Get rid of Amhrán na bhFiann? Surely not… well.
Our national anthem is good. It’s rousing, it’s passionate, and nothing gets a football team pumped than thousands of Irish people absolutely belting out the last few lines.
But we’ve had it for aaaages.
We know that’s kind of the point of a national anthem, but the country is always changing. Always moving forward.
Fintan O’Toole described the national anthem as “impassioned nonsense” and “dead as nails”, and though we might not take it that far, is it time to think about something new?
So with that statement reverberating in our ears, we decided to take a look at the music out there and see if we could choose a new national anthem for this country. One that represents all that we stand for, all that we are.
Here’s some suggestions:
Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy
This is an obvious choice. This represents our country on so many levels. This represents EVERYTHING on so many levels. No matter what the context, no situation can won’t be improved without this song being played.
Because in so many cases, the boys really are back in town.
Clip via James Cooper
C’est la vie – B*witched
Also known as: the best song of all time (this does not represent the views of everyone in JOE). Imagine it – there’s a football match taking place, Michael D. Higgins is doing the usual hand-shaking craic, but C’est la vie by B*witched is on in the background.
Tell us you don’t want to see that.
Clip via BwitchedVEVO
Besides, what other national anthem features opens with the line “Some people say I look like me da”? Let’s get this done.
And while we’re at it, let’s make double denim our national uniform.
I’m shipping up to Boston – Dropkick Murphys
This serves two purposes. 1) It’s a great song, with an Irish feel to it, by a bunch of Irish-Americans. 2) If something happens that messes up the country completely, we can all pack our bags and head to Boston, and bring our national anthem along with us.
Clip via Mark Higgins
Ronan Keating – Life is a rollercoaster
Because, at the end of the day, life IS a rollercoaster, and you DO just gotta ride it.
Let’s let this be our countries motto and our national anthem to boot. We’ll all be the better for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giABAfeEc0U
Clip via SontaxNL
Samantha Mumba – Gotta tell you
Why not? Just why the hell not?
One of the best pop songs the country has ever made. If even just so we can see James McClean passionately bang out the lyrics “Cos baby I, wanna get it on. And baby, you’re the one for me.”
Clip via Aro
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Get down
We couldn’t leave the best Irish songwriter of all time off this list, could we?
We could have chosen any of his songs, but we’ve gone for this eternal banger instead. Amazing
Clip via jmanmoonwalk4
Mickey Joe Harte – We’ve got the world
You may not have won Eurovision, Mickey Joe, but you sure won our hearts.
And you might have won the right to be our country’s new national anthem while you were at it.
Clip via 2000ESC2003
Raglan Road – Luke Kelly
We genuinely wouldn’t have any complaints if this was immortalised as our national anthem.
What an absolutely gorgeous song, that not only gives you a feel for what Ireland is all about, but also has a bit of historic and geographic relevance too.
Clip via kellyoneill
The Foggy Dew but only the version that’s remixed with Hypnotize by Notorious B.I.G
Two great songs, combined. Making one ALMIGHTY song.
Sinead O’Connor’s rendition of The Foggy Dew would give a dead body goosebumps, and we’re fairly sure Biggie went to the Gaeltacht when he was in school, so he qualifies to make the list here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQXHBgL04Co
Clip via Robbie MulcaireÂ
Westlife – Flying without wings
A beautiful song, with a beautiful message. Because at the end of the day, there’s three things that will get us through everything: friendship, love and Westlife.
Clip via westlife
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
