Damien Dempsey releases ‘James McClean tribute’ referencing poppy saga

The singer-songwriter dedicated a track on his new album to the Wrexham winger.

The ballad, which can be heard on the Dubliner's new album Hold Your Joy, is fittingly titled 'James McClean' and references the footballer's decision not to wear a poppy to commemorate British soldiers who have died fighting overseas.

The Derry native has famously chosen not wear a remembrance poppy each season because he feels it would be a mark of disrespect to innocent people who lost their lives during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, particularly those from his hometown, where the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre occurred.

McClean has given his reasons publicly as to why doesn't wear one. Regardless of that honesty, his decision has seen him receive abuse from the terraces across the UK, as well as receiving threats online.

In 2014, when playing for Wigan Athletic, McClean published a letter to the club chairman Dave Whelan outlining his reasons for not wearing the flower, explaining that, if the symbol was exclusively for the victims of World War I and World War II, he would wear it.

After joining West Brom the following year, he explained his position to supporters by writing in a pre-match programme: "People say I am being disrespectful [for not wearing the poppy] but don’t ask why I choose not to wear it.

"If the poppy was simply about World War One and Two victims alone, I’d wear it without a problem. I would wear it every day of the year if that was the thing but it doesn’t. It stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in. Because of the history where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that."

In 2021, the Royal British Legion, which runs the Poppy Appeal, defended McClean's stance on the remembrance poppy, saying: "To insist that people wear a poppy would be contrary to everything that it stands for. We offer our full support to James for exercising his right to choose not to wear a poppy."

Dempsey himself is no stranger to acts of patriotism. The Donaghmede man obtains a sort of cult status in Irish pop culture and is best known to many for his renditions of rebel songs and traditional ballads.

In his tribute to McClean, Dempsey sings: "He walks into the stadium to compete with the best, but he's greeted with hatred all because of his vest. He would wear one for soldiers who died in the world wars but won't wear one for killers who kicked in Irish doors."

The chorus then kicks in: "JAMES MCCLEAN, JAMES MCCLEAN, JAMES MCCLEAN.....We must commend his bravery, he stands up to the mob....

"Even the British Legion, they support his stance, yet you scream from the terrace, will you stop being c**ts. JAMES MCCLEAN..."

When you consider the status both men have within their respective cities, it's not all that surprising that Dempsey felt a connection to the struggles and experiences of the Derry footballer.

It'll be interesting to see whether or not this song gets picked up and sung by Ireland fans during future games at the Aviva Stadium or elsehwere.

Even though McClean retired from international duty late last year, fans of the Boys in Green still hold a special place in their heart for the 35-year-old.