Irish rugby

[Dassa]

As someone from NI. Whos really mostly in to football Ive never really taken to rugby in the same way as football. But lately Ive began liking it again for first time since school days. Ive a question however for fans from ROI about the matches. I was wondering what your opinion was on the anthem and flag situation for matches. i personally dont think its right that only the flag and anthem of one country of the 2 (NI and ROI)is displayed and played. Personally i think the way forward would be to have a white flag with a shamrock officially flown and only Irelands call played. Interested to hear what people down south feel about the potential for something like this to happen in future. Would personally be a very good step in right direction and make matches for people like myself feel like they are representing me.

PS if you wondering why Im asking this is that Im headin to Dublin on Saturday.

[Dodge]

Personally hate Irelands Call. Would probably be against removing the tricolour but can see where you're coming from

[Macy]

There's better non-contentious traditional songs that could be used instead of Irelands Call. The thing with the national anthem is that games played in Belfast have GSTQ and Irelands Call. Just rare that full internationals are played up there, but I'd expect that to changed somewhat if/when the new Maze stadium is built for the weaker autumn internationals at least.

[finlma]

It is an unusual situation to have 2 countries playing as 1 in a competition and I can see the problem with playing the Irish anthem. I'm not a huge fan of Ireland's Call but I'd prefer to see only this played at internationals.

I'd also be in favour of flying some sort of Irish flag as you've suggested. You'd also have to fly the tri-colour as the game is in the republic.

I'll be there on Saturday too.

[joeSoap]

The IRFU requested Irelands call to be written in 1995 as a direct result of pressure put on it by two protestant Ulster players, Denis McBride, and Davy Tweed who refused to acknowledge Amhran na bhFiann and refused to stand for it, let alone sing it during internationals. For many seasons afterwards it was the only 'anthem' played at internationals.

I have my own opinions on those individuals, and that particular song, but they're best kept away from a public forum.

[Dassa]

There's better non-contentious traditional songs that could be used instead of Irelands Call. The thing with the national anthem is that games played in Belfast have GSTQ and Irelands Call. Just rare that full internationals are played up there, but I'd expect that to changed somewhat if/when the new Maze stadium is built for the weaker autumn internationals at least.

What other songs would you be thinking about. As for the idea of GSTQ being played when games up north. I personally think that if we get or new stadium. it would be then that IRFU decide to only play Irelands call. Why wait to then. Both anthems are contentous for many people on both sides. And as for the tri-colour being flown why not fly it and say the NI flag side by side or a completetely neutral flag. Cheers for responses some interesting points.

[Dodge]

Didn't we play under the tricolour and the flag of ulster at the last world cup?

Fairly certain we did, at least when teams were lining up

[Macy]

It should be noted that at away games only Irelands Call is used as the anthem. Only home games have a National Anthem played.

[Dassa]

the flag of ulster represents a province, not a country. if we go down the route of provinces flags then have all four and no national flags. Have to say welcome the away matches now the way it works. Also I know some dont like Irelands call, but there arent many places in the world with the situation we find ourselves in so I suppose something is better than nothing.

[Macy]

What other songs would you be thinking about.

Danny Boy would be one. I'm sure there are examples of other traditional songs that aren't Republican/Unionist in origin that would be better than Irelands fookin Call.

[Dodge]

the flag of ulster represents a province, not a country. if we go down the route of provinces flags then have all four and no national flags.

I wasn't suggesting it for a solution, I was pointing out it had been used that way

[Dassa]

I wasn't suggesting it for a solution, I was pointing out it had been used that way

I know mate. I actually saw they were using that at the home games against wales.
Anyone know what way the other combined sports work to solve this problem such as cricket. I think i remember hearing somewhere that no anthem is played as they alternate between stormont and somewhere in ROI.

[Dodge]

There's not too many sports. I know Bowls use a Green shamrock on white background but I think thats because the team is purely from the north.

There's also the problem with foreign tv stations. They'd be more likely to show the tricolour (think I seen one display it for the North's football team before )

[Dassa]

There's not too many sports. I know Bowls use a Green shamrock on white background but I think thats because the team is purely from the north.

There's also the problem with foreign tv stations. They'd be more likely to show the tricolour (think I seen one display it for the North's football team before )

once off hopefully remember they did it for Irvine as well. but surely if the people from NI can give up their flag when they outnumber southeners in a team then the players of Ireland from the 26 could do the same in rugby.

[Dodge]

I don't think anyone should be using bowls as a model, for anything really.

Irivine originally wanted to alternate between tricolour and union jack but his family got grief when the tricolour was flown when he was on the podium for the first time. He wanted to race under a nutral flag too BTW

[$Leon$]

last time i checked the irish rugby team did use a flag representing both "traditions" on the island. it's called the tri-colour. green for nationalism, white for peace and orange for unionism. this flag already represents ireland as a whole it's just the fact that 6 out of the 32 counties aren't part of it in political terms (yet).

[Dassa]

nice comments there mate really understanding of the whole population on the Island. I and many like me have no affiliation whatsoever to the tri-colour not that i dont understand that it represents many people on the Island and is the national flag of the ROI not Ireland which is an Island not a country.

Irvine never said he wanted to alternate. he said he wanted a neutral flag.

[Dodge]

Just to say the official name of the country is Ireland.

Not disagreeing with your point, just don't want to see semantics be the reason for this thread going down the tube.

[Poor Student]

Dassa there is the point that I think was made. The tricolour is the most identifiable symbol of Ireland abroad. Any other symbol could be confusing. I know Leon put it in a crude and irredentist way but it is funny to think that the symbolism behind the tricolour is actually very apt to do the job you're talking about. But I can understand for obvious reasons why you don't feel the most comfortable with it.

[Paulie]

I wouldn't like to lose Amhran na bhFiann or the Tri-Colour at Ireland Rugby matches. I have no problem though with the Northern Ireland flag being flown alongside our flag or Ireland's call being sung as well. Even though the song isn't the best at least it gives people who feel they can't sing Amhran na bhFiann something to sing to before the game.
On another slightly related note, myself and a mate went to the Ireland V Italy match in Rome last year and ended up on the beer the night before the game with an Orangeman and his mate. I never thought I'd see the day but we decided to leave politics out of the conversation as it would only have lead to arguing. Top lads, had a cracking night.