Do you know the Irish national anthem? Why/Why not?

LordSutch · 03-07-2016 02:09PM

No, because its in a language I don't speak, and its all about Fianna Fail which I don't support.

Snickers Man · 08-07-2016 11:47AM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

It's a terrible dirge

True. In fact, most English-speaking countries have awful national anthems.

God Save the Queen -- you want a dirge?

The Star Spangled Banner -- Not a good tune to begin with and the way they insist on American Idol treatment of it by second-rate pop stars before major events makes it even worse.

Flower of Scotland -- you cannae have a waltz as yer National Anthem, ye ken?

God Defend New Zealand -- mournful enough in English, sounds like somebody with really bad toothache in Maori.

Advance Australia Fair -- Probably the worst national anthem in the world.

Amhran na bhFiann -- look. I sing it before matches. I know the words. Learned the Irish ones in National School and looked up the English ones later (How the **** do you make up a word like Sireland to rhyme with Ireland???) I stick my chest out and belt it out. But, it's not a great song.
Sadly.

Great national anthems.

In no particular order

Nkosi Sikelele Africa
Hen Wlad fy Nadhau
Das Deutschlandlied
Inno de Mamelli
La Marseillaise
Het Wilhelmus

maudgonner · 08-07-2016 11:52AM

LordSutch wrote: »

No, because its in a language I don't speak, and its all about Fianna Fail which I don't support.

I assume you're joking, but in case anyone is in doubt, no, it really isn't.

Snickers Man · 08-07-2016 11:52AM

Stasi 2.0 wrote: »

Wasnt it originally written in English ?

Yup. And the English version rhymes, unlike the Irish one. Still bloody awful lyrics though.

Don't believe me?

Soldiers are we
Whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
From a land beyond the wave. (Bloody Granny rulers)
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 will sing you a Soldier's Song.

Snickers Man · 08-07-2016 11:53AM

maudgonner wrote: »

I assume you're joking, but in case anyone is in doubt, no, it really isn't.

The first line that I learned was

Sinne Laochra Fáil not Sinne Fianna Fáil.

so that's the version I always sing.

DavyD_83 · 08-07-2016 11:55AM

We were taught it in primary school; was also printed in our journal in Primary school.
So, I knew it when I was 10, but don't know it now.

Essentially, I have no need of it, and have not had to sing or recite it in a very long time.
I know the first 3 lines.

I realised last month that I have forgotten the word to "Dicey Reilly", apart form the chorus; learned and forgotten for exactly the same reasons.

maudgonner · 08-07-2016 12:04PM

Snickers Man wrote: »

The first line that I learned was

Sinne Laochra Fáil not Sinne Fianna Fáil.

so that's the version I always sing.

I've heard that, but I think it's a bit of an unnecessary fudge IMO.

It's the soldier's song, there's nothing wrong with having the phrase 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál' in there, just because the political party chose to name themselves after it.

Fianna Fáil was also an alternative name for Óglaigh na hÉireann/The Irish Volunteers, and the FF symbol appeared on the crest of their badge and that of the Irish Army.

rainbow kirby · 08-07-2016 12:06PM

Never learned it at school but spent enough time watching sport after that to pick it up.

WoolyJumper · 08-07-2016 12:09PM

I know the whole thing (okay there is one line towards then end i mumble through) I learned it in primary school. As unpopular as this might be I really don't like our national anthem. Setting aside the meaning I don't like how it sounds. The fact that its usually played by an army band and sang by a large group of people covers up how terrible it sounds. When you hear it in English without a large group of people singing it sounds like something out of the "Ballroom of Romance" Depressing 1950s dancehall music

jamesbere · 08-07-2016 12:30PM

Two things that I know that I can't speak confidently in Irish, that's the national anthem and asking someone if I can go to the toilet

Alun · 08-07-2016 12:35PM

Snickers Man wrote: »

Great national anthems.

In no particular order
....
Hen Wlad fy Nadhau

Agree there, gives me goose bumps, when it's sung well by a decent Welsh male voice choir anyway.

Het Wilhelmus

Strongly disagree, possibly one of the most dirge like anthems on the planet.

beach_walker · 08-07-2016 01:13PM

misterbizmuth wrote: »

It was never a requirement for any exam or curriculum. Therefore by age 17 and leaving secondary school I therefore saw no reason why I should try and do it myself when nobody else was ever bothered.

What odd thinking. What else have you avoided owing to schools not teaching you it?

Yeah I know it and could probably write it. Wasn't taught it in schools or anything but I've been to enough sports events to get it. Not in the least surprised at the neckbeards reactions to the question.

Lollipops23 · 08-07-2016 01:41PM

I know about 70% of it. Only to sing though, I've long forgotten how to write it down. We had a 6th class teacher who told us it was important to know it at least reasonably well.

I spent 2 months working at a summer camp in Ontario, so I know O Canada all the way through.

Patrick_Swayze · 08-07-2016 03:20PM

I know it and take pride in singing it at matches etc. We were thought it in secondary school when our irish teacher discovered we didn't know it.
personally think it should be recited every morning in primary and secondary schools just like the americans do.
Sickens me when a man/woman beside me at a game and indeed any player be it an irish player by granny rule or a player born and raised here doesn't know our national anthem.

Iwasfrozen · 08-07-2016 03:33PM

No I don't know it because A) National anthems are silly and

I don't speak Irish.

swimming in a sea · 08-07-2016 03:42PM

It was never thought to me in school and I'm okay with that.

indioblack · 08-07-2016 08:15PM

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

No I don't know it because A) National anthems are silly and I don't speak Irish.

I know it backwards - sounds really cool that way!
Seriously, though, the tune is actually quite good - played by an orchestra - stating the obvious but it does sound like a national anthem.

martingriff · 08-07-2016 08:32PM

Yes know it and sing it badly. Are the anthems of Scotland and Wales unoffical anthems. Like the French one but i have heard the english translation is very graphic. The Soviet Union anthem was not 2 bad

Arne_Saknussem · 18-07-2016 01:51PM

indioblack wrote: »

I know it backwards - sounds really cool that way!
Seriously, though, the tune is actually quite good - played by an orchestra - stating the obvious but it does sound like a national anthem.

Still the best version i've heard imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZEfzKAhD4

clairewithani · 18-07-2016 01:58PM

I know it. I learned it by heart one year. I didn't know the words and I got a friend to write it down phonetically for me and I learned it and learned it and learned it. I was playing in the county camogie final and I wanted to sing it. (I pictured myself singing it, almost like an Olympic gold medal winner with tears of pride in my eyes.) I tried to sing it but the girl beside me kept talking and I lost my train of thought. I was ****e, replaced by half time and we lost. I was pregnant by next county final and never played again.

Aw well!!!

byte · 18-07-2016 03:24PM

No, I was never taught it at school or elsewhere.

waraf · 18-07-2016 03:40PM

Yep. Back in my day you had to do an interview to go to the Gaeltacht to make sure you weren't a complete numpty. Reciting the national anthem was part of the interview so we had to learn it beforehand. I'm glad I learned it when I was a nipper. I quite like singing it at international matches.

Ragnar Lothbrok · 18-07-2016 04:20PM

I know it in English (learned it as a child from a Celtic FC LP I had!) and I kind of know it in Irish now that I've been living here for nearly 30 years. I'm OK when singing it in Irish as part of a group, but I'm not sure I'd pass the test if I had to sing it solo. Not that anyone in their right mind would ever ask me to sing solo

Don't recall any of my children being taught it when they were at school, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't know the words now, which is kinda sad really.

Riddle101 · 18-07-2016 04:29PM

Shamefully I can't, but I wish I could. I wasn't very good at Irish in school, and never learned the language properly. Plus I'm not good at remembering lyrics to songs anyway.

Boskowski · 18-07-2016 04:30PM

Don't know it reason is I'm not Irish. It sounds nice tho.

BattleCorp · 18-07-2016 04:35PM

I was never taught the National Anthem in school.

I am Irish and I almost feel ashamed that I don't know the National Anthem.

I don't feel ashamed enough to go learn it properly, but I do think it is something we should have learned in school.

While I am at it, they should have taught us swimming and first aid in school too.

And they could do with teaching women how to be proper women and show them how to cook and look after men like proper women do*

*May not actually be serious with this one.

davo2001 · 18-07-2016 04:38PM

McGruber wrote: »

Yes, work.

Do you work for the RA or something?

biko · 18-07-2016 04:41PM

Like most people I know - first and last bits.

notsoyoungwan · 18-07-2016 09:13PM

Yes, know it in both English and Irish

Melisandre121 · 18-07-2016 11:56PM

When I was in 6th class our teacher suggested we all sing the national anthem, but none of us knew it. She seemed genuinely shocked. She wrote all the words on the blackboard and we sang it over and over until we all knew it. I'm actually really grateful she taught us,
I'd hate not to know my national anthem. It's pretty important imo.

Do you know the Irish national anthem? Why/Why not?

Comments