Amhrán na bhFiann
Amhrán na bhFiann (IPA: [aʊɾɒn næ viən]) 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 (and now also by all-island teams in some other sports) the song Ireland's Call is sung instead of, or (in the Republic of Ireland) as well as, Amhrán na bhFiann.
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 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.[dubious ]
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 This has since been replaced by Sinne Fianna Fáil, which to some people is evidence that the anthem has been hijacked by the Fianna Fáil party.[2] (Compare this with the controversy about the first verses for the use in Taiwan of the national anthem of the Republic of China.)
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.
Lyrics
The Irish national anthem consists of the chorus only of Amhrán na bhFiann and is 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 | Phonetic version | English version |
|---|---|---|
|
Sinne Fianna Fáil |
Shin-na fee-in-na fall |
Soldiers are we |
Complete lyrics
The complete set of lyrics, in Irish and English, is as follows:
| Seo dhibh a cháirde duan Óglaigh | We'll sing a song, a soldier's song |
| Cathréimeach briomhar ceolmhar | With cheering rousing chorus |
| Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid | As round our blazing fires we throng |
| 'S an spéir go min réaltogach | The starry heavens o'er us |
| Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo | Impatient for the coming fight |
| 'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht do'n ló | And as we await the morning's light |
| Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoiche ar seol | Here in the silence of the night |
| Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | We'll chant a soldier's song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil | Soldiers are we |
| A tá fé gheall ag Éirinn | Whose lives are pledged to Ireland |
| Buion dár slua | Some have come |
| Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn | From a land beyond the wave |
| Fé mhóid bheith saor | Sworn to be free |
| Sean tír ár sinsir feasta | No more our ancient sireland |
| Ní fhagfar fé'n tiorán ná fé'n tráil | Shall shelter the despot or the slave |
| Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil | Tonight we man the gap of danger |
| Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil | In Erin's cause, come woe or weal |
| Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar | 'Mid cannon's roar and rifles' peal |
| Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | We'll chant a soldier's song |
| Cois bánta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe | In valley green, on towering crag |
| Ba bhuachach ár sinsir romhainn | Our fathers fought before us |
| Ag lámhach go tréan fé'n sár-bhrat séin | And conquered 'neath the same old flag |
| Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta | That's proudly floating o'er us |
| Ba dhúchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh | We're children of a fighting race |
| Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir | That never yet has known disgrace |
| 'S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad | And as we march, the foe to face |
| Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | We'll chant a soldier's song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil... | Soldiers are we... |
| A bhuíon nách fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall | Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! |
| Sin breacadh lae na saoirse | The long-watched day is breaking |
| Ta scéimhle 's scanradh i gcroíthe namhad | The serried ranks of Inisfail |
| Roimh ranna laochra ár dtire | Shall set the tyrant quaking |
| Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois | Our camp fires now are burning low |
| Sin luisne ghlé san spéir anoir | See in the east a silv'ry glow |
| 'S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh | Out yonder waits the Saxon foe |
| Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann | So chant a soldier's song |
| Sinne Fianna Fáil... | Soldiers are we... |
Footnotes
- ^ (See article on Battle of New Ross for explanation of origin)
External links
- Text of the National Anthem "Amhrán na bhFiann" published on Department of Taoiseach website
- complete lyrics of Amhrán na bhFiann
- The Wolfe Tones singing the National Anthem