John Fogarty: On its 100th anniversary, nothing has been done to sustain 'Amhrán na bhFiann'

When the song is omnipresent, the grounds for abuse are fertile. If it’s not helmets, it’s the umpteen teams who break away and, or supporters who break into cheers before the rifles have pealed ('faoi lámhach na bpiléar')

PRIDE: Leitrim players stand for Amhrán na bhFiann before a Connacht Senior Championship quarter-final match at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026 - 16:45

John Fogarty

Exactly 100 years after it was adopted as the national anthem, “Amhrán na bhFiann” was played and sung in Croke Park ahead of last month’s Kerry-Dublin All-Ireland semi-final.

Both sets of players stood to attention and faced the tricolour over Hill 16 for the duration of the Artane Boys’ Band’s version. Flags and anthems are thorny issues these days. Perhaps it was with this in mind that the GAA didn’t officially note Gaelic football’s most storied rivalry would mark the song’s centenary.