Amhrán Na bhFiann: The National Anthem of Ireland
The national anthem of Ireland translates (almost always sung in Irish) translates as "the soldier's song," after the Fianna, a group of warriors of legend.
From Wikipedia:
Amhrán na bhFiann is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland. Although usually sung in the Irish language, a translation of the original, it is also known by the English-language title, A Soldier's Song, as well as The National Anthem of Ireland (Amhrán Náisiúnta na hÉireann). The lyrics of the song are by Peadar Kearney and the music by both Kearney and Patrick Heeney. It was composed in 1907 and was first published in Irish Freedom in 1912. The Irish language version of the original was the work of Bulmer Hobson.
The song is regarded by many nationalists as the national anthem of the whole of Ireland, and it is therefore sung, for example, at Gaelic Athletic Association matches held anywhere on the island. Unionists, however, reject this use of Amhrán na bhFiann, and at international games played by the all-Ireland Irish Rugby Football Union team the song Ireland's Call is sung instead of, or (in the Republic of Ireland) as well as, Amhrán na bhFiann (see end of page for a link).Lyrics
The Irish national anthem consists of the chorus only of Amhrán na bhFiann, and is almost always sung in Irish.
The first two lines of the anthem and the last two, played together, form the Irish Presidential Salute, which is played when the President of Ireland attends official events. The chorus of Amhrán na bhFiann, as used for the anthem, is given below.
Irish version
Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,
Buíon dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chughainn,
Faoi mhóid bheith saor.
Sean-tír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tiorán ná faoin tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach, faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaig Amhrán na bhFiann.English version
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 sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the bearna baoil
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal;
'Mid cannon's roar and rifles' peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song.Links
Department of the Taoiseach: Lyrics and sheet music. Army Band Version mp3 file (listen here, or download here -520kb)
RTE video as shown at close of broadcasting every night in 1980s/1990s (3.8MB Real Media, or just listen to the mp3 here, or download the mp3 here - 717kb). A real TV blast from the past.
Midi version (7kb - very small download) and more information from www.nationalanthems.info.
The very informative Wikipedia article, from which much of the information on this page was taken.
Some people are unhappy with the militaristic theme of Amhrán na bhFiann. One possible alternative to Amhran na bhFiann is "Ireland's Call", by Phil Coulter, sung here by the Celtic Tenors on the www.irishlegendsrugby.ie website. The song plays automatically when you visit the page, or you can download it at this interesting site.
You can find a sung version here, by Tom Hickey from Melbourne at http://www.irishpage.com/songs/anthem.htm
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