Amhrán na bhFiann
Amhrán na bhFiann (pronounced /ˈəuɾˠaːn̪ˠ nˠə ˈvʲiːən̪ˠ/) 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 its English language title, The Soldier's Song, as well as The National Anthem of Ireland (Irish: Amhrán Náisiúnta na hÉireann). The music was composed (as The Soldier's Song) by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney, and the lyrics, a translation of Peadar Kearney's original English lyrics, by Liam Ó Rinn.
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.
The national anthem consists of the chorus only of Amhrán na bhFiann and is usually sung or played in march time. Different tempos may be used, however, and the verse and chorus are occasionally played. Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), the Irish national broadcasting company, played an orchestral version in a slow tempo at the close of transmission from 1962 onwards. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, when Michelle Smith won three gold medals in swimming, the verse and chorus were played in a lively tempo.
History
The Soldier's Song was composed in 1907, with lyrics by Peadar Kearney and music by Kearney and Patrick Heeney. The lyrics were first published in Irish Freedom by Bulmer Hobson in 1912. The Irish language lyrics were the work of Liam Ó Rinn (1888 - 1950), who was also involved in drafting the Irish language version of both the 1922 Irish Free State Constitution and the 1937 Irish Constution. The Irish lyrics were first published in An tÓglach (the magazine of the Irish Defence Forces) on 3 November 1923.[1] The Soldier's Song/Amhrán na bhFiann was popular among Irish republicans, and 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.
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 annoyance to the new Irish state and, on one occasion, Governor-General James McNeill refused to attend a public function in Trinity College when he learned that the university intended to play 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 Church of Ireland services, for a number of years.
In 1934, the Irish state acquired the copyright of the song for the sum of £1,200.[2]
The opening words, “Sinne Fianna Fáil”, are not a direct translation of “Soldiers are we”. Fianna Fáil (variously translated as Soldiers of Destiny, Warriors of Destiny or Soldiers of Ireland) was an alternative name given to the Irish Volunteers in the 1913 – 1922 period. The initials “FF” appeared on the Volunteer badge, and were adopted by the Irish Free State Army.[3] Fianna Fáil was later chosen by Éamon de Valera as the name of his new political party in 1926. Some versions of Amhrán na bhFiann substitute “Sinne Laochra Fáil” for “Sinne Fianna Fáil” (laochra also translates as warriors) in order to avoid any association of the anthem with the political party.
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. Those who favour its retention argue that it is no more militant than the British, French or American national anthem.
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 transcription | English transliteration | Original English version | Literal translation of the Irish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sinne Fianna Fáil |
ˈɕɪnʲə ˈfʲiːən̪ˠə fˠaːlʲ |
Shin-na fee-in-na faw-ill |
Soldiers are we |
We [are] soldiers of Ireland |
Complete lyrics
The complete set of lyrics, in Irish and English, is as follows:
|
Amhrán na bhFiann
|
The Soldier's Song
|
| Seo dhíbh a chairde duan Óglaigh | We'll sing a song, a soldier's song |
| Cathréimeach bríomhar ceolmhar | With cheering rousing chorus |
| Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid | As round our blazing fires we throng |
| 'S an spéir go mínréaltógach | The starry heavens o'er us |
| Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo | Impatient for the coming fight |
| 'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht don ló | And as we await the morning's light |
| Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoíche 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 |
| Atá fé gheall ag Éirinn | Whose lives are pledged to Ireland |
| Buíon dár slua | Some have come |
| Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn | From a land beyond the wave |
| Fé mhóid bheith saor | Sworn to be free |
| Seantír ár sinsear feasta | No more our ancient sireland |
| Ní fhágfar fén tiorán ná fén tráill | Shall shelter the despot or the slave |
| Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil | Tonight we man the bhearna bhaoil |
| Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil | In Erin's cause, come woe or weal |
| Le gunnascréach, 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 ardaibh sléibhe | In valley green, on towering crag |
| Ba bhuadhach ár sinsir romhainn | Our fathers fought before us |
| Ag lámhach go tréan fén sárbhrat séin | And conquered 'neath the same old flag |
| 'Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta | That's proudly floating o'er us |
| Ba dhúchas riamh dár 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 nach 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 |
| Tá scéimhle 's scanradh i gcroíthe námhad | The serried ranks of Inisfail |
| Roimh ranna laochra ár dtíre | Shall set the tyrant quaking |
| Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois | Our camp fires now are burning low |
| Sin luisne ghlé sa 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
- ^ Irish Independent, letters page, 6 March 2006
- ^ Acts of the Oireachtas, Appropriation Act, 1934
- ^ The Earl of Longford and Thomas P. O’Neill, Éamon de Valera, Dublin 1970, ISBN 978-0-09-104660-6, chapter 21
- ^ (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
- A Soldier's Song - The website of Professor F.C. McGrath of the University of Southern Maine features a collection of Irish songs that includes a vocal version of the complete lyrics.
- Lyrics guitar chords and sheet music with the extra verse written in 1937
Media files
- MIDI file 7.6 KB simple sequence of Amhrán na bhFiann
- MP3 file 1 MB anthem played by the Army Band of Amhrán na bhFiann
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