The national anthem needs new lyrics, but leave the Tricolour alone

Jim Cosgrove (Irish Examiner, Letters, Saturday, March 19) is right to advocate a new national anthem. Like Michael Clifford, I, too, attended a flag-raising ceremony at my son’s school and the multi-coloured scholars sang the anthem as Gaeilge.

I found the words out of place. A war song, the ‘Soldier’s Song’, was fit for its time, but hardly is now. The melody is great, but it needs new words, in keeping with today’s aspirations.

Leave the green, white and gold Tricolour alone. When United Irelander, TF Meagher, brought it back from the French Republic, he first flew it from the Wolfe Tone Club, in Waterford, on March 7, 1848. Tone, like other United Irishmen, Fitzgerald, and Hamilton Rowan, of 50 years before, was not Catholic, but a home-ruler.

Meagher presented his flag on April 15 that year, in Dublin; a plaque marks the spot. It’s said that the flag rarely flew until Easter, 1916. However, according to the Freeman’s Journal of June 21, 1848, one John Colgan was charged in Dublin Police Court with “disorderly conduct in the upper gallery of the Queen’s Theatre (on the now Pearse Street), caused confusion and disturbed the audience by exhibiting a tri-coloured flag attached to a stick.”

The Tricolour should remain with us, the white reminding us now of the growing band of those of us who share values in common with most religious teachings on secular matters, but have no great grá for the denominational business.

John Colgan

The Toll House

Leixlip

Co Kildare