Anthems at Ravenhill on Friday

**Aberdonian Stu** · 22/08/2007, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Did he get your autograph too?

No, I'm sure he regrets it now

It wasn't a bloke in the crowd as McGuigan told me it was a trainer of some sort with the NI boxing team. He mentioned the name but like I said I've forgotten.

As for McGuigan's Dad singing, well he used to sing at his fights and got fourth for Ireland in the Eurovision once.

**joeSoap** · 23/08/2007, 9:14 AM

From the BBC Website

At the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Irish boxer Barry McGuigan, who won the bantamweight gold medal, was moved to tears when one of the officials, who happened to be Irish, sang 'Danny Boy' in lieu of the Irish national anthem, which they weren't able to play for technical reasons. This apparently endeared the song to both McGuigan and his fans, and for the rest of McGuigan's career, his father Pat would sing the song as a preamble to his matches. McGuigan went on to become the World Boxing Association Champion in 1985, the formalities concluded by his father once again singing 'Danny Boy'.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 23/08/2007, 10:06 AM

Hmm I didn't know that happened then as well. I'm certain it also happened with McCullough though, not least because (a) I wasn't alive in 1978 and recall seeing it in 1990 and (b) McGuigan told me the right bloody answer.

**Dodge** · 23/08/2007, 10:12 AM

It definitely did happen with McCullough

**joeSoap** · 23/08/2007, 10:25 AM

On a q&a session on McCulloughs website; pocketrocketbox.com;

On 16 Aug at 03:37 david ogilvie from wanganui, New Zealand asked Wayne:

Wayne: Do you remember the little guy who sang Danny Boy during your gold medal ceremony at the Comm games in Auckland in 1990? I''ve just talked to him in my capacity as sports editor of the Wanganui Chronicle newspaper. His name is Bob Gibson and he''s just been named to judge an IBF title fight in Sydney next week. David Ogilvie

Waynes Reply:

Hi David, Bob and I are in touch regularly and he just told me about getting the title fight. I think it's great. Wayne

**pete** · 23/08/2007, 11:33 AM

Scotland & Wales have their own Anthems. How come NI use the Anthem or England & the Britain? Surely of all "provinces" NI should have its own anthem?

**joeSoap** · 23/08/2007, 11:49 AM

The Scots and the Welsh always wanted their own identity. The rugby playing (predominately Unionist) boys in the North have always wanted to be English so they will always want GSTQ as their anthem.

**Torn-Ado** · 23/08/2007, 6:06 PM

GSTQ should not be played for an Irish team anywhere be it in the Protestant heartland of the North or in the Republic. Ulster is not exclusively British by any means eventhough their Rugby players are predominantly unionist.

We have a national anthem to cater for an all Ireland rugby team and thats Irelands call and thats more than enough.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 23/08/2007, 6:31 PM

Ok lads seriously lets stop this before the thread gets locked.

**joeSoap** · 24/08/2007, 8:29 AM

Well, it is a thread about National Anthems at tonights rugby in Ravenhill. If everybody stays objective, then there should be no reason to lock the thread.

**Dassa** · 24/08/2007, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

GSTQ should not be played for an Irish team anywhere be it in the Protestant heartland of the North or in the Republic. Ulster is not exclusively British by any means eventhough their Rugby players are predominantly unionist.

We have a national anthem to cater for an all Ireland rugby team and thats Irelands call and thats more than enough.

The island of Ireland isnt exclusively nationalist either, That doesnt stop the soldier song being played at Ireland games in Dublin. I feel really disapointed by the IRFU and hope that the soldier song and tricolour will now be removed from games in dublin.

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 2:42 PM

The island of Ireland isnt exclusively nationalist either, That doesnt stop the soldier song being played at Ireland games in Dublin. I feel really disapointed by the IRFU and hope that the soldier song and tricolour will now be removed from games in dublin.

Why not have all flags Dassa is that not fair? I think Danny BOy would have been the smart option, make nothing of it dont say either way and then just play it on the night.

**Dassa** · 24/08/2007, 2:46 PM

Why not have no flags or anthems full stop. we are two countries coming together as 1 team. There is no way flags or anthems are going to help, so why not remove them entirely and let sport do the the talking.

NI fans of Ireland who have travelled for years to Dublin and stood under that flag and anthem have been treated very badly by the rugby association and for many it leaves a bad taste.

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 2:48 PM

Why not have no flags or anthems full stop. we are two countries coming together as 1 team. There is no way flags or anthems are going to help, so why not remove them entirely and let sport do the the talking.

Can we rather call it "association" as are under the IRFU.

**Dodge** · 24/08/2007, 3:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dassa

Why not have no flags or anthems full stop. we are two countries coming together as 1 team

I though it was one country and a part of another country

**OneRedArmy** · 24/08/2007, 3:23 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Can we rather call it "association" as are under the IRFU.

Irrelevant point Paul.

Remember the association pre-dated partition.

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 3:31 PM

Irrelevant point Paul.

Remember the association pre-dated partition.

Yes exactly, so we are playing for the IRFU, that is the governing association. I personally dont like the term two separate countries being used, it gives me the willies, we aren't polynesian or make up of fijians, tongans and samoans ( pacific islanders ) etc, we are on one island representing one association called the IRFU.

**Soko** · 24/08/2007, 6:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dassa

Why not have no flags or anthems full stop. we are two countries coming together as 1 team. There is no way flags or anthems are going to help, so why not remove them entirely and let sport do the the talking.

NI fans of Ireland who have travelled for years to Dublin and stood under that flag and anthem have been treated very badly by the rugby association and for many it leaves a bad taste.

The IRFU don't care about you, they pander to a different crowd

**OneRedArmy** · 24/08/2007, 7:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dassa

Why not have no flags or anthems full stop. we are two countries coming together as 1 team. There is no way flags or anthems are going to help, so why not remove them entirely and let sport do the the talking.

NI fans of Ireland who have travelled for years to Dublin and stood under that flag and anthem have been treated very badly by the rugby association and for many it leaves a bad taste.

Most of the Protestants I know from the North who regularly attend Ireland games wouldn't want GSTQ played for Ireland.

But agree that flags and anthems are divisive.

**OwlsFan** · 31/08/2007, 10:19 AM

What did they play in the end by the way? Didn't see the game?

I am inclined to agree with Dassa. Since the rugby team represents the island of Ireland and plays under the cross border Association, they should do away with the Soldiers' Song for home games and stick to Ireland's Call. They don't play both GstQ and the home anthems in Scotland or Wales.

Three anthems before a game from a practical point of view anyway is a bit stupid and when the President is presented to the team, there are 4 songs with the addition of the Presidential Salute!!