Well, the Irish rugby team compromises of players from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland so it makes sense that you don't play one of the countries' national anthems or risk offending people.

In football (soccer) however there are two separate teams representing each country respectively so you would expect that they'd get the anthem right.

And you're right, "Ireland's Call" *is* a terrible song.

oh i completely understand the necessity of Ireland's Call, but it really is a pathetic attempt at a rallying call!

You have to love Amhrán na bhFiann at the start of GAA matches...even if the crowd usually manages to drown out the last 2 lines!

I do indeed love Amhrán na bhFiann (Irish national anthem for anyone wondering) at GAA matches.

And the reason the last two lines are drowned out is because, along with the opening line, this is the only part of the anthem most Irish people know in their native tongue!
:)

I find it mildly funny that Joystiq had to call it the Soldier's Song. Do they translate the names of the French or Spanish national anthems into English?

Oh, and no, like most people I know I don't know the song past "Sinne Fianna Fail, Ata fe gheall ag Eirinn". Irish isn't my strong point. :P

well i do pride myself on having a bit of the language...if only enough to insult these foreign devils without them knowing it!

but yes, i do need to brush up on the anthem everytime the championship comes around ;)

There are more irish people here than i thought there would be.. dia dhuit lads...

I can't believe how holier-than-thou the Irish have become since the Celtic Tiger that you're taking issue with song titles being translated into English... Most of the people in your country work for the 1,000+ American, Jap. & Euro. tech. and pharmaceutical companies that've come in... I still feel traumatized by the site of big box Tesco and a giant mall and superhighway on my way to the hotel near Galway!

Out of curiosity though, are there any great works of literature in Gaelic? Epic poetry or anything like that?

i find that quite offensive MarMar, we have a wide range culture that has withstood the necessity of globalisation.

this came of the top of my head

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A1in_B%C3%B3_C%C3%BAailnge

and theres plenty more if you look

You wafer =)

"Should keep users entertained until next years version"

WTF? I must have missed the memo saying they'll play the Euros every year?

Well, Northern Ireland are 33rd in the world (according to the just updated rankings after Spain won Euro2008) so ... that's not that bad to be honest.

For all you US visitors who may be mildly interested in where the US sits in the grand scale of things: you're 30th. Not too shabby at all!

I was wondering that too. Still, I found not having to listen about football all fucking day BLISS!

I was on a business trip in Germany the day of the semi-final against Turkey.

When Lambe scored in the final minute the place erupted and didn't stop celebrating until the next morning.

Got no sleep and walked into a meeting the next day looking like I'd been on the p1ss all night.

DAMN YOU DEUTSHLAND!

Who is Lambe?? the guy who scored the winning goal was Lahm ;)

but yeah, that was a great night :D

You couldn't just not say anything?? You had to leave a sectarian comment?? Why?? Are you really that small minded?? Grow up, move on and get a life.

By all means feel free to wait, but maybe you could actually concentrate on something important.

I have spent the the best part of my life living trough the troubles so well it may be easy for someone like you thats experience of the troubles is reading it in a book or off Wikipedia to "move on" but for those of us who have experienced the loss of family and friends over the years because of the conflict it is considerably more difficult to "move on"

So by all means let's keep the fighting going so that more people can experience the pain that you have felt.

Tis was joke and I wanted someone like TC to get all wild up about it I thought it was funny to see him think big of himself.

Like I could care I live in America, I am Irish, but I still don't have any says it what the Irish should do and I shouldn't try to say I know what they should do, I don't have the right.

I mean no offens to the N. Irish since I don't know what the Irish people truly went through during those dark times I can say anything.

If someone didn't like my comment o well it was a joke to get someone wild up and it worked nuff said.

once again I don't hate the N. Irish I love everyone........ but those damn scots

NitroFrost -

You'll notice that I didn't mention my political opinions whatsoever and just pointed out that you were wrong to say what you did, where you did.

I saw your "apology" and it's nice that you were able to row back somewhat from insanity. But the defence "i was trying to piss people off" isn't the strongest one i've heard.

Oh screw this, i could go on for hours here but the bottom line is - grow up.

And TC I am sorry that I was trying to offend you I am sorry in all ways I am trying to grow up and I think that was very immature for me to say what I didn't it was very heat of the moment I forgot what my ideals were and what I really thought about Ireland.

Like I daw on family matters last night Carl tells steve he hates him then steve hooks Carl up to a lie detector and asks him if he really hates him and Carl says no he whishs he could take that back but he can't.

Carl said sticks and stones my brake my bones but words my never hurt me is a lie words hurt alot and I will say it again I am sorry.

I republic head is Big swell and full of hate ^.^

I never heard any of the songs (I don't really know why I should have since I love my heritage). I haven't seen much of Irish soccer ether but I did see that youtube clip about the great win or what not, I can't remeber what the game was but it was a epic battle of a old game it was like a 1-0 win and it was I think Galways only championship in like 30 years or something.

Yea I am not going to bother and look that up but it was probably not Galway it my have been Mayo since I was looking up things about Mayo

sorry for the double post i didnt show the first time i posted