Shane McGowan, Father Damo and friends sing ‘The Rockier Road to Poland’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdkNjVf1w3g

You have probably already heard Ireland’s official Euro 2012 anthem, but here’s an alternative version featuring Shane McGowan and Father Damo himself, Joe Rooney.

Listeners would be forgiven for thinking that this song, called ‘The Rockier Road to Poland’ by the Aftermath and special guests, is a rip-off of the official anthem sung by Damien Dempsey, Bressie, the Dubliners and others but nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, by sheer coincidence, the Aftermath only discovered that the official Euro 2012 song was in the works after they had finished recording their own version and if that wasn’t eerie enough, both parties went to the press to promote the song on the very same day.

“We went to press on the same day which was a complete coincidence, we had no idea whatsoever that they were doing a version of the same song and they didn’t know about ours either,” The Aftermath band member Mick Cronin told us.

While the air of the song might be the same, the lyrics are completely different as this version is more of a drinking and friendship song with a football theme and is just as easy on the ear as 'The Rocky Road to Poland'.

Like the official Euro 2012 anthem, 'The Rockier Road to Poland' features some pretty distinguished special guests such as Shane McGowan himself, Joe Rooney of Father Ted and Killinascully fame, Dead 60's front man Matt McManamon and Duncan Patterson from Alternative 4, ion & Anathema.

Also making appearances are legendary Trad Music Piper Mike McGoldrick and a host of Leeds Irish finest musicians including the All-Ireland accordion champion Sean Gavaghan, Paddy Flanary and the O’Malley brothers, Chris and Kieran.

All the proceeds from the song go to The Simon Community of Ireland for the homeless so if you want to download it and help out a good cause, click here.

Have a listen to the song in the video above and feel free to let us know what you think in the comment box below.

For more information on The Aftermath, check out their Facebook page.

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