Too much alcohol

Some sad, chinless wonder of a Fianna Fail TD, with no doubt one eye to Easter and to emphasising his Republican roots, was on the radio during the week wondering why Gary Doherty, Brian Kennedy and David Gray didn't know the words of the national anthem. This should be rammed down our kids throats at school was his general contention. There is just no respect for the anthem.

Even the C&W bands in Edenderry on a cold Wednesday night have stopped playing Peadar Kearney's ditty as a cheap way of clearing the pub. And it is a great pity, he argued, given that it is such an easy song to sing and a lovely, lovely air. Mr Chinless confessed to being a bit musical himself. A man who loves a good sing song. In an attempt to capture the "Proddie" vote, he even claimed that he regularly enjoys a good blast of "The Sash", another powerful tune.

This set me thinking. I don't as a rule sing the National Anthem. The temporary English supply teacher that I had in Scoil Muire didn't really have much command herself of the song, so we stuck with "Danny Boy" and "Greensleeves". I don't sing it, not because I object to 'Le gunna screech'-ing or anything. I'm just not a good singer. No that's not exactly true. I am a bad singer but also I don't really think that its sentiment does much for me. The odd line makes reference to overthrowing tyrants, but there is a little bit too much fighting for my liking. The tune is excellent, I'll grant you. But then so too is 'La Marseillaise' and 'Das Lied der Deutschen'.

I tend to stand to attention when our anthem is being played because I think it is important to respect those who have gone before even if you don't always agree with their actions. I take the opportunity of think about the events and times that the tune has been played. And it is quite humbling. I listen to the crowd, for once in harmony, and I think that for a brief moment all is well. Then I cringe at the thought of Ireland's Call. (Could we not have gotten Louis Walsh to write us a wee tune?). I understand the importance of national identity even it only because for many lonely years in England, that's all I had. I wonder how lonely are the overseas nationals, now resident in Ireland.

Looking back at my blogs, I see that I've now designed a new flag, proposed a new constitution and renamed our country (Ire-land!). You'd never have guessed that I'm proud of the country, it's people and our history. I love how we don't always get it right, often shoot ourselves in the foot and desperately want to be loved by everyone.


AMHRAN NA BHFIANN Peadar Kearney (1907)
Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,
Buíon dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor,
Sean-tír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tíoran ná faoin tráill.
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna screech faoi lámhach na bpiléar,
Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann.

Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free,
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song

(Of course, this is just the chorus, it is easy to google the entire song if required. Perhaps someone with the correct blas might give us the phonetic version also known as the Brian Kennedy version. )

Kilted Scotsmen are gathering in Dublin tonight and tomorrow they will regale us all with perhaps the most beautiful anthem known to man. It too is all about overthrowing the tyrant. Funny how far of struggles seem much more romantic. I know that many bloggers will be at Lansdowne Road and many more will be in the Alexander later. Let's hope that the Irish Blog Awards ends with a rousing song about throwing off the shackles of dial-up connections.

Bloggers are we,
Whose lives are pledge to blogosphere
Some have blogged
before they had broadband.
Many more were screwed
by Eircom and Mammy O'Rouke
But still we have our voice and so we're free
We love our land with a passion
Which is why we rant and rave so much
We want to improve, to become the best
So why don't you blog some too!