Friday, March 12, 2010

New Anthem or New Team?

Fra Cochrane
Padraig Pearse Ógra Shinn Féin
South Down


Recent revelations in the media that the IFA have been considering a new anthem for ‘Norn Iron’ home games has been dismissed by the unionist community, Ian Óg even described it as "something that we should never concede".


But this has been welcomed by others.

A welcome gesture, but pointless and is definitely not the answer.

Is a new anthem going to make ‘our wee country’ a team welcoming to nationalists? I don't think so.

I have heard personal accounts of nationalists taking the risk of going to games at Windsor Park, only to be surrounded by jeers from home fans shouting "You fenian nigger", at the likes of Thierry Henry.

A new anthem will not correct this attitude.

Division breeds hostility, and division is the only thing we will gain by having two ‘national’ football teams in Ireland.

With top class players from the north using the IFA's programmes and facilities only to leave and play for the Irish national team, surely now is the time for the IFA and FAI to realize that the only answer is an all Ireland team.

We only have to look at the Irish rugby team to see the benefits that this can have.

Let’s face it, as the fans say, they aren't Brazil they're Norn Iron, and this also applies to the Irish national team. They aren't exactly world class teams.

I have no doubt that together, with All Ireland co-operation for things like funding projects and youth development, Ireland would have a far stronger soccer team.
The IFA have made efforts to make soccer in the North more inclusive, and fair play to them for that.
But Nationalists can never accept the Northern football team simply because it is not a country.

No doubt Nelson McCausland, the minister of one culture, will try to block this, but young people with a strong Irish identity have a role to play in highlighting this issue, in pushing for a new All Ireland team and in promoting a united Ireland whether it be in sports, politics or geographically.

In terms of the anthem that’s played when we get there, well that’s a job for Liam Lappin...

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