National Anthem played in pubs

**kingdom hoop** · 30/04/2007, 5:26 PM

This calls to mind something that annoyed me. I've been to Coppers (Harcourt St, Dublin) three times in the past year and each time I've been subjected to the Riverdance tune as the finale. On the first occasion there was the element of surprise and given I used to be a fine Irish dancer in my younger years, but probably more out of being drunk, meant I cavorted about the place. The other two times I swiftly departed for reasons of personal sanity, did that make me less Irish I wonder? Should I have stayed on to at least acknowledge the tune that has put Ireland on the world map of dances. A symbol of national culture and pride in our heritage that must be respected?

No. And I think we can extend this to Amhr�n na bhFiann. The reason you heard it is because of a deluded DJ/band thinking the best manifestation of their nationalistic tendencies is to play the national anthem, taking it into their own hands to stoke the embers of smouldering Irishmen. If I was to take part in a rousing rendition of our anthem after a feed of pints I think, and not even being violent, I would feel the urge to hit someone. In other words it would only result in a reified/false exhibition of a feeling that is perpetually burning inside of me. Hopefully that makes sense.

**jebus** · 30/04/2007, 6:22 PM

I honestly can't remember ever hearing the national anthem played in any pub or club in Limerick, it all seems very Father Tedish to play it in either in my opinion. And to be honest I wouldn't stand for the anthem either, and would probably have been less polite if some old fart started grumbling at me about it

**OneRedArmy** · 30/04/2007, 7:16 PM

Haven't heard the national anthem played for ages at the end of a night, usually the preserve of dodgy discos in Donegal and crap wedding DJs.

There's nothing remotely patriotic about banging the national anthem out to a crowd of drunk people at 3am IMHO.

Even the yanks, who play it at every opportunity, would draw the line at this.

**Conor H** · 30/04/2007, 8:13 PM

Have never heard it any pub/club in Galway myself.

But if the Anthem is played-you stand-end of.

**pineapple stu** · 30/04/2007, 11:23 PM

Actually, just after coming home from drinking witha few of the lads in the St John - we have cadet camps every year, and every day ends with a campfire and a few songs, and every fire ends with Amhr�n na bhFiann, without exception. So I suppose not that unusual at all.

Still think a pub is different though.

**Thunderblaster** · 30/04/2007, 11:35 PM

In Westport, every band plays the National Anthem and it is the same score with the nightclub and the law of averages is that it is respected but it gets mocked at nightclubs with some punters performing salutes to it. Went abroad to a few countries and never heard their National Anthems played at the end of the night.

**inexile** · 01/05/2007, 5:27 AM

i think the national anthem should only be played when it means something, i was lucky enough to represent my country and when the anthem was played it made the hairs on my neck stand up and i did a "john hayes" and sang through the tears, when it happens in a pub ill stand but its not the same

**Lim till i die** · 01/05/2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Conor H

But if the Anthem is played-you stand-end of.

Even in a pub??

When your Pi$$ed??

Would the bold fenian men really mind if I gave it a miss

**noby** · 01/05/2007, 10:38 AM

I kind of with Conor on this: if it's played I'll stand. The real question is if two schmoes playing a couple of tunes in a pub have the right to play it. Perhaps they're the ones disrespecting the anthem by using it as their finale.

**Dotsy** · 01/05/2007, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by noby

I kind of with Conor on this: if it's played I'll stand. The real question is if two schmoes playing a couple of tunes in a pub have the right to play it. Perhaps they're the ones disrespecting the anthem by using it as their finale.

I have always found it disrespectful to play it an a pub or nightclub and would never stand up for it in those circumstances. I'd imagine that in many countries the band would be lynched for disrepecting their athem by playing it in totally inappropriate circumstances.

Similar in a lot of ways to defacing the tricolour. In alot of countries this would be a complete no no. I worked in Latvia for a couple of years. When one bloke was leaving some of the lads bought him a Latvian flag and they all wrote going away messages on it. When they produced it at his going away party in a restaurant they were nearly lynched. Apparently it is also against the law and they were lucky not to end up in a police cell through the intervention of a couple of the Latvians we worked with.

**superfrank** · 01/05/2007, 12:18 PM

I think it's stupid to play it in a nightclub/pub. I've never heard it in a pub/club out here and, believe it or not, Bray is fast becoming a hotbed of Nationalism.

I've only ever heard it at football matches (cup finals and internationals), a 1798 memorial service in St. Patrick's in Wicklow town and on Paddy's Day. I've never heard it at a wedding or funeral. That one seems a bit odd to me.

I do have a few funny stories regarding the anthem though:

I was once a member of a youth group called Cumann na bhFiann and after every two hour get together where we spoke Irish, we had to stand up for the anthem. Bear in mind this was in a dingy hall in St. Killian's with about ten teenagers and a tape recorder playing the tune.

At last year's cup final I was part of the Bray group that went onto the pitch beofre the start of the match and once the teams came out, we all had to stand for the national anthem. Now I always thought you faced in the direction of Government buildings if in Dublin. So it surprised me when I faced North and everyone else faced South towards the flagpoles.

Needless to say I quickly turned around.

**pineapple stu** · 01/05/2007, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

Now I always thought you faced in the direction of Government buildings if in Dublin.

Why on earth would you have thought that?!

**superfrank** · 01/05/2007, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Why on earth would you have thought that?!

I honestly don't know. I always face in the direction of Dublin when I stand for it and I thought in Dublin you face the direction of Government buildings. I suppose it's in a similar vein to Muslims facing towards Mecca for prayer, or the Kabba if in Mecca.

**pineapple stu** · 01/05/2007, 12:38 PM

Sounds to me more like a case of Dublin-wannabe-itis.

**OneRedArmy** · 01/05/2007, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

Now I always thought you faced in the direction of Government buildings if in Dublin.

Good luck with that when decentralisation is in place.....

**superfrank** · 01/05/2007, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Sounds to me more like a case of Dublin-wannabe-itis.

I never thought I'd see the day when the Dubs started with that ol' nonsense.

**the 12 th man** · 01/05/2007, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

I honestly don't know. I always face in the direction of Dublin.

If there's a flag present you stand facing it.

**smellyfeet** · 01/05/2007, 3:13 PM

Its the National Anthem, so when it is played you stand.

**OneRedArmy** · 01/05/2007, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by smellyfeet

Its the National Anthem, so when it is played you stand.

I must have missed that bit in the Constitution/statute book.

**Dotsy** · 01/05/2007, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by smellyfeet

Its the National Anthem, so when it is played you stand.

Right so, if you were sitting outside a pub having a pint and a busker came up and started playing the National Anthem you would stand up for it

There is a time and place for it to be played and a pub at the end of the night is not one of them. It's not disrespectful to remain seated in that case, it's disrespectful to play it in the first place.