"Ireland's Call" is a song commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union for use at international Rugby Union fixtures. It has since also been adopted by the Irish Hockey, Cricket, Rugby League, Ireland national korfball team, and A1GP teams.
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For the Irish rugby teams in particular, the teams have players from north and south, so internationally represent the island of Ireland as a whole. This is distinctly different from football for example where two separate teams, one for each jurisdiction, i.e. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, compete internationally in the World Cup and other competitions.
Overview
For most sports, a team representing Ireland may include team members from any part of the island, even though the island is divided into two separate political areas. In the north-east, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, while the rest of the island forms the Republic of Ireland.
While "Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldier's Song") is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, its use arouses sensitivities among those with Unionist sympathies in Northern Ireland. Equally, the national anthem of Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, is "God Save The Queen", which is sensitive among those with Nationalist sympathies.
At matches played in the Republic, both "Amhrán na bhFiann" (as the anthem of the Republic of Ireland) and "Ireland's Call" (as the anthem of the home team) are sung. Elsewhere, "Ireland's Call" is the only anthem used in recognition of the need for a unifying anthem.
At most games today, only the first verse is sung, followed by the chorus in the same key. The chorus is then repeated in a higher key; at the end, the last line is repeated.
The song was written by Phil Coulter in 1995. He composed it because he loved hearing a combination of the Irish accents singing together.
It was first broadcast simultaneously in Northern Ireland on the Kelly show and in the Republic of Ireland on Gay Byrne's Late Late Show, sung by Andrew Strong, singer in the film The Commitments, accompanied by Portadown Male Voice Choir. Phil has rewritten the lyrics to be sung in the Celtic Thunder singing tour, where he has collaborated with Sharon Browne, the Original Producer of Celtic Woman. The rewritten lyrics have a somewhat more martial theme, with lines like "meet our destiny with glory" and "Till our final requiem is spoken"
Since its creation, there has been an ongoing debate in Irish society over the song – both in terms of its political suitability, and in terms of the quality of the composition. This tends to come to a head during each Rugby World Cup – the only time the Irish team plays a succession of matches away from home, and hence, when "Ireland's Call" is most prominently used.
In the wake of Ireland's game against England at Croke Park in the 2007 Six Nations championship, commentators in the Irish media talked about how powerful the rendition of the anthem was: "Amhrán na bhFiann" and "Ireland's Call" were belted out with such hair-raising intensity that men and women were crying as they sang.
Lyrics
Come the day and come the hour, Come the power and the glory! We have come to answer our country's call, From the four proud provinces of Ireland
Ireland, Ireland, Together standing tall! Shoulder to shoulder, We'll answer Ireland's call!From the mighty Glens of Antrim, From the rugged hills of Galway! From the walls of Limerick, and Dublin Bay, From the four proud provinces of Ireland!
Ireland, Ireland, Together standing tall! Shoulder to shoulder, We'll answer Ireland's call!Hearts of steel and heads unbowing, Vowing never to be broken! We will fight, until we can fight no more, From the four proud provinces of Ireland!
Ireland, Ireland, Together standing tall! Shoulder to shoulder, We'll answer Ireland's call! Ireland, Ireland, Together standing tall! Shoulder to shoulder, We'll answer Ireland's call! We'll answer Ireland's call!Lyrics
Another Version of the song is sung by Celtic Thunder.