Ireland's rugby team sings two national anthems, 'Ireland's Call' and 'Amhrán na bhFiann' (Soldier's Song), due to the nation's historical divisions. 'Amhrán na bhFiann' carries strong political connotations for Unionists in Northern Ireland, leading to the adoption of the more inclusive 'Ireland's Call' for broader appeal.
Ireland kick off their Six Nations title defence this weekend against England at the Aviva Stadium, with Simon Easterby taking charge as interim head coach in Andy Farrell's absence. Farrell is currently leading the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia. The match is sure to be full of talking points, from Sam Prendergast's selection at fly-half to the impact of Tadhg Furlong's absence from the scrum.
England, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing autumn, where they suffered defeats against New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Before the action begins, some fans may wonder why the Irish team sings two different anthems before kick-off. Ireland's rugby team typically sings 'Ireland's Call' as their national anthem rather than the traditional 'Soldier's Song'.This dual anthem tradition stems from the historical divisions within the nation. 'Amhrán na bhFiann' (Soldier's Song) is officially recognized as the Irish national anthem, composed around 1909 or 1910 by Peader Kearney and Patrick Heeney. However, the song holds strong political connotations, particularly for Unionists in Northern Ireland who wish to remain connected to Great Britain. It speaks of Irish independence, a concept rejected by Unionists. During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), 'Amhrán na bhFiann' was even dubbed the Sinn Fein anthem, further fueling tensions. These tensions escalated in the late 1980s, culminating in an IRA roadside bomb attack that damaged a car carrying three Irish rugby players from Belfast to Dublin for training. The incident resulted in player Nigel Carr ending his rugby career due to injuries. In response to these events, a new anthem, 'Ireland's Call', was commissioned for the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Phil Coulter penned the song as a more inclusive alternative, devoid of political baggage. Currently, at games held in the Republic of Ireland, both anthems are sung, although Northern Irish players are not obligated to sing 'Amhrán na bhFiann'. In other match settings, 'Ireland's Call' stands as the sole anthem
RUGBY IRELAND SIX NATIONS NATIONAL ANTHEM AMHRÁN NA BHFIANN IRELAND's CALL UNIONISTS HISTORY POLITICS
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