Congratulations to Munster Rugby...

**Plastic Paddy** · 20/05/2006, 4:25 PM

Champions of Europe!

A fantastic win today boys, long overdue and most welcome. All good things come to those who wait. Well done again.

PP

**aberharp** · 20/05/2006, 4:52 PM

congratulations to munster!! i'm delighted for them

**Risteard** · 20/05/2006, 4:57 PM

What's with the fields of Athenry?

**FarBeag** · 20/05/2006, 5:14 PM

That was some game. Heart stopping stuff towards the end.They all played a blinder particulary Springer.Some crowd too.Fair play to Munster.

**ccfcgirl** · 20/05/2006, 10:38 PM

Brilliant result and great athmosphere around the place ..Well done

**Real ale Madrid** · 21/05/2006, 12:04 AM

What a day. What a team. What a cracking game as well. And thank God they finally did it. Wish i was at home for this. Well done Munster.

**Forever Dreamin** · 21/05/2006, 9:28 PM

Congratulations and i hope the fai invite them to the chile game as guests of honour, the're an inspiration for all irish sportspeople

**Risteard** · 21/05/2006, 9:37 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

What's with the fields of Athenry?

Anyone shine some light on this?
Not a rugby fan but heard them singing it.
Is it some sort of changed version like the fields of Thomond Park or something?

**Soper** · 21/05/2006, 9:50 PM

Nah, it was the normal version.It was printed on little cards issued by the Munster supporters club (on the reverse was the words to Stand Up and Fight).The atmosphere was just so infectious, that everyone got roped into singing.

The match was amazing, I feel privilaged to have got to see it, and it'll be soemthing to tell the kids.If only there was more ways to thank the team for yesterday.

**carrickharp** · 22/05/2006, 10:49 AM

Well done some match alright!!!

**Roo69** · 22/05/2006, 11:25 AM

delighted for them !

Great game, don't know how both sides kept up the pace right until the end, savage stuff altogether ! They rode there luck quite a lot but ya need that bit of luck to win it. How on earth was there 1st try given ? one of the worst decisions in any major final EVER. Stringer was in a class of his own.

**paul_oshea** · 22/05/2006, 12:27 PM

stringers passess out to ogara were terrible lads, not one was into his chest, all too high or in front of ogara, dont be overshadowed by his one-man try.

btw i have to agree the fields is a connaucht song not a munster song!!!!

anyhow was some buzz, watched it in germany on rte. quality stuff. there is no better sports setup for rugby or soccer than the irish panel. great stuff really.

popey said he has been to super 12 finals, to big new zealand games but he had experienced nothing like "this" before. it was infectious it was munster first and ireland second, i think anyone who was irish was a proud man on saturday.

**Dricky** · 22/05/2006, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Anyone shine some light on this?
Not a rugby fan but heard them singing it.
Is it some sort of changed version like the fields of Thomond Park or something?

It has to do with where it was written not the place he signs about, isn't written from the prison in Limerick before being shipped out down under. Always thought that's what it was.

**strangeirish** · 22/05/2006, 2:49 PM

The Fields of Athenry is a song about the Irish Potato Famine, which was composed in the 1970s by Pete St. John. The words however, originate from a broadsheet ballad published in the 1880s. A version of the song was published by Devlin in Dublin with a different tune to the one known today.

"The Fields of Athenry" is widely seen as the definitive folk song on the Famine, telling the story of the Famine through the personal experiences of someone gaoled and deported.

The song, which was first recorded by Irish ballad singer Paddy Reilly, recounts the tale of a fictional Irishman in prison, reporting the story he could hear through the prison walls of another prisoner who is being deported to Botany Bay for stealing food to feed his starving family.

**Paddy Ramone** · 22/05/2006, 3:10 PM

I'm not a great rugby fan but it was great to see Munster win. I'm half Munster my mother is an O'Connell from Kerry. The stag on the Munster crest is from the O'Connell (and O'Sullivan and McCarthy) coat of arms.

**joeSoap** · 22/05/2006, 8:18 PM

It was the greatest single sporting occassion that I have ever had the pleasure to experience, and I have been at All-Ireland finals, the 1999 Champions League Final where United stole it, and the 1998 World Cup Final in Paris. As a Munsterman, it was the proudest sporting day of my life. To those of you who want to mock or deride the choice of song the Munster fans sing; I pity you, for you do not understand what it is to passionately support your side. It wouldn't and shouldn't matter what songs or anthems are sung, be it the theme from Sesame Street or The Fields of Athenry.

Can anybody tell me what the Leinster anthem is please, or the Biarritz one, or the Toulouse one, or the WASPS one....probably not, because none of these teams have the support base that Munster rugby has. And they never ever will. Before anybody criticises Munsters supporters song choices, I would advise them to go along to a Munster game...home or away...and witness the atmosphere. It will change your opinion.

The match itself was a classic, typical final. Close, physical, and decided by errors. I have never see so many big players not perform to their potential, Shaun Payne, O'Gara(second half), Paul O'Connell, Traille, Lievremont, Betsen, and Brusque all played below their best for different reasons. Somebody criticised Stringers passing earlier; I don't know what game he was watching. Stringer was mostly sublime. Not everything went 100% as he planned it, but the try, his tackling, and leadership were immense. Halstead was a collossus, and the Bull incredible. Donncha played his best ever game of rugby. What a day...unbelieveable.

Yes, I am biased, yes I am a Munster fan, Yes, I'm proud of it, and No, I don't give a flying f**k what anybody else thinks!!

Thank you Declan Kidney and the 30 odd other heroes for making so many people so happy.

**Soper** · 22/05/2006, 10:13 PM

I endorse the above statement

I know it is a cliche, but it really was one of, if not the best occasion of my life.

**Risteard** · 23/05/2006, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

To those of you who want to mock or deride the choice of song the Munster fans sing; I pity you, for you do not understand what it is to passionately support your side. It wouldn't and shouldn't matter what songs or anthems are sung, be it the theme from Sesame Street or The Fields of Athenry.

Steady on Joe, twas a genuine query, not that i'm any the wiser now as to why Munster claim it as their own, rather than Irelands.
Written in a Limerick jail???
Like i said, no interest in rugby but very impressive to see that sort of mobilisation of support for any sporting team in Ireland.
Don't see how you get to question my support for my team though.

**londonirish17** · 23/05/2006, 9:14 AM

F�licitations !
Great game, great athmosphere, great support.
Munster were the best but tribute should be paid to Biarritz who were oustanding through the whole season ! Toulouse and Stade Fran�ais were never near that level...

**tetsujin1979** · 23/05/2006, 9:40 AM

I'm still recovering from the trip. Planes, trains and automobiles were all made use of in the pilgrimage to the upper tier in the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The flag hanging behind my desk in work was draped over the wall and can be seen in some of the conversions and penalties. Still can't believe I was there or that we won.

Some pics from around the net:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mediapo...7594141862633/
http://www.play.ie/index.html
http://www.bhalpin.com/
http://community.webshots.com/album/550637577yuwlAD/2