God Save The Queen played without incident at HQ

Tens of thousands of Ireland and England rugby fans today stood shoulder to shoulder as their historic clash at the home of Gaelic games began without incident today.

Weeks of debate was finally put to an end when the British national anthem was played as the two teams lined out at Croke Park in Dublin for the first time.

The singing of God Save the Queen at the citadel of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) where 14 civilians were massacred by British soldiers in 1920 had divided opinion across the country.

A ring of steel was thrown up around the 82,000-seater stadium in one of the biggest security operations ever seen at an Irish sports event.

Earlier, more than 100 anti-Good Friday Agreement republicans staged a picket outside the security zone about half a mile from the grounds.

Dissident grouping Republican Sinn Féin's president Ruairi O'Bradaigh delivered a letter of protest under a Garda police escort to the GAA headquarters.

Around 1000 gardaí were drafted in for the event, with around 100 in full riot gear stationed out of site.

Both teams sang their national anthems with gusto but so emotionally charged was the occasion that some of the Irish players were in tears.

Ireland fan Rebecca Burdess, 32, originally from Skerries, Co Dublin, now living in Barbados, had no doubt the visitors would have been warmly welcomed.

“Irish people have a reputation for warmth and hospitality and they will extend the same hospitality to England today as they always have,” she said.

Steeped in the GAA tradition – her grandfather Bobby Beggs was an All-Ireland medal winner – she travelled from the Caribbean especially for the game.

“It would have been my grandfather’s birthday tomorrow. I wouldn’t have missed this. I spent many Sundays in Croke Park as a child supporting Dublin.”

Her brother-in-law Luke Burdess, 32, from London, was supporting England, although dressed as a leprechaun after losing a bet with his Irish friend.

He studied history at Trinity College Dublin and well aware of the significance of the stadium but couldn’t understand the controversy.

“My view is this is a sports game,” he said. “Get on with it.”

Martin Saul, 41, from Lancashire, now living in Cork with his Irish wife, said the debate played out in the media over the past weeks was depressing.

“People supporting rugby are good, honest people,” he said.

He proudly sang God Save The Queen ahead of the game next to his wife, Catherine, 38, who was cheering on Ireland.

“I was in Lansdowne Road two years ago and I was singing it,” he said. “I got a good slagging then but it’s all good banter. That’s part and parcel of the game, we don’t mind that at all.”

John Trainor, 44, originally from Belfast, living in Eastbourne, said he was from a unionist background but refused to stand for the British national anthem.

“I don’t think they should play ‘The Queen’,” he said. “It just seems to be rubbing the GAA’s nose in it.”

His friend Leighton Jones, 33, from Brighton, agreed with him.

“I don’t see the point,” he said. “It’s a game of rugby, we’re here to enjoy the game. I don’t think it’s necessary to bring the politics into it.”