‘The National Anthem’ by Joe McVeigh

Every nation has a national anthem –a song or tune that identifies the spirit of the Nation and captures something of the history and determination of a people to be free and united. Ireland’s national Anthem ‘Amhrán na bhFiann (the Song of the Fiann –the soldiers of destiny) was written in 1902 by Peadar Kearney, an uncle of Brendan Behan. It was translated into Irish by Liam Ó Rinn and became popular during the 1916 Rising and afterwards. It is a song of the imagination, of an army of people who were in subjection who are now on the march to freedom. It refers back to Irish mythology to Fionn and the Fianna and to the recent history of movements for Irish freedom. It was adopted by Cosgrave’s Irish Free State government on 12th July 1926 as the Irish National Anthem. It was played on Radio Éireann every night for many years.

Some say it is out of date. Some think it is too militaristic. The Rugby Union of Ireland replaced it with a song composed by Phil Coulter called ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ or something like that. This was thought to be more acceptable to those Ulster players and supporters who might not share the sentiments of Amhrán na bhFiann.

Nearly all the anthems I know are about freedom and protecting that freedom. The lyrics of A na BhF are of their time and capture the Irish spirit of determination to be free from foreign oppression which had grown up with the Home Rule movement. That same spirit is to be found in all the nations of the world who had to fight their colonial oppressors for freedom. In the USA  ‘The Star Spangled Banner’: Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave -O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The South African anthem: Sounds the call to come together,/ And united we shall stand,/Let us live and strive for freedom/In South Africa our land!

 

The English prefer to sing ‘God Save the Queen’–a kind of religious-political song glorifying the monarch who is the symbol of their nation: O Lord our God arise/Scatter her enemies/And make them fall/Confound their politics/Frustrate their knavish tricks/On Thee our hopes we fix/God save us all

When you hear the drum roll and you stand up for Amhrán na bhFiann, as you do at Championship matches and on Ulster Final Day, what are you standing for? I asked myself this the other day when I was thinking about Fermanagh being in the Ulster Final. I concluded that when I stand and join in the National anthem, I am standing in solidarity with the people of Ireland. I am joining with all who wish to restore the unity of the Irish nation. Nationhood is an aspiration and a dream which Irish people hope will become a reality sooner rather than later. The GAA help to keep that dream alive and make it a reality even for a few days in the year. Those in the political world who work for unity and reconciliation also help to keep the dream alive. Does our anthem glorify or advocate violence? I do not think so. I think it accepts the truth about our history. I think the vast majority of Irish people have made known where they stand on the use of violence by their support for the Good Friday Agreement. Amhrán na bhFiann does make clear our allegiance and our identity.  It recognises the historical struggle. It challenges all of us who claim Irish nationality to continue to work for peace, justice and reconciliation on this island. It encourages us all to appreciate our Irish national identity and it calls on others to respect that and to respect our aspirations.

 

 

 

3 Responses to ‘The National Anthem’ by Joe McVeigh

  1. michael c May 21, 2017 at 3:05 pm #

    Those who object to Amhran na bhFiann for being “too militaristic” should read the words of “La Marseillase” which is bloodthirsty in the extreme.However it has to be the clinker of all anthems and anyone who doubts that should watch the scene from “Casablanca” where the customers of Ricks Cafe belt it out in defiance of their Nazi oppressors. It has to be the most uplifting cinema clip ever!

  2. Brian Patterson May 21, 2017 at 3:14 pm #

    Indeed Michael – but not to native Morroccans.

  3. Mark May 21, 2017 at 5:07 pm #

    Big Tom McElwee did not die in Long Kesh so several dozen west brit’s could use media to push for us to forget the heroines and hero’s who have fought for our freedom.