The surprising answer is the lovely "Londonderry Air," which is seen as a neutral anthem by both traditions in Northern Ireland. Of course its usually a moot question because N.I. doesnt often get gold medals (last time at the Melbourne Games they got zero) but this year they won three golds, all at the boxing. I wish they would play The Derry Air (nice pun for our Francophone readers) at N.I. football matches too, instead of the doleful God Save The Queen, but football is more politically charged than the Commonwealth Games so I wont hold my breath.
...
For those of us engaged in the war against stereotype and cliche it is somewhat disheartening to learn that half of Northern Ireland's entire medal total came in either boxing or shooting.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
18 comments:
disheartening but also funny
What? No rhythmic gymnastics medals? No synchronised swimming?
On a more volatile matter, I expect you'll be keeping an eye on the Texas court proceedings - I doubt Hicks and Gillette would get out of the country alive if Liverpool were to be forced into administration. Even non-Pool fans would be outraged (well, perhaps not the Mancs). But, like Gatsby, I suspect it will turn out all right in the end.
David
Synchronised rioting they'd do well at.
Yeah I dont really see how anyone can stop the Red Sox now.
Gillette and Hicks will have lost a lot of money and thats a good thing too as a lecon pour les autres.
Unlike Manchester which is a real city, all Liverpool has left is football and Beatles tourism so if they kill football...
Boxing champs, sure, but I notice they choke up when the music starts up just like anybody else.
Which, personally, I find hopeful.
I knew you would find a sophisticated way of telling the 'Derriere' joke Adrian! Agree completely about the 'National Anthem' (and incidentally, I'm also in tune with you about Liverpool, being a lapsed supporter myself). BTW a few nice shots of Muck Isle over on 'Steinbeck's Redemption' which should be of interest to 'Lighthouse Trilogy' fans.
Not sure if you're aware that my play, 'National Anthem', about the writing of an, uhm, national anthem, for Northern Ireland, opens at the Belfast Festival on Monday for a two week run (almost sold out too, wey-hey!) ; the play climaxes with the unveiling of the national anthem which I've written with composer Conor Mitchell. Now if the play gets forgotten, but they're singing the anthem at Windsor Park twenty years from now, I'll be a happy man.
Phil
I hope you werent lapsed in 2005.
Greatest football match ever! No, really, greatest ever.
Nice to see Muck Island. I've noticed that on Google Maps now you can zoom right in on it when it used to be a blur. I suppose they have a new satellite or something.
I mentioned Julian May in the little subject box thingy because she wrote an influential series of sci fi novels in which, if I recall correctly, The Londonderry Air had an ancient stellar providence. It is one of the oldest Irish melodies, but it doesnt go back that far. I was going to write about that in the blog post but I just couldnt be bothered.
Colin
I was unaware, but you can't blame me. I am somewhat out of the loop. Without knowing anything about the play I can confidently predict that it will be very very funny. Sort of an Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme except, you know, good. And with jokes. And not about WWI. Or the army.
It features a poet whose most famous work is, 'The Men Behind The Men Behind The Men Behind The Wire'. I have recently insured my knees.
Colin
Maybe the soldiers will come with thanks and buns.
As Rodney Dangerfield sais, you have to watch out at those boxing matches, a hockey game might break out. That's next for NI. Last week the Belfast Giants held the Boston Bruins to only a 5-1 win and last year Ireland won the Division III title (I think they beat Mongolia. Or Israel).
What anthem do they play for those games?
John
I dont know. My nephews have been to a BG game and enjoyed it. I do know that no sectarian colours or symbols of any nature are allowed inside and I've heard that (unlike football in Belfast) a family atmosphere is encouraged.
Yes, I've heard about the family atmosphere at BG games. Certainly if you want non-violence and family fun hockey is the way to go.
In Canada, of course, we think SLAPSHOT is a documentary.
Adrian, when you have your next book launch in Belfast I'd like to be there. We could go to a hockey game.
John
I wonder if Serpents Tail will fly me out for March. They did last time but the economy is so much worse now. I just dont know.
Just to prove that Northern Ireland can produce more than boxers and shooters ... the amazing hurdling Belfast mayor
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320911/Costly-slip-red-faced-mayor-fails-vault-human-tomato--lands-taxpayer-24-000.html
"God Save the Queen!" Really?
In 2010?
My Irish ancestors are rolling in their graves.
Anything would be better than that, even an Irish pub song or a Celtic lilt or traditional folk song.
Kathy
Its very very complicated.
Post a Comment