Ireland’s national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann, is a militaristic anachronism. Is it time to change it?
Time has proved minister Frank McDermot right about one thing, the Irish national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann (A Soldier’s Song) truly is “a jaunty little piece of vulgarity, and I think we could have done a lot better.”

First of all, the blatantly militaristic lyrics haven’t worn well over time. A Soldier’s Song was first used as a marching song by the Irish Volunteers and then later sung by the rebels during the 1916 Rising, but that was because it has much more to say about fighting for freedom than keeping the peace.

Why not make it an anthem everyone knows and loves.