Amhrán na bhFiann

[Amhrán na bhFiann] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (pronounced /ˈəuɾˠaːn̪ˠ nˠə ˈvʲiːən̪ˠ/) is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland. The song is also known by its English language title, The Soldier's Song, and as The National Anthem of Ireland (Irish: Amhrán Náisiúnta na hÉireann). Nowadays, the Irish language version of the song is usually sung. The Irish version is a translation of the earlier English version. The music was composed (as A Soldier's Song) by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney, and the original English lyrics were authored by Kearney and subsequently translated into Irish by Liam Ó Rinn. The national anthem consists of the chorus only of Amhrán na bhFiann; the original also has several verses. The Presidential Salute played when the President of Ireland arrives at an official engagement, consists of the first four bars of the national anthem immediately followed by the last five. It is played without lyrics.

Adoption

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. 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.

Political implications

The song is regarded by many nationalists as the national anthem of the whole island of Ireland, and it is therefore sung, for example, at Gaelic Athletic Association matches held in Northern Ireland as well as in the Republic of Ireland. Unionists, however, reject this use of Amhrán na bhFiann. At international games played by the all-island rugby union team, the specially-commissioned song Ireland's Call is used; Amhrán na bhFiann is only used within the Republic. Ireland's Call has also been adopted by all-island teams in some other sports.

The Irish version is a free translation of the English; in particular, “Sinne Fianna Fáil” is not a literal 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 Army of the Irish Free State. 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.

Arrangement

Amhrán na bhFiann 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.

Lyrics

The lyrics are those of an Irish rebel song, exhorting all Irish people to participate in the struggle to end the hegemony ("despot" over "slave") of the English ("Saxon foe") in Ireland ("Inisfail"). There are allusions to earlier Irish rebellions, and to support from Irish emigrants in America ("a land beyond the wave") where organisations like Clan na Gael supported Irish republicanism.

Amhrán na bhFiann	Literal translation	Original English version A Soldier's Song
Sinne Fianna Fáil Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn Buíon dár slua Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn Faoi mhóid bheith saor Seantír ár sinsear feasta Ní fhágfar faoin tiorán ná faoin tráill Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann	We [are] soldiers of Ireland That are under a pledge to Ireland A troop of our throng Across waves came to us Under a vow to be free Old country of our forefathers hereafter Will not be left under slavery Tonight I go in the "gap of danger" With the love of the Irish for death or freedom With gun's screech under fire of the bullets Sing you the song of the soldiers	Soldiers are we Whose lives are pledged to Ireland Some have come From a land beyond the wave Sworn to be free No more our ancient sire land Shall shelter the despot or the slave Tonight we man the bearna baoghal In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal ’Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal We’ll chant a soldier’s song

Complete lyrics

The anthem consists only of the chorus of the song. The original has three verses, set to a slightly different tune. The lyrics of the verses are as follows:

Amhrán na bhFiann	A 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...
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...

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