Madam, - I am getting fed up of this Ireland's Call debate which seems largely driven by ignorance as much as misplaced patriotism. The tune may not be great and there may be an argument for a replacement.
However at least it is an attempt to provide a rallying song for a team which like only a few others on this island draws its members and popular support with equal commitment from peoples who claim a common origin but a separate political allegiance. Amhrán na bhFiann may be "our national anthem" but it is not the national anthem of a large section of the squad or its supporters.
I believe that the protocol which the IRFU operates is that God Save The Queen would be played in Ravenhill as the "national anthem" . I wonder how some of your correspondents would react to that! OK, so some announcers mistakenly refer to Ireland's Call as the "national" as opposed to "team" anthem. I mean "get a life", it's hardly a deliberate insult. In seeking to build these common arrangements we've got to be a little patient with other people's lack of understanding of what we are seeking to achieve. - Yours, etc,
STEPHEN O'RIORDAN, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - The Irish rugby team, under the governance of the IRFU, represents the entire island of Ireland - both sovereign entities. Amhrán na bhFiann is the anthem of the Republic of Ireland and not of both, and does not represent the unity which the Irish rugby team embodies. To play the anthem of the Republic would be unfair and unrepresentative of the team. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS WALLACE-O'DONNELL, North Circular Road, Limerick.