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TONY MULQUEEN, a councillor with Clare County Council, recently asked RTÉ to broadcast the national anthem “each night before midnight in the spirit of Irish pride and nationhood.”
However, replying for the corporation, Peter Feeney has said that to do so would be “cumbersome” and “counter-productive” in respect of Cllr Mulqueen’s aims.
National anthems are the product of emerging nations in search of cultural validation. Along with the flag, the currency, and a range of other invented ‘traditions’, the national anthem is one of the means whereby an imaginary unit (‘Great Britain’, for example) is compelled into existence.
Given the fragmented, often illusory nature of modern nationhood, it’s no wonder that such pieces of music are frequently contentious.
National anthems are intended to be what the theorists call ‘metonymic’, in so far as they stand in for the country with which they are associated.
Some national anthems are amongst the most famous and most metonymic pieces of music in existence: who can hear La Marseillaise or God Save the Queen (or King) or The Star-Spangled Banner without conjuring the nations with which these songs are associated?
On the other hand, you may be less familiar with Jana Gana Mana (India), Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu (Kenya) or El Gran Carlemany (Andorra).
And then there’s Amhrán na bhFiann – A Soldier’s Song (or is it The Soldier’s Song or The Soldiers’ Song?). Someone looking for a crash course in modern Irish history could do worse than trace the troubled status of that piece of music from the time of its composition in 1907 down to the present day.
As Kevin Myers wrote in 2010: “A debate about the utility and the suitability of Amhrán na bhFiann is as seasonal as spring: it’s what we do, whenever the rugby season isn’t going so well.”
The exchange between Cllr Mulqueen and Mr Feeney may be regarded as the latest exchange in that debate. Such an exchange can, moreover, be troped in all sorts of ways: country versus city, tradition versus modernity, duty versus pragmatism. One suspects, given the ongoing assault upon traditional notions of nationhood, that Mr Mulqueen is likely to remain disappointed.
Anyone who doubts the continuing power of the national anthem as a sign of Irish identity should recall that magical evening back in August when Katie Taylor stood in front of ExCel Arena in London to receive her gold medal.
And yet, if you look at the footage of the ceremony you’ll notice that the Golden Girl is not exactly bursting forth in song. It’s not quite as embarrassing as that famous scene when John Redwood, the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Wales, tried to blag his way through the Welsh national anthem (Hen Wlad fy Nhadau) – exposing, in a way that commentary or newsprint never could, the poverty of Tory claims to hegemony (find it on YouTube: it’s hilarious).
Nevertheless, many of us will be familiar with Taylor’s predicament on the night. My own engagement with Amhrán na bhFiann has always been anxious, both in terms of the sentiments expressed by the words, as well as the language in which they’re expressed. By the age of fourteen I knew every lyric to every Beatles song, but from whatever combination of laziness, impatience and alienation, I could never get past ‘Sinne Fianna Fáil’.
From a musical perspective, there seems to be an implicit tension between national anthem lyrics (which tend on the whole to extol the virtues of the imagined nation) and the music itself, which frequently bears an uncertain relation to the musical traditions of the nation it is supposed to represent.
Jimi Hendrix alerted the world to the power of ‘mishearing’ the national anthem when he performed that blistering version of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock in 1969. Would a jazz version of that same piece make people (including Americans) feel differently about the USA? How about a flamenco version of La Marcha Real, or a reggae version of Jamaica, Land We Love?
And what would an ‘Irish’ national anthem sound like? What are the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Irish’ music in the international soundscape?
Perhaps, following the stereotypical logic of a movie like Titanic, we should have two national anthems: one, slow and yearning (low whistles, atmospheric ‘Celtic’ harmonies) to be played on occasions of gallant defeat; and another, wild and raucous – the full diddley-eye treatment – to be performed when we actually manage to win something.
Gerry Smyth is a lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University.
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Can’t really see the point to this article, if it was an issue regularly debated maybe address alternatives but in my opinion it’s not. I personally couldn’t imagine anything other than our current national anthem. I have never felt anything but pride when I hear it and certainly never embarrassment. What’s embarrassing to me is that you would suggest a ‘diddley-eye’ raucous version, to represent my country which to me conjures up images of drunken leprechauns jumping over rainbows clutching pots of gold and yelling musha begorrah and bejaysus from the top of our voices….no thanks
Agreed. Only bit I’d alter is ‘fianna fail’
Except the political party stole it from the anyhem. The Fianna were the Irish Warriors of ancient times, nearest translation being soldier. Don’t let present day issues corrupt our ancient history
Well said Eimear…never ever been embarrassed to hear or sing this anthem…its an honour..men and women fought hard so we could have our OWN anthem!What is it with this country?Have we no pride in our own nation?Are we just going to dissect out all of what is Irish and just become another homogeneous group of culture-less people…ridiculous article…
Roddy, it can also be sung Sinne laochra fáil instead of fianna.
I’d take it over Irelands call any day…
Urgh
I’m still trying to work out the point of this article.
I’m also mot sure why you are so embarrassed about our national anthem.
Embarrassment is not the sentiment I feel on All-Ireland day when over 80,000 people are singing the anthem with pride all around Croke Park.
Pity the players on the pitch won’t stay still during the playing of it i.e. Henry Shefflin picking up his helmet and making off well before the end of it. The rest of them fidget around during it’s entirety. I find it ironic that GAA players in general are so badly behaved during the national anthem while our soccer (even the granny rulers) and rugby players lead by example without exception.
Except 90% of them need to read the words from the big screen before all cheering before the end. Not as repectful as the rugger buggers. Ruck it in there munster!!!!
Have you ever played in a big match dexter ? The tension and built up emotion with 80000 people cheering you on. i for onr wouldnt be able to sit still
Fair dues to the rugby lads for learning off the anthem so well when its only sung at 50% of the Irish matches :-)
Pilib, how come it players in all other sports are able to stand still for the anthems? ‘Big matches and tension’ doesn’t come into it – GAA players and crowds are even worse behaved at less important matches.
You may not believe it, but I am a long time GAA fan, I just can never understand why they carry on like this and it has always bugged me, after all the Irish national anthem doesn’t last that long.
Even today at the cricket 20-20 final both teams remained ramrod still during the Sri Lankan and West Indian anthems which combined lasted almost five minutes.
What us the actual point of this piece? All I get from it is that because you don’t know the words of the national anthem that we should change it???
I cam hum it with the best of them! Sinne fianna fail hum huuum humhum hum huuuum hum….
When push comes to shove we Irish stick together and our national anthem still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and be proud to be Irish! Those who ask ‘what’s the point’ are those who critizise everything to do with Ireland and being Irish so what is the point in suiting them? they would do the same if they lived elsewhere too!
The past four years have indicated that the irish do not stick together…
Our leaders have sold us out, we’re being screwed daily yet nobody is standing up for us and a good percentage of us have been forced to emigrate. That’s not sticking together in my view.
Would you stick around for the sake of it if you could get a job elsewhere? Let’s get real, Creamy.
Dexter, point is we dont stick together.
No i wouldn’t stay to answer your question, thus further proving the point that the Irish do not stick together. Do you understand now?
Creamy, economics are important but people get more Irish when they move away! The patriotic in most people burn s even stronger! Besides all that if you remember the soccer in Poland and how badly we did!! What did the Irish fans do…stick together, held their heads up high and sang their hearts out! We do stick together when the going gets tough..but at least we know you wouldn’t
Marie. Just reading your comment gives me goose pimples. I bring our flag wherever I go. Eireann go bragh. From USA
Couldn’t agree more Marie. Feel nothing but pride hearing it and when singing it the eyes do get watery.
I thought our national anthem went “Ole, ole ole ole. Ole ole”. No ?
Lol!!!
Lot a people out there with no sense of
humour this morning Karl
Not this again it’s the national anthem it shouldn’t change, there are plenty of morons in this country would change it because it refers to a time when we had fight in us when we had to fight to get freedom it’s our history deal with it. If its changed to some I hug you you hug me song it’s a bloody disgrace it’ll show how as a nation his we don’t have a drop of pride left in us and I for one won’t sing any other anthem.
There are better ways to show “fight” as you call it than extolling the virtues of the gun. National pride should be about altruism, caring for the young, sick and elderly not bawling a song that wouldn’t be out of place at a Wolfe Tones ” concert”. We owe that at least to the relatives of the 3000 or so people murdered on our island in the name of national “pride”.
Was that like a gay pride parade that went wrong?
A Nation Once Again would be a good choice in my opinion.
Please go NO
I agree with ‘A Nation once again’
It was written by the great Thomás Davis (Statue opposite College green/Trinity)
Although Amhrán an bFhiann is good in my books too.
Just leave it alone.
Quality User Name!!
Bit of a dirge of a song musically and the words are plain outdated.
Dire and outdated. It’s perfect so!
I suggest ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain to be our new national anthem.
Teach Phian Éireannach le Mac an tEaspag!
Dún do chlab, dún do bhéal, éist le mo scéal
Má cheapann tú go dtuigeann tú tá tú cur i géill
Tá mé ag dul thú a bhomhradh, ceangail mé le slabhra
Guile a mhac, ná bí caint cac anseo i lár an samhradh
Súistín búistín buile beaga shúistín….
LOL++++! Eh….no!
Playing the national anthem at the end of the night in a bar is the most inappropriate place to play our great anthem. So annoying. Should be outlawed.
Yeah…… Ok! I’d imagine you are a hoot to be around!
Awaiting your witty reply!
Sorry, replied to the wrong comment! :)
Whilst I fully support our current anthem I agree, it should be offered some form of respect and drunkenly singing it at the end of the night in a bar is a disgrace and I an glad to see is not as common as a few years back
@ Bla – doing good work, getting up all the right noses. Don’t stop now…
Munster championship Thurles .. Last bars of the national anthem and then the roar… That roar is from people who have just sang their national anthem with gusto
It is an embarrassment that public figures, sports players, td’s and other high profile Irish citizens have made no effort to learn it.
5 days a week for 3 years in Secondary school the anthem was sung as gailge at the start of Irish class. It took 3 or 4 attempts to remember it all.
Make an effort with our current one. Do not try and rewrite history because you are too lazy to embrace it.
Save our anthem, it’s about all we have left that Germany don’t own.
Anyone who wants to change the national anthem should be ashamed. Ireland’s call drives me mad. It’s not a real anthem and I turn off the telly when I hear it. When I hear our anthem I feel so proud and emotional. Got to carry the flag at the opening ceremony of the world duathlon championships before and to walk out in front of the crowds to our national anthem was the greatest experience in my life.
Finnegans Wake would be appropriate us now.
Or God save the queen.
I favour ‘The Horst Wessel Song’.
eh we tried this and ended up with Ireland’s call = leave well enough alone.
There is a point to be made around understanding the anthem. On a stag party I asked around 20 of my mates to explain what the anthem was about. I think we got to the second line. Education system fail.
The Mickey Mouse March would be good too…
I would prefer the opening theme from Bosco as our national anthem.
What a lazy article with no real point other than to fill some space on the journal website. Try telling the Americans or the French ,whose anthems are older than ours, that their anthems are no longer relevant. It fills me with immense pride every time I’m in Croke park or lansdowne road or watching Mary mcaleese in the garden of remembrance last year to hear Amhrán na bhFiann being belted out! And to those who don’t know the words, shame on you.
I for one am proud of our National Athem. It makes me feel proud to be Irish and despite all the flaws of this country I am proud to be Irish .
Why don’t you shit on someone else’s national anthem and keep your opinions to yourself. What a lot of trash. I’m an irishman and proud of my national anthem.
Well, you’re not keeping your opinions to yourself are you? So why should the author of this column?
Opinion pieces written in the first person persuade nobody. Thus the purpose of such writings is a mere public exposition of one’s (illusory) superior egocentric view point. It is an act to compensate for one’s insecurities by attempting to attract like minded individuals and their adulation. All egotrips are written/spoken in the first person and their purpose to create the illusion of increased social standing. One can also fabricate this illusion by classifying others as beneath one in the social order. This is achieved by the creation of logically fallacious opinions that denigrate others in their society, through such actions as attacks on their culture, history, genetic origins etc.
In most societies snobbery is expressed through material possessions but in Ireland for historical reasons no one had the money to express their superiority. Instead they used denigration and its subset begrudgery to create the illusion of status to boost one’s ego. Sin an Bearna Baol and the curse of the Irish.
See above comment…
Question, Are you really as eccentric as you sound? Just wondering!
Whew!
If you are hearing sounds Deaglán Rua. ’tis inside you own head as reading written words is accomplished with your own voice. Ha!
Yet I can still hear how you sound based our your written words! Marbles in the mouth! Haha!
You’re a hoot!
Deaglán O’Rua ;)
Deaglán Oll Rua, “the higher the voice the smaller the intellect fabricating it.” – Ernest Newman
Here comes the quotes!
You
Are
Hilarious!
:D
Thanks for pointing out the obvious Deaglán le gnúis Oll Rua.
Ah the Gaylick Irish, the exemplar of nescience.
Sarcasms not supposed to be obvious!
Rats!
You’re
Way
Too
Clever!!!
:)
Bloody hell! Are you trying to beat the world record in “using the most big words in one paragraph” category or what?
@Blathin . I have noticed you replying to many comments on this page . Excuse me for asking but did you by any chance swallow a dictionary ? Or are you trying to confuse the rest of us ?
Eh?
Dec and Blathín…GET A ROOM!
When a mind is overtaxed and forced to do a little thinking, especially a mind unaccustomed to work, it becomes a denigrator in order to avoid learning and thus proving the blissfulness of nescience. To post such an attack in the wrong comment stream is to engage in a battle of wits, not realising one is unarmed. In the words of Walt Kelly, in like a dimwit, out like a light.
Ab Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.” You’re fooling nobody In your attempt to belittle other users with opposite views to you, or with your attacks on people’s literacy and knowledge in general! “Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.”
L Brandeis.
Now, how do I turn off the response alarms on this??? :)
Dec Rowe, I only belittle commenters AFTER they have made an attempt to belittle others, especially me. cf. your own comment posted in the wrong place. Those who make no contribution to a debate other than puerile poking of fun, deserve to be exposed and belittled!
My Lovely Horse running through the fields…..
Would I be right in saying it was written in English and translated later?
Yes you would. Written in English first by Peader Kearney and sung that way for years. The official state version is the Irish from a later translation and sounds far superior in my opinion!
A lot of people died in the creation of our state, this article shows the ignorance of a lot of modern irish people! They would still be under English rule and we would still have wealthy landlords who would own most of the wealth, we would be second class citizens in our own country. English countryside is like this today! The privileged lord running the countryside! I don’t care what people say we are an independent state where we make all our own decisions. The author has disrespected the founders of our nation!!!
@Diarmuid “independent state where we make all our own decisions” where have you been sleeping for the last 4 years.
By a lonely prison wall I heard a sweet voice calling,….
Oh sweet mother of Jesus , NO
You want a song that refers to an occupying force driving us out of our country to be our anthem? Whilst it may equally represent our historical struggles like the present anthem it is hardly inspiring.
Get a grip
learn the words before you quote them
“by a lonely prison wall I heart a young girl calling “
Anna, I believe that should be “heard”, not “heart”…seeing as we are calling people up on their words ;-)
It’s a strange anthem indeed for a state which once had aspirations to unite all Irish people on this island. It is equally strange in being in a language not understood by the vast majority of the citizens it purports to represent.
The lack of understanding of the Irish language must be due to the laziness of the people having been taught it for twelve years. When God Save the Queen was our national anthem it was not in the language of the majority of people either!
The hand of friendship that is represented by the Irish flag (and your avatar) and its reception among Northern Unionists, suggest that changing the anthem to the language William of Orange (Dutch) will do little to encourage a united Ireland.
Yes if course, the Irish people are lazy. Perhaps a few more years beating the language into them would help. Or maybe, despite the best efforts of a well trained and highly politically motivated teaching core, the people have rejected the language.
Let’s teach them Dutch and make King Billy proud. Only then will we have a united Ireland according to your logic!
And here is my point
I always get bugged by people who say we shouldnt change this or that because its our history. The thing is even if we change something it is still your history. But we also need to move with the times. The current Antheme is nolonger relevant and although I love it I believe there is no harm in changing it.
replace Sinne Fianna Fail with sinne Laochra fail in the 1st line of The chorus if you have an issue with Fianna fail.
It’s a cruel song! Always Expected to stand to it when the legs are buckled by the drink!
And it is always the those with Gaelic Irish names that are the most hostile anti-Irish begrudgers. Funny that!
I myself love our national athem. Yes when translated its not flattering. However it does represent the struggle of the birth of this state which was even more violent than the conflict in the north. I learned it in school as a child & its the only piece of Irish I can speak although dont fully understand. I felt extremely proud when it was played at the olympics & provided we dont act on its lyrics I think we have proved passive enough to show its only an athem. Im proud of it & dont want to change it. Its ours & I think we have given enough away. Also I do agree with the use of Irelands call. I hate the dam thing but it shows that as a nation we sensative to a different point of view.
to do so would be “cumbersome” and “counter-productive”
Yet we still have to listen to that bloody Angelus
Perhaps we should adopt the Angelus as our anthem? At least we would all know the words.
i’d be interested to know if the red thumbs are from people who agree with Peter Feeney that it would be cumbersome and counter-productive or if they are from people who like the Angelus being shoved down our throats by our national broadcaster.
The trend continues. The majority of the sane have given up going to the bother on commenting on certain articles, leaving them to the idiotic and over-opinionated. Just as thejournal put the “daily edge” symbol” on some stories, they need another symbol for anything to do with immigrants, taxi-drivers, Irish economics or anything to do with nationalism. A big shouty mouth maybe. Or perhaps just a gaping a**ehole.
Any pictures of yourself? We could use that to depict a gaping A&#shole!
You honour me Deco. As requested: http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090502182837/jhonenvasquez/images/b/b5/JtHM.jpg
Haha!
Buachaill ón Éirne gets my vote.
Right and every woman in the country would just love it. Oh ladies, feel ur boobies, u know it makes sense
Loving the comments. I woud just like to point out that when I submitted this article (on the request of the editor) it was entitled ‘Sing When You’re Winning: The National Anthem Debate’, not ‘What’s the point of our national anthem today?’. Now, I wonder why they changed it?
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel
Stealing words from Samuel Johnson without reference or quotation marks is the work of a scoundrel!
That’s prayer is the last refuge of a scoundrel and you lifted that from the Simpsons
The right honorable gentlemen that have no love for this country would have us partioned subjected to the church rule countless shitheads as leaders our currency gone sovereignty gone wealth gone youth gone and now they would like to see our history gone too .I think now more than ever we need to hang on to something that is ours.Especially an anthem that has a real meaning and makes us remember the brave people who fought for our futures ..decimation and integration ..no thanks
Remember the anthem being belted out with vigour when England played in Croke park…or Katie Taylor at the Olympics, passionate stuff.
replace Sinne Fianna Fail with sinne Laochra fail in the 1st line of Tue chorus if you have an issue with Fianna fail.
What benefit is there to nationalism and it’s symbols like flags and anthems? The world may be a better place without all the flag burning and anthems. We could try it for a while as so far we have only wars and death to innocent people as a result of borders and flags etc. if all countries had a minutes silence instead of their anthems to reflect on the victims of war in the name of their country it may raise the awareness of what life could be.
pointless debate, national anthem is not going to be changed- end of
My comments were placed wrongly.
The LOL comment was for the suggestion of House of Pain
And the Eh? comment was for Blaithin’s verbal diarrhoea.
Not many people would object if Amhran na bhFiann was replaced by God Save The Queen this day and age.Sadly…………I am afraid the Irish pride and identity is dying here.
journalists have started trolling -the only way to explain an article as pointless as tis one. what’s the world coming to
The author of this column is not a journalist and has not been trolling.
And BTW Blaithin, I use the reply button in your post to comment on it. It was placed incorrectly by the Journal’s software. There’s no need to descend to sarcasm and rudeness to make a point. You lose the argument that way.
LOL+++++++++ ’tis not the software!
Why is he commenting on our national anthem. Why is this dribble posted at all.
When Irish Eyes are Smiling Or Ireland, Ireland together now we stand, shoulder to shoulder……for the new National anthem. The present anthem is out of date. Something more appropriate to the Irish psyche. Wm
Jimmys winning matches would be a great anthem!! Put him in the government, he’ll soon pull there heads in a bit!!
*its relevance
I can’t believe nobody’s posted this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nnnM-__JQ
Would love the Journal to explain the irish anthem, its history and what each word means in english.
@Karen go to http://www.kinglaoghaire.com/site/lyrics/song_552.html you will find the lyrics in both languages.
S
TG4 had a good documentary about the anthem and it’s relevance a little while back, worth watching:
http://www.tg4.ie/en/tg4-player/tg4-player.html?id=1841555597001&title=Cogar
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