Dear Sirs

I have watched the Irish International team represent Ireland from the days of Jacky Kyle to Toni O’Reilly to the present day with pride to be Irish.

Yesterday as the top team in the world they played Italy with the same pride and commitment to achieve a win.

It is not the performance on the pitch that is the problem.

It is their shame of being unable to sing the Countries National Anthem, like any of the other team when playing away from home. 

Shoulder to shoulder Ireland’s Call was written by the Derry musician Phil Coulter in 1995 penned as a song to represent both the Republic and the North in place of Irish national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann.

In light of the new Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and Political Declaration that sets out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom and to reflect Northern Irelands non sitting Government’s ambition to conclude an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible free trade agreement with the EU.

Why not sing the countries national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann or at least change the expressing Shoulder to Shoulder to SHÚLRA – SHÚLRA. To reflect understanding the strength of the sacrifices that country people’s made to wearing of the green — and the privilege to wear it as the Irish Team.

Shoulder to Shoulder might well be the only song that recognises the fact that the Irish rugby team makes up the whole island, north and south but this expression Shoulder to shoulder originated in the late 1500s in the military, at first signifying troops in close formation. 

While recognising that the team is one of the only things to have persisted for over 150 years “in unity and in solidarity on this island”  time has now move on, but the history of a nation and its culture are written indelibly in its language.

 Ireland’s Call

Phil Coulter

Come the day and come the hour
Come the power and the glory
We have come to answer
Our Country’s call
From the four proud provinces of Ireland

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder (replaced with  SHÚLRA – SHÚLRA.)
We’ll answer Ireland’s call

From the mighty Glens of Antrim
From the rugged hills of Galway
From the walls of Limerick
And Dublin Bay
From the four proud provinces of Ireland

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder (replace with SHÚLRA – SHÚLRA)
We’ll answer Ireland’s call

Hearts of steel
And heads unbowing
Vowing never to be broken
We will fight, until
We can fight no more
From the four proud provinces of Ireland

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder (replaced with SHÚLRA – SHÚLRA)
We’ll answer Ireland’s call.

From a musical point of view have a listen the Anthem below.  

Yours sincerely the Beady Eye.