Irish rugby team drawn from North and South

TOM COOPER refers to the non-use of the Tricolour and Amhrán na bhFiann at the Rugby World Cup as a “reprehensible, unpatriotic act” (Letters, October 8). Patriotism is defined as the love of one’s country — but this country was not playing in the World Cup, it was a mixture of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The IRFU represents all 32 counties.

Mr Cooper says the players should have refused to play, as they had an obligation “to defend the honour and sovereignty of Ireland”. What if Ulster had a strong team and a majority of the team were unionists, would he demand God Save the Queen as the anthem?

Mr Cooper also says that to change the flag and anthem in anticipation of a united Ireland was wrong. However, they have not been changed, that’s the way it has always been.

Prior to Ireland’s Call being written in 1995, no anthem was played at an Ireland away game, with the anthem for home games dictated by the venue. In Dublin, Amhrán na bhFiann was played, with the Tricolour flying alongside the IRFU flag; in Belfast, God Save the Queen was the anthem.

Say the Czech Republic and Slovakia, two countries once joined together as Ireland and Northern Ireland were, took part in an event together, would one country’s anthem be played in favour of the other’s?

Denis Hurley

Kilbrittain

Co Cork