys regard themselves as Irish why should they have a problem with Amhránn na bhFiann

[Sir Denis Eton-Hogg]

Goys goys come on.......for focks sake....having 2 national anthems allows us more toime for another few kens in Kielys before the kick off ......royysh.

[Lamps]

the reason it works is cos most of irish rugby stock deep down want to return to mainland rule. i still get the empty reaches thinking of ralph keyes commenating on games and he's just willing rory underwood or guscott to cross the line for a touchdown. there'd be tears of joy from some of these clowns for ireland to line up in landsdowne to god save the queen.

[jungle]

Why the need for the introduction of another Anthem if these guys consider themselves Irish so.
I don't have a definition.
I don't need one.
I am Irish.
Irish people have a national Anthem.
If these guys regard themselves as Irish why should they have a problem with Amhránn na bhFiann
Tommy Bowe doesn't have a definition of Irish
He doesn't need one
He is Irish
He has a national anthem
He has a problem with Amhrán na bhFiann

What makes you think your definition is right and his is wrong. He's the person risking injury representing Ireland.

[Langer Dan]

What a fucking joke.
I know its probably been debated on here before.
But its such a ridiculous anthem.
Why not sing our proper national anthem.
Those boys are playing Rugby for Ireland.

What a fucking joke.

yes the song is the problem, thats it. Thats it exactly.

If our UK passport holding players (Humphs, trimble etc) were to belt out Amhrán na bhFiann all our woes would be solved.

Gwayouttadatyagowl, It matters not a damn.

[Fat Tom]

yes the song is the problem, thats it. Thats it exactly.

If our UK passport holding players (Humphs, trimble etc) were to belt out Amhrán na bhFiann all our woes would be solved.

Gwayouttadatyagowl, It matters not a damn.

Never asked them to.
Just wondering why we need a second song.

[Fat Tom]

Tommy Bowe doesn't have a definition of Irish
He doesn't need one
He is Irish
He has a national anthem
He has a problem with Amhrán na bhFiann

What makes you think your definition is right and his is wrong. He's the person risking injury representing Ireland.

Why the problem with it?

[dancefreak2003]

It's been explained to you in the simplist terms and you can't accept it.

[Proinsias]

2/10


A poor attempt at a WUM, but bravely struggling onwards despite a lack of ability.

Like Gary Neville.

[Fat Tom]

BTW I just said I don't have a definition.
I asked why they had a problem with the Irish national anthem if he deemed himself Irish.

[dancefreak2003]

BTW I just said I don't have a definition.
I asked why they had a problem with the Irish national anthem if he deemed himself Irish.


Does that mean that Irish people born in England should have to sing God save.....

[Langer Dan]

Why the problem with it?

Because (im guessing) he considers himself a citizen of the UK?

But earra feck it, c'mon isnt it something to be proud of that we have an actual all ireland team?

lets not muddy the waters over a (admittedly piss poor )
song.

[boxoid]

the reason it works is cos most of irish rugby stock deep down want to return to mainland rule. i still get the empty reaches thinking of ralph keyes commenating on games and he's just willing rory underwood or guscott to cross the line for a touchdown. there'd be tears of joy from some of these clowns for ireland to line up in landsdowne to god save the queen.


your the only one on here who thinks it works...
you also say "mainland rule" the only people who say mainland are the west brits...

i think your a closet westbrit... asking about the rules of rugby, calling it muzzer, calling england the mainland...

fucking tan... that's what you are.

[Lamps]

your the only one on here who thinks it works...
you also say "mainland rule" the only people who say mainland are the west brits...

i think your a closet westbrit... asking about the rules of rugby, calling it muzzer, calling england the mainland...

fucking tan... that's what you are.

too easy

[Proinsias]

Maybe we could add on a rendition of 'Ihe Sash' to the pre-match concert, sure why would the lads from the republic object to that?

Or, could it possibly be because there's a decent reason behind it?

Yerrah, they're all bastard Rangers fans anyway, aren't they? Drive em into the sea I say, up the 'RA, c'mon the biys of 1916, revenge for skibbereen, burn the brits....

[Proinsias]

your the only one on here who thinks it works...
you also say "mainland rule" the only people who say mainland are the west brits...

i think your a closet westbrit... asking about the rules of rugby, calling it muzzer, calling england the mainland...

fucking tan... that's what you are.
I thought the mainland was continental Europe.

And yes, I would like to move there, monaco would be a class place to live...

[Lamps]

too right, tie the first brick to davey tweed

[Rebelred]

Those boys are playing Rugby for Ireland.


the Island of ireland, not the Republic of Ireland

[Proinsias]

the Island of ireland, not the Republic of Ireland
I don't think he recognises the distinction...

[Fat Tom]

the Island of ireland, not the Republic of Ireland

Fair point.
I just hate that fucking song.

[Rebelred]

Fair point.
I just hate that fucking song.
ahwell thats fair enough. Tis pretty shite alrite,but if it gets the Goy's all physced up and ready for battle like it did in Paris last weekend,when the truly came were ready for battle right from the off...then surely its a positive thing ;)

[aahjay]

Tommy Bowe doesn't have a definition of Irish
He doesn't need one
He is Irish
He has a national anthem
He has a problem with Amhrán na bhFiann

What makes you think your definition is right and his is wrong. He's the person risking injury representing Ireland.

Tommy Bowe is from Monaghan.

He also played Gaelic Football.

[boxoid]

too easy

well when I'm dealing with your stupid comments.... it is.
you leave yourself wide open.

[JonnyMac]

Let's face it, if the united Ireland ever happens, "Ireland's call" will be the national anthem so you'd better get used to it.

Amhran Na Bhfian is hardly top 10 material itself.

[jungle]

Tommy Bowe is from Monaghan.

He also played Gaelic Football.
Bad example then and I'm sure there's a lesson in it for me about making assumptions about Ulster rugby players. However, you can see the point I was trying to make, so you could just substitute Humphreys or Trimble (Have I made assumptions again?) instead.

[Johnnyc]

I can understand why they don't play Amhran na Bhfiann.

but in this day and age in Rugby if you live in a foriegn jurisdiction for more than three years you are eligible to play for that country.

do Scotland sing something other than Flower of Scotland because some of their players may not be born in Scotland?

[jungle]

Scotland shouldn't sing Flower of Scotland. If there's an anthem out there worse than Ireland's Call...

Someone should do an analysis of the decline in Scottish rugby and whether it coincided with the introduction of Flower of Scotland. You could see in the match on Sunday that singing Land of My Fathers gave Wales a 5 point start on Scotland before the match kicked off.

[Johnnyc]

ok might have been a bad example with Scotland but I think you get the point.

I thought it was Scotland who gave Wales the 5 point lead by conceding a penalty try for continually collapsing the mauls?

[Rebel Yell]

A history lesson is needed to clear things up on this point.....

In 1995 the Irish Rugby Football Union asked Coulter to write a politically neutral anthem for the Ireland national rugby union team, which represents both North and Southern Ireland. The result was "Ireland's Call". At matches played in the Republic, both Amhrán na bhFiann (as the anthem of the host nation) and "Ireland's Call" (as the anthem of the home team) are sung. Elsewhere, "Ireland's Call" is the only anthem used.

Prior to this, and since the Troubles stsrted, we had no anthem when we played away to England Scotland or Wales, as the Brits would not play it!!!!

So, the main purpose of Ireland's Call was to give us a song before away games as well as to have a a rugby anthem for what is unique in world sport...i.e. a representative team for two separate countries as it stands.

Whatever about the quality of the song....the Northern boys have NEVER objected to the Irish anthem previously....a passage from Mick Doyle's fantastic book 'Doyler' gave an insight into this 20 years ago...it ran something along the lines of : the Northern lads were often the most fervent supporters of the anthem being played, and that the rejection of it's playing by the British nations at their grounds was something that they used to gee themselves up before games!!!!!

This might clear a few things up for those who have little recollection, or knowledge, of rugby in Ireland pre Heineken Cup era!!!!!!!

[Proinsias]

A history lesson is needed to clear things up on this point.....

In 1995 the Irish Rugby Football Union asked Coulter to write a politically neutral anthem for the Ireland national rugby union team, which represents both North and Southern Ireland. The result was "Ireland's Call". At matches played in the Republic, both Amhrán na bhFiann (as the anthem of the host nation) and "Ireland's Call" (as the anthem of the home team) are sung. Elsewhere, "Ireland's Call" is the only anthem used.

Prior to this, and since the Troubles stsrted, we had no anthem when we played away to England Scotland or Wales, as the Brits would not play it!!!!

So, the main purpose of Ireland's Call was to give us a song before away games as well as to have a a rugby anthem for what is unique in world sport...i.e. a representative team for two separate countries as it stands.

Whatever about the quality of the song....the Northern boys have NEVER objected to the Irish anthem previously....a passage from Mick Doyle's fantastic book 'Doyler' gave an insight into this 20 years ago...it ran something along the lines of : the Northern lads were often the most fervent supporters of the anthem being played, and that the rejection of it's playing by the British nations at their grounds was something that they used to gee themselves up before games!!!!!

This might clear a few things up for those who have little recollection, or knowledge, of rugby in Ireland pre Heineken Cup era!!!!!!!



The debut of the renowned orangeman, Davey "34 years old on his debut" Tweed meant that it suddently got more political...


By the way, if Trimble and Henson both get picked for the next match, would it be the first time that two orange men that like to be in a church on a sunday morning are on the same pitch?

[ollynfizz]

i didnt no irish could play football ??

[raZor]

Why don't Nortern Ireland have a team so?
Or the ones who are offended by the Irish Anthem play for England?
Do they only choose allegiance to Ireland because they are not good enough for England?
The Irish Soccer team has had plenty of players who didn't relate to the Anthem but they still stood proud when it was played out of respect to the fans and the nation they were representing.
Could the ruggers not do the same?

to be fair the Ulster players do stand with respect for the anthem when it's played.
Ireland's Call is a kareoke(sp) song, whatever the anthem it should be in Irish and make sure whoever sings actually knows the words unlike Brian Kennedy reading the anthem fucker.

[Tube a Pringles]

to be fair the Ulster players do stand with respect for the anthem when it's played.
Ireland's Call is a kareoke(sp) song, whatever the anthem it should be in Irish and make sure whoever sings actually knows the words unlike Brian Kennedy reading the anthem fucker.

Humphries knows all the words to Amhrán na bhFiann too......ever since he sat in the team bus as an Ireland Schoolboy.

[raZor]

I was talking about the actual singer on the day.

[simon says]

rugby in the north crossed religions?oh.so that's why in places like malone and ballymena the players and supprters call you fennians and lefties.having played at various levels and played on teams with players from ulster they didn't really see themselves as irish in the same sense as we do.and there is hardly any rugby played in catholic schools in the north. aswell davey tweed said he was capped by his country 53 times and 6 times by ireland. a current member of the ulster squad played for ireland u21s and two months later was representing great britain in a sevens tounament.irish is it?don't even make me mention humphreys' parents ensuring that the union jack was flown when his younger brother played underage cricket for ireland.