Amhrán na bhFiann
From Open Encyclopedia
Amhrán na bhFiann1 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.
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History
Amhrán na bhFiann was relatively unknown until it was sung by rebels in the General Post Office (GPO) during the Easter Rising of 1916, and afterwards in British internment camps. The song became the official state anthem in 1926 when it replaced the unofficial anthem, God Save Ireland.
God Save the King was the official anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until the independent Irish Free State was established in 1922. The continued use of God Save the King by some Irish people caused embarrassment to the new Irish state and, on one famous occasion, Governor-General James McNeill refused to attend a public function in Trinity College when he discovered that the university intended playing the anthem during his visit. Even after the adoption of Amhrán na bhFiann as the official anthem of the Irish Free State in July 1926, a minority continued to sing the British anthem, and to pray for the King and Queen in religious ceremonies, for a number of years.
In 1934, the Irish state acquired the copyright of the song for the sum of £1,200.[1]
Controversy also surrounds the change in the wording of Amhrán na bhFiann over the years. In the original translation, the first line read as Sinne Laochra Gaedheal (literally "we the heroes of Ireland"). This has since been replaced by Sinne Fianna Fáil, which to some people is evidence that the anthem has been hijacked by the Fianna Fáil party.[2]
In recent years, a number of Irish newspapers and columnists have proposed replacing Amhrán na bhFiann with a new national anthem, arguing that the current wording is excessively militant and anti-British. Others have argued that the melody is difficult for bands to play. Problems have sometimes been witnessed at international sporting events, where either the entire song (not just the chorus that constitutes the anthem) has been played (as occurred, for example, at the Los Angeles Olympics) or the right part has been played but at the wrong speed, as occurred at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Some have proposed that the anthem be replaced with the Irish Rugby Football Union's song, Ireland's Call. The suggestion has also been made that, as occurred in Germany after World War II, the government might change the words of the anthem while keeping the original melody.
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 fé gheall ag Éirinn,
- Buíon dár slua
- Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn,
- Fé mhóid bheith saor.
- Seantír ár sinsear feasta
- Ní fhágfar fén tiorán ná fén tráill
- Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
- Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
- Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
- Seo libh canaidh 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 bhearna bhaoil 2
- In Erin's cause, come woe or weal;
- 'Mid cannons' roar and rifles' peal,
- We'll chant a soldier's song.
Footnote
- Amhrán na bhFiann is pronounced "ow-rawn na veean"
- Meaning "gap of danger" and pronounced "vair-na vwail" (See article on Battle of New Ross for explanation of origin)
External links
Media files
- MIDI file 7.6 KB simple sequence
- MP3 file 1 MB anthem played by the Army Band
- RealMedia file 3.9 MB audio-visual as used on RTE television in the 1980s/90scs:Irská hymna
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