Ireland’s final call
He also feels that Ireland’s Call is an “embarrassment”.
Mr Ryan is correct to say that “rugby has an unrivalled opportunity to bring people together,” but is very much wide of the mark by suggesting there should be one anthem - ie, Abhrán na bhFiann.
If we accept that anthems are an important part of psyching oneself up for a match, it is a more plausible explanation that some Irish players under-perform precisely because they do not even have the opportunity to sing their national anthem.
There are a great many Irishmen for whom Amhrán na bhFiann is not their national anthem, and who very rarely get to hear their own when playing for, or watching, the national rugby team.
Perhaps, in the spirit of bringing people together, we should scrap Ireland’s Call, and play their anthem instead!
Conor Collins
Rochestown Rise
Rochestown Road
Cork
