IRISH LYRICS

Sinne Fianna Fáil a tá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,
Buíon dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chughainn,
Faoi mhóid bheith saor,
Seantír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tiorán ná faoin tráill.
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le guna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann.

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 
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 bearna bhaoil
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal,
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.


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Ireland
"Amhrán na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song)

Words by:Peadar Kearney (English), Liam O Rinn (Irish)
Music by:Patrick Heeney and Peadar Kearney
Adopted:1926

The text of Amhrán na bhFiann, consisting of three stanzas and a chorus, was
written in 1907. It was first published in the newspaper, Irish Freedom in
1912. The chorus solely was formally adopted as the National Anthem in 1926,
displacing the earlier Fenian anthem, God Save Ireland, used on an unofficial
basis. A section of the National Anthem (consisting of the first four bars
followed by the last five) is also the Presidential Salute.

There is currently a movement in Ireland to replace the anthem, due to its
militant nature and anti-British tone. Also, some have argued that the melody
is difficult to play, whereas others have pointed out that the whole song has
been performed, instead of the chorus (which is the official anthem), or has
been played at the wrong speed, both of which have happened at recent Olympic
Games.

An anthem composed by Phillip Coulter called "Irelands Call" is used as a non-
sectarian anthem, which is used by both northern and southern Irish athletes
when competing together as a unified team.

See also: Northern_Ireland.
