Ireland's Call -- What's the Problem?

marieholmfan

I think it's great.

Far better than the absurd and dishonest dirge that is the Shonny Conny song!


Buion dar slua, tar toinn do rainig cugainn


Well that's just a lie! Irish America never did anything for us (apart from the Fenians of course - but the assimilated Irish in America proved a disgusting pack of traitors. Okay there's James Connolly but Scotland isn't e



Compare that to 'We have come to answer our country's call from the four proud provinces of Ireland'


Undeniably true!

Feisar

To generic:

Come the day and come the hour
Come the power and the glory
We have come to answer Our Country's call
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS
China, China Together standing small
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer China's call

From the mighty Glens of Hua
From the rugged hills of Jiuhua
From the walls of Beijing And Hong Kong Bay
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS

Hearts of steel And heads unbowing
Vowing never to be broken
We will fight, until We can fight no more
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS

marieholmfan

I see that's actually a very neat point!

Feisar wrote: »

To generic:

Come the day and come the hour
Come the power and the glory
We have come to answer Our Country's call
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS
China, China Together standing small
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call

From the mighty Glens of Hua
From the rugged hills of Jiuhua
From the walls of Beijing And Hong Kong Bay
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS

Hearts of steel And heads unbowing
Vowing never to be broken
We will fight, until We can fight no more
From the twenty-five proud provinces of China

CHORUS

EmmetSpiceland

Speaking as a lifelong rugby fan, I, personally, don’t like the song. I don’t sing it at “home” games but do for an “away” one.

The song isn’t for our generation, or yours, it’s for our kid’s generation. They don’t hear a dull “dirge”, they seem to enjoy belting it out.

I never liked the “soccer” anthem when I was a kid. It was hard to learn and we didn’t know what it was saying. We had to learn other verses too.

When we, eventually, do have a united Ireland “Ireland’s Call” will be the anthem and that’s a good thing.

Thelonious Monk

I hate the song, makes me cringe bigtime so i have to change the channel until it's over

marieholmfan

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

Speaking as a lifelong rugby fan, I, personally, don’t like the song. I don’t sing it at “home” games but do for an “away” one.

The song isn’t for our generation, or yours, it’s for our kid’s generation. They don’t hear a dull “dirge”, they seem to enjoy belting it out.

I never liked the “soccer” anthem when I was a kid. It was hard to learn and we didn’t know what it was saying. We had to learn other verses too.

When we, eventually, do have a united Ireland “Ireland’s Call” will be the anthem and that’s a good thing.

The dull dirge for me is Amhran na bhFiann! Ireland's Call (Beceill na hEireann) will be an amazing anthem!

IAMAMORON

It's a song , real Irish people don't mind singing anything.

The Nal

We have one of the very few genuinely good national anthems in Amhran na bhFiann but a lot of people think its that other cobblers. Shame.

TheValeyard

It's a little bit sh1te.

ancapailldorcha

I only recently discovered it but I like it actually.

Deebles McBeebles

IAMAMORON wrote: »

It's a song , real Irish people don't mind singing anything.

As long as it doesn't involve the words "Queen" or "Britannia".

EmmetSpiceland

The Nal wrote: »

We have one of the very few genuinely good national anthems in Amhran na bhFiann but a lot of people think its that other cobblers. Shame.

It’s good but it’s not great, too slow.

Look at France or Italy’s, they are “belters”. Ours is definitely better than most, England’s is shíte, although both Queen and Gentle Giant did a good job of rocking it up a bit.

America’s one sounds good but it’s just a bunch of silly questions, Australia and Canada both have crap ones. New Zealand too.

A good “anthem” is hard to find.

_Brian

We have a national anthem, it’s an attempt to slide in some alternative to appease the west Brits.

TwoMonthsOff

Irelands Call will never ever be the official anthem of a united Ireland its way too unpopular. A lot of rugby fans are west Brits and prods. Especially the leinster ones, munster not so much.

marieholmfan

TwoMonthsOff wrote: »

Irelands Call will never ever be the official anthem of a united Ireland its way too unpopular. A lot of rugby fans are west Brits and prods. Especially the leinster ones, munster not so much.

What about the ulster ones?

TwoMonthsOff

marieholmfan wrote: »

What about the ulster ones?

You have to ask?

razorblunt

It's awful.
A verses should be in Irish too.

Then it would be less awful but still awful.

Pauliedragon

I don't get these formalities before sporting contests anyway. Debates on which players sing and which ones don't, international incidents over which team stood where. I'm there to see a match ffs just get on with it.

IAMAMORON

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

As long as it doesn't involve the words "Queen" or "Britannia".

It doesn't really bother me if I am being honest.

I am thankfully able to separate the concept of self determination, from an unhealthy or nasty distaste of my nearest neighbours, people should try it sometime.

The Nal

Pauliedragon wrote: »

I don't get these formalities before sporting contests anyway. Debates on which players sing and which ones don't, international incidents over which team stood where. I'm there to see a match ffs just get on with it.

Nah you need a bit of drama and emotion before a big match or a fight or something. Really adds to the atmosphere.

El_Duderino 09

I like it. It's simple and clear. The national anthem is actually a bit embarrassing and holds little relevance to me personally. I hold no I'll will towards the English and I don't feel under siege from the English. So singing a song about being under siege by the English doesn't interest me.

Ireland call is about Irish people coming together to stand together as a team against the opposition. That's exactly what they're doing while singing and I think it's a very good anthem.

Outside Ireland people admire it, in my experience anyway.

colm_mcm

Ole Ole Ole Ole is a lot better tbh.

Snickers Man

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

It’s good but it’s not great, too slow.

Look at France or Italy’s, they are “belters”. Ours is definitely better than most, England’s is sh, although both Queen and Gentle Giant did a good job of rocking it up a bit.

America’s one sounds good but it’s just a bunch of silly questions, Australia and Canada both have crap ones. New Zealand too.

A good “anthem” is hard to find.

Have to disagree with some of this. All English speaking countries have crap national anthems, ourselves included. It's about the only thing that truly connects the "Anglosphere".

True: NKosi sikelele Africa is one of the great anthems, and South Africa is partly English speaking. Mai Hain Wlad fy Nadhau is terrific as well and Wales is nearly entirely English speaking but then they are a stateless nation.

Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Holland all have great anthems. We are perhaps unique in having not one but two that are both pretty sh1t.

I do my duty; I stick my chest out and belt them out before a game. But I just wish they were both better songs.

corks finest

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I hate the song, makes me cringe bigtime so i have to change the channel until it's over

Exactly as I feel ffs it's our anthem should be played end of, Soldiers song or nada

veryangryman

Amadán...

Níl mé ábalta a dtuigeann an teanga

lertsnim

I am not opposed to an all island anthem but I really despise Ireland's Call. It is cringey toe curling bollocks.

EmmetSpiceland

Snickers Man wrote: »

Have to disagree with some of this. All English speaking countries have crap national anthems, ourselves included. It's about the only thing that truly connects the "Anglosphere".

True: NKosi sikelele Africa is one of the great anthems, and South Africa is partly English speaking. Mai Hain Wlad fy Nadhau is terrific as well and Wales is nearly entirely English speaking but then they are a stateless nation.

Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Holland all have great anthems. We are perhaps unique in having not one but two that are both pretty sh1t.

I do my duty; I stick my chest out and belt them out before a game. But I just wish they were both better songs.

Forgot Russia’s one, that is a great one alright.

I wouldn’t class either Wales or Scotland’s “songs” as national anthems, I would see it as a courtesy to allow them sing them before a game. Really they should be forced to sing ‘God Save the Queen’, like Northern Ireland do.

RobertKK

It is like a schoolchild who does bad poetry in English class wrote it. It is not exactly "The town I loved so well"

_Brian

_Brian wrote: »

We have a national anthem, it’s an attempt to slide in some alternative to appease the west Brits.

The whole point of it is appeasement. You're correct, we do have a national anthem. But, some of the players and fans have a different one. Would you honestly prefer if we played both Amhrna bhFiann AND god save the queen/king before matches?

seamus

It stands out because it's not an homage to violent nationalism like many national anthems.

You don't have to like the song itself, but we should certainly consider it a model of what is an appropriate anthem for a united ireland. Or even for the republic.

reg114

It's a poor anthem but it's heart is in the right place. My only objection is to the playing of both anthems, pick one and only one and stick with it

Badly Drunk Boy

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ole Ole Ole Ole is a lot better tbh.

It feeds into the stereotype of the Irish and drink, though.

"ÓL É, ÓL É, ÓL É, ÓL É!".

El_Duderino 09

reg114 wrote: »

It's a poor anthem but it's heart is in the right place. My only objection is to the playing of both anthems, pick one and only one and stick with it

God save the queen then?

I'd just stick with Ireland's call and forget the national anthem for rugby games. I've little connection to amhran na bhfiann and no connection to god save the queen.

WengerOutIn

It is such a boring tune that tries to lift it towards the end. It is just like a balloon running out of air.

super_furry

I like it because it mentions all the important county's of Ireland. Antrim, Galway, Limerick and Dublin.

The other unimportant little villages and borreens like Cork don't warrant a mention and it lets them know where they stand.

EmmetSpiceland

reg114 wrote: »

It's a poor anthem but it's heart is in the right place. My only objection is to the playing of both anthems, pick one and only one and stick with it

That’s it. Stick to ‘Ireland’s Call’. For rugby anyway, hockey already uses it.

Should the silly situation of flying both the “tricolour” and the Ulster flag. Just fly the flag the Irish Rugby flag, it’s a cross-border one so no need for having two.

AlfaZen

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

God save the queen then?

I'd just stick with Ireland's call and forget the national anthem for rugby games. I've little connection to amhran na bhfiann and no connection to god save the queen.

If Ireland were to play a Home international in Belfast prior to 2007 I believe the protocol was for Ireland's Call and God Save the Queen to be played.

BarryD2

The melody of Ireland's Call is fine but the lyrics are a bit naff. The melody of Amhrán na bhFiann on the other hand is a dirge and the lyrics are a century out of date.

If you wanted a song that is cross community, immediately identified with Ireland and has some historical credit in terms of longevity - there's a clear & obvious answer in Danny Boy, sung to the Derry or Londonderry air according to your preference. Yes, it's a bit maudlin but a wonderful melody that brings both tears and pride to the eye.

El_Duderino 09

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

That’s it. Stick to ‘Ireland’s Call’. For rugby anyway, hockey already uses it.

Should the silly situation of flying both the “tricolour” and the Ulster flag. Just fly the flag the Irish Rugby flag, it’s a cross-border one so no need for having two.

Yeah I'd agree with just using the rugby flag too but no real objection to the tricolour and ulster flag.

El_Duderino 09

BarryD2 wrote: »

The melody of Ireland's Call is fine but the lyrics are a bit naff. The melody of Amhrán na bhFiann on the other hand is a dirge and the lyrics are a century out of date.

If you wanted a song that is cross community, immediately identified with Ireland and has some historical credit in terms of longevity - there's a clear & obvious answer in Danny Boy, sung to the Derry or Londonderry air according to your preference. Yes, it's a bit maudlin but a wonderful melody that brings both tears and pride to the eye.

Good song and all but what's it got to do with a game of rugby?

El_Duderino 09

AlfaZen wrote: »

If Ireland were to play a Home international in Belfast I believe the protocol is for Ireland's Call and God Save the Queen to be played.

It is indeed. But the last time they played in Belfast in 2007, while the Aviva was being built, they didn't play god save the queen because it would hurt the feelings of too many people in the republic.

Deebles McBeebles

WengerOutIn wrote: »

It is such a boring tune that tries to lift it towards the end. It is just like a balloon running out of air.

Its the old pop song trick of going up a step/chord in order to finish on a high.

BarryD2

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Good song and all but what's it got to do with a game of rugby?

Nothing at all........... but who said the OP was on about rugby?

That said, a full crowd at Landsdowne Road / Aviva or Croke Park belting out Danny Boy would be a fine thing.

Sardonicat

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

It’s good but it’s not great, too slow.

Look at France or Italy’s, they are “belters”. Ours is definitely better than most, England’s is shíte, although both Queen and Gentle Giant did a good job of rocking it up a bit.

America’s one sounds good but it’s just a bunch of silly questions, Australia and Canada both have crap ones. New Zealand too.

A good “anthem” is hard to find.

France.

RandomName2

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I like it. It's simple and clear. The national anthem is actually a bit embarrassing and holds little relevance to me personally.

Amhran na bhFiann isn't exactly the most inclusive anthem and feels very much of DeV's generation. My main issue with it is that the cadence is all over the place.

Ireland's call has its heart in the right place, but the lyrics feel a bit mediocre. It has a good beat to it, but I don't know.. it could be a bit better.

It's unfortunate in the rugby when up against France given that their anthem knocks the socks off either of our songs. Granted the French saying that they'll irrigate their fields with our blood is taking it a bit far though.

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

America’s one sounds good but it’s just a bunch of silly questions.

What!? It was the Battle of Baltimore, and the questions were rhetorical. Jaysus.

super_furry

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

It is indeed. But the last time they played in Belfast in 2007, while the Aviva was being built, they didn't play god save the queen because it would hurt the feelings of too many people in the republic.

That hasn't been the case since 1995 when Ireland's Call was first adopted.

Anyway, I'm not sure why an Ireland team would ever play the English national anthem.

EmmetSpiceland

Sardonicat wrote: »

France.

I said the french one is a “belter”.

super_furry wrote: »

Anyway, I'm not sure why an Ireland team would ever play the English national anthem.

I think you’re supposed to sing the anthem of the “country” you’re in. Protocol etc.

super_furry

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I said the french one is a “belter”.



I think you’re supposed to sing the anthem of the “country” you’re in. Protocol etc.

Not since 1995, when Ireland's Call was introduced.

Nerdlingr

Amhran na bhFiann isnt or was never meant to be a 'dirge' ... but that's what its become.
Its a marching song that should be played at a quick tempo.
The amount of times it has had the arse dragged out of it at GAA/Soccer/ Sporting events is unreal.
Its not meant to be sung as a slow lament for the coffin ships and i hate to see it performed that way (more often than not by some lovely cailín who think shes Mariah Carey...)
Its a great anthem if played at the right tempo with a quick drum beat.

weldoninhio

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I like it. It's simple and clear. The national anthem is actually a bit embarrassing and holds little relevance to me personally. I hold no I'll will towards the English and I don't feel under siege from the English. So singing a song about being under siege by the English doesn't interest me.

Ireland call is about Irish people coming together to stand together as a team against the opposition. That's exactly what they're doing while singing and I think it's a very good anthem.

Outside Ireland people admire it, in my experience anyway.

Soldiers are we,
Whose lives are pledged to Ireland,
Some have come from a land beyond the wave,
Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;
Tonight we man the Bearna Baoil
In Erin’s cause come woe or weal,
‘Mid cannon’s roar and rifle’s peal,
We’ll chant a soldier’s song.

Mentions of England, the English, sieges or Britain: 0

Pinch Flat

At least people know the words.