Irish National Anthems

Ireland has several Irish National Anthems, some official and some adopted.... And you are likely to hear any or all of them echo around Croke Park, the Aviva Stadium or anywhere else (usually a pub) a crowd of us are gathered to watch Ireland play football, hurling or rugby. Sung at full voice on our home turf or abroad, in front of pub wide-screens nationwide or globally any of the following are music to our ears and sure to bring a tear to our eye....

Amhrán na bhFiann is the official Irish National Anthem, it commemorates our Independence from England achieved with the 1916 Rising. Almost always sung "ás Gaelige" (in Irish) it traditionally signals the end of all performances, no more encores after this....

Ireland's Call this is the Irish Rugby Anthem which was created by Phil Coulter to include all four provinces of Ireland from which the team is selected. Both it and the Irish National Anthem are played and sung at the start of all major rugby matches. It will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck if you have any Irish blood in you at all.....

The Fields of Athenry what started out as the home song of lads from West of the Shannon and a GAA favourite, has now become another unofficial anthem, we can all sing in our sleep.....

Galway Girl by Steve Earl and Sharon Shannon has become another rousing rant or session song which is belted out around the globe from the clubs of Ibiza to the bars of New York city, it was made famous by the movie ‘PS I love you’ and that Bulmers advert.....

Olé, Olé, Olé more of a chant then a song, created in honour of our adopted father Jack Charleton who managed the Irish football team which we followed into battle in the glory days of the Italia 90 world cup, never to be forgotten.....

To get an idea of how passionate we can get about rugby in Ireland have a look at the following promotional add by Guinness, proud sponsors of the RBS 6 Nations Cup. Although I have no idea where they found a pub that empty.....?

And of course Ireland being Ireland adopted Happy by Pharel Williams for ourselves in Galway, story of our lives really....

To return to the St Patricks Day page please click here