Rugby fans should get fully behind the anthem
Not only is it no longer sung but it is replaced by an awful song, Ireland’s Call - “a song composed by a decent man on a bad day,” as Con Houlihan said.
Ireland’s Call is fit for a pub - not a rugby international. It should be scrapped, but if the powers-that-be insist that it continue to be used, the Tricolor should not be unfurled when it is being played.
Ireland’s Call is supposed to represent all Ireland - not just the 26-counties. But this is a farcical reason to sing it as only one player from the North started a Six Nations match this year.
In the 1940s, when an attempt was made to have an all-Ireland soccer team, the request was turned down because Northern players would not stand for the national anthem.
The same should happen now; we should have a Southern-based rugby team, sing Amhrán na bhFiann, and let Ulster players make up their own minds about it.
Tom Young
Moyglare Abbey
Maynooth
Co Kildare
