Ireland's Call

"Ireland's Call" is a song commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union for use at international Rugby Union fixtures. It has since also been adopted by the Irish Hockey, Cricket, Rugby League, Ireland national korfball team, and A1GP teams.

For the Irish rugby teams in particular, the teams have players from north and south, so internationally represent the island of Ireland as a whole. This is distinctly different from football for example where two separate teams, one for each jurisdiction, i.e. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, compete internationally in the World Cup and other competitions.

For most sports, a team representing Ireland may include team members from any part of the island, even though the island is divided into two separate political areas. In the north-east, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, while the rest of the island forms the Republic of Ireland.

While "Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldier's Song") is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, its use arouses sensitivities among those with Unionist sympathies in Northern Ireland. Equally, the national anthem of Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, is "God Save The Queen", which is sensitive among those with Nationalist sympathies.

At matches played in the Republic, both "Amhrán na bhFiann" (as the anthem of the Republic of Ireland) and "Ireland's Call" (as the anthem of the home team) are sung. Elsewhere, "Ireland's Call" is the only anthem used in recognition of the need for a unifying anthem.

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