Ireland's Call

Ireland's Call is a song used in international Rugby Union matches, and is played when the Irish rugby team is playing. The rugby team represents the whole island of Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) as Amhrán na bhFiann (A Soldier's Song) was deemed inappropriate, both because it is the official national anthem of the Republic and because it is has a militant nationalist theme unacceptable to Northern Irish Unionists. At matches played in the Republic, both Amhrán na bhFiann (as the anthem of the host nation) and Ireland's Call (as the anthem of the home team) are sung; elsewhere, Ireland's Call is the only anthem used.

Related Topics:
Rugby Union - Irish rugby team - Ireland - Northern Ireland - Republic of Ireland - Amhrán na bhFiann

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At most rugby union matches today, only the first verse is sung, followed by the chorus in the same key. The chorus is then repeated in a higher key; at the end, the last line is repeated. The song was written by Phil Coulter, who was commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union to write an anthem in 1995.

Related Topics:
Phil Coulter - Irish Rugby Football Union - 1995

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