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Mixed reaction to Irish hockey team singing the national anthem acapella

“Sinne Fianna Fáil…”

Rio Olympics Hockey Men Dario Lopez-Mills Dario Lopez-Mills

IRELAND’S MEN’S HOCKEY team took to the pitch to play Germany in their third match of the tournament yesterday afternoon.

But before play got underway, both teams had to stand for their respective national anthems. Only problem? There was no music meaning that both teams had to perform acapella.

Instead of lipsyncing or mumbling, Ireland gave a very, shall we say, spirited rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann…

(If you can’t see the video, please click here.)

Sure, didn’t they do us all proud?

Tweet by @fiona looney fiona looney / Twitter fiona looney / Twitter / Twitter

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Written by Amy O’Connor and posted on DailyEdge.ie

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31 Comments
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    Mute D'Murph
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:01 AM

    Well done to the lads regardless.
    Karaoke now an Olympic sport :)

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    Mute jane
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:57 AM

    Fair play to them. Honestly the things people criticise others for.

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    Mute Matt F
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:36 AM

    Damnit Jim! They’re hockey players not X-Factor wannabes

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 10th 2016, 11:29 AM

    Did the band go on strike?

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    Mute patrick boland
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:00 AM

    Can you imagine if it had been the irish soccer team

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    Mute Meanderingsz
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:05 AM

    I would have thought the same about the Ireland hockey squad considering 9 of the 16 players are from Northern Ireland.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:29 AM

    Never miss an opportunity to obliquely slag off the Irish soccer team

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    Mute Thinkingaboutmatters
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:30 AM

    Yes, three here, vs less than zero.

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    Mute eamonn farrell
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    Aug 10th 2016, 3:56 PM

    patrick,thats an ignorant comment !!!

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    Mute Timmay Timeo
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    Aug 10th 2016, 4:07 PM

    I am sure Patrick couldn’t even name any of the Irish soccer team. He musnt think that Irish emigrants are Irish. I wonder how he feels about immigrants ? The Irish soccer team I know sings the national anthem with gut busting passion.

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    Mute Liam O Ceallaigh
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:51 AM

    Mabey this video could be shown to the IRFU hierarchy who continue to prevent our National Anthem from being played at away games while continuing to accecpt our taxpayers funding.

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    Mute Frank's Cat
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:06 PM

    IRFU is one of the few organisations that puts Irish unity before silly arguments about songs and flags.

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    Mute Liam O Ceallaigh
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:51 PM

    Is that why the IRFU had to be forced to use our national flag previously. The tricolour being the greatest symbol of Irish unity between all persuasions in Ireland. If the taxpayer funding is being taken then the countries flag and anthem should be accecptable to the IRFU for all games.

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    Mute Stephen Findlater
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    Aug 10th 2016, 11:02 PM

    As it goes, due to the team being a 32-county one, this is the only time they will sing Amhran na bhFiann with Ireland’s Call the default song. As hockey is based around being the Republic of Ireland, it becomes the official anthem for this tournament but no others. They also use an amalgamation flag – green background with a crest of the four provinces and only use the tricolor for this event, too.

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    Aug 10th 2016, 11:04 PM

    So what about the players from the Six counties? The IRFU is a unifying body that brings people North and South together. The organisation is not ‘owned’ in the Republic, therefore playing our national anthem alone is not fully appropriate. For all home games, which the IRFU has jurisdiction over such matters, two songs are played. Perhaps Ireland’s call should be dropped and God save the Queen be played instead! Then both groups of players would get to sing their own national anthem.for away games, when only one anthem can be played, it’s Ireland’s call.
    This whole national anthem before matches is a bit off a joke anyway. Scotland plays Flower of Scotland – not a national anthem and only used since 1990, Wales sing a hymn and England plays the national anthem of the United Kingdom.

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    Mute Liam O Ceallaigh
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    Aug 11th 2016, 12:23 AM

    Ireland played Australia in Australia recently in International rules and our National Anthem was played and yes it was an Ireland team comprising of players from all over Ireland just like Rugby Union..Just like being forced to use our Flag previously the same should occur with our Anthem if they want to receive our taxpayers funding..using God save the Queen is a ridiculous suggestion but has been suggested previously. You may not be aware that the Six counties do not have an Anthem.

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    Mute JBC @ TCD
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:51 AM

    Unfortunately they don’t know how to use Irish Sign Language and that would be a marvellous remedy!

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    Mute Anthony Mulcahy
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    Aug 10th 2016, 1:22 PM

    Twasnt an audition lads. It might not have been the greatest rendition but they did their bit under the circumstances. Fair play

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    Mute James Kelly
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:28 AM

    They started far too low. It’s normally sung in the key of Bb major.

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    Mute Seamus Mc Meel
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    Aug 10th 2016, 8:07 PM

    Yeah, you would think at least one of them would have had a tuner with them…jerks!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:20 PM

    I would love to know how they could have lip synched if there was no song playing. Fair play to the lads.

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    Mute John Doyle
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:09 AM

    Jasus it was horrendous

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    Mute Joe Arthur
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    Aug 10th 2016, 9:13 AM

    Would have bit a lot worse if none of them had known the words and done the mumble I (ashamedly) do

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    Mute LidLicker
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    Aug 10th 2016, 10:48 AM

    Quit with your auto-playing videos already! Some of us use jailbroken devices, they conflict with certain tweaks and make the article unreadable…

    FYI

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    Mute That's Bo!!ox
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:25 PM

    So you want something that is not a problem changed cos you don’t want to address the actual problem?

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    Mute Jñr
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:41 PM

    Well done boys …. btw what brand of TV is that as it’s cool

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    Mute Eimear
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:13 PM

    I’m just surprised a sports team actually knew the words to it for once!!

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    Mute David McKenzie
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    Aug 10th 2016, 2:03 PM

    Would have preferred Ireland ‘s Call myself

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    Mute John Cusack
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    Aug 10th 2016, 4:58 PM

    Well done lads. Not enough people know the anthem. It should be mandatory if you want to represent Ireland, except in rugby, as that is an all island team. Keep it up lads.

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    Mute Rita Henderson
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    Aug 11th 2016, 6:34 PM

    I’m with James and John on this one. Two points – yes, we know why sportspeople are there – to demonstrate their considerable talent. That’s great. But if anthems are going to be played because they are representing their country it is incumbent on them to be able to sing said anthem. It’s not that hard, or too much to expect. The other point is that I am a little amused that so many think the rendition was a good job. In a country that has a bit of a reputation for musical talent I thought it was abysmal!!

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Aug 10th 2016, 6:03 PM

    loving the two tenors at the end.

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