Irish rugby

**londonirish17** · 21/03/2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Naitch

...Also i love 'Irelands Call' i always find it very rousing and makes me very proud to be Irish

Yes, I do agree with you on that point!

**Dassa** · 25/08/2006, 9:24 AM

Going back to a topic i started a while ago. I see that Ireland will finally play an International in Belfast next year (ITALY). In response to a Unionist MLA's call for GSTQ to be played the IRFU have suggested this will not occur and that Irelands call will be played as the anthem. I hope now that this will also lead to the removal of the soldier song from Landsdowne matches in the future and a sign of potential neutrality for anthems. This is a welcome step by the IRFU if carried out in the proper way for both areas of the Island.

**beautifulrock** · 25/08/2006, 10:29 AM

Dassa you may hope, but I feel many will hope not and I for one will certainly be amazed if Amhrain na bhfiann is not sung before rugger games going forward.

**Dassa** · 25/08/2006, 11:07 AM

well I have to say if the IRFU show themselves to be hypocrits on this issue they will have lost my support. I thought this would be a perfect chance to eradicate the problem of anthems in this AI sport. I can of course only speak for myself but it would be a disgrace to play only Irelands call in Belfast then return to Dublin and play SS and IC. I really hope the IRFU make the right choice finally.

**beautifulrock** · 25/08/2006, 2:07 PM

Dassa, respect your view and watch with interest. However, I do not want to lose Amhrain na bhfiann, selfish perhaps but feel i am not the only one of this view.

**Dassa** · 25/08/2006, 2:25 PM

I respect your opinion but it says little for a shared future on the Island and greater co-operation between the 2 countries if this hypocracy occurs. An anthem for 32 counties must be played (Irelands call) solely at all Ireland matches not a 26 county anthem.

**holidaysong** · 25/08/2006, 9:32 PM

In fairness, I have to agree with Dassa on this. If there is no GSTQ in Belfast then there should be no Amhr�n na bhFiann in Dublin.

**gspain** · 26/08/2006, 9:07 AM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

In fairness, I have to agree with Dassa on this. If there is no GSTQ in Belfast then there should be no Amhr�n na bhFiann in Dublin.

Exactly. I never expected an Irish rugby team to stand for GSTQ as their anthem but surely this has to meana neutral flag and anthem for all future games.

**bennocelt** · 26/08/2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by crc

On the flags issue. As has been mentionned, the tricolour actually has quite profound meaning and was originally intended a symbol to unite both (and all) types of Irishmen. It had the noble aim of recognising that the Orange tradition is legitimate and should live in harmony in our little island. It is extremely unfortunate that it has been hijacked and tainted by militant republicans, and that Unionists don't accept it. However the simple fact is that Unionists don't accept it and therefore we need an alternative. IMO we should be able to agree some sort of flag that represents both parts of Ireland together and which is associated with neither state. It should symbolise that the Irish people want to be friends with one another. The St.Patrick's saltire is one option, or the four provinces flag, but the white flag with the shamrocks is probably the easiest (and also one very recognisable to foreigners).

yeah thats true
the original flag was meant to be for the two communities

either way....i couldnt give a toss about rugby.........if they call themselves ireland then i EXPECT the IRISH anthem.that irelands call is ajoke, an embaressment

northern ireland my a ss

**Gather round** · 27/08/2006, 7:48 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

either way....i couldnt give a toss about rugby.........if they call themselves ireland then i EXPECT the IRISH anthem.that irelands call is ajoke, an embaressment

northern ireland my a ss

If you don't give a toss, why are you embarrassed? The Soldiers' Song is only one of many Irish anthems, Ireland's Call is much more appropriate at rugby internationals. I agree it's a bit dull, mind.

**bennocelt** · 27/08/2006, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Gather round

If you don't give a toss, why are you embarrassed? The Soldiers' Song is only one of many Irish anthems, Ireland's Call is much more appropriate at rugby internationals. I agree it's a bit dull, mind.

true
but more like an embarressment for the rugby crowd
i dont really care, thats for sure, but when i hear the irish national anthem. it would be nice to hear the real one, and not some mickey moise ****e
but you are very correct, i m not into rugby, its boring and slow, and posh
football is where the heart is

**endabob1** · 06/09/2006, 4:48 PM

The simple solution has to be one flag one Anthem wherever the game is played. I've been to a fair few games home and away and Irelands Call get's a much better airing away from home, I think people are embarrased to sing it in Lansdowne because it's played straight after the soldiers song (which is a great tune too).
I'd go for the IRFU flag, simply because it's simpler then option B whoch would be the 4 provincial flags together.
I like Irelands call and while it's taken a while to really become accepted I think away from home (RWC in Oz especially) it get's the blood pumping and hairs standing up.

**RogerMilla** · 07/09/2006, 8:20 AM

no problem with them stopping amhrann na bfhiann in dublin
under no circumstances should an Ireland team line out to GSTQ however , you have got to be kidding me

**joeSoap** · 07/09/2006, 9:29 AM

Irelands Call to me is embarrassing. The lyrics, the air, everything about it smacks of the corporate world. It was written initially to placate two players (Denis McBride and Davy Tweed), and while I acknowledge their birth right to be British, then in my opinion they should have been told to **** right off to London to live or else lobby for an independent Northern Ireland team to play rugby union. No other Ulster player, or indeed the Ulster Branch of the IRFU had issues with the anthem prior to this. Until Davy went and put on his sash for an after match dinner versus Scotland did this issue come to light. McBride backed him and refused to represent Ireland in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa unless the anthem was dropped.

For me, its either the Soldiers Song, or nothing at all. They (McBride, Tweed and all other Ulster players and officials) get paid by the IRFU's euro, not by the RFU's pound note and if thats not good enough for them, then..........

**Dassa** · 07/09/2006, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Irelands Call to me is embarrassing. The lyrics, the air, everything about it smacks of the corporate world. It was written initially to placate two players (Denis McBride and Davy Tweed), and while I acknowledge their birth right to be British, then in my opinion they should have been told to **** right off to London to live or else lobby for an independent Northern Ireland team to play rugby union. No other Ulster player, or indeed the Ulster Branch of the IRFU had issues with the anthem prior to this. Until Davy went and put on his sash for an after match dinner versus Scotland did this issue come to light. McBride backed him and refused to represent Ireland in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa unless the anthem was dropped.

For me, its either the Soldiers Song, or nothing at all. They (McBride, Tweed and all other Ulster players and officials) get paid by the IRFU's euro, not by the RFU's pound note and if thats not good enough for them, then..........

this is a terrible post, do you not see the hypocrisy and tinge of bigotry expressed in your comment. Why should people who disagree with others be told to "**** off to london" Im not from London Im from Armagh which is on the Island of Ireland. a land mass which is represented by 1 rugby team.

**joeSoap** · 07/09/2006, 10:19 AM

So why should someone from Armagh, Belfast, Tyrone, Derry or anywhere else be entitled to re-write tradition and make demands on something that has been in place for over 100 years. If these guys want to be considered British, then good luck to them, but let them represent Britain. I don't want them depriving me of my right to sing my country's national anthem at away games. They have no right to do that, especially seeing as they do not consider themselves Irishmen in the first place. If they didn't like the make-up or constitutionality of that rugby team, then they didn't have to play for it, did they??

**Dassa** · 07/09/2006, 10:24 AM

Im actually asking to change the rule to accomadate all. to keep the tradition would mean using the original rule which was that when games played in ROI it was the ss and when games played in NI GSTQ played. funny how this rule is changed now that its NI turn to host game.

PS i am an Irishman not an ROI irishman but a northern irishman.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 07/09/2006, 10:50 AM

Ok guys I'm not a mod but this is on that slippery slope.

For starters I thought all these points were dealt with in the National Anthems thread?

Secondly I seriously doubt that either of you is going to convince the other to change his point of view no matter how reasonable and logical you may consider your arguments to be. It'd be like trying to convince me to become a socialist, just not going to happen.

Lets stop this before it gets started ok and just focus on the rugby.