God Save The Queen To Be Sung At Croker

There has been much debate about the upcoming Six Nations clash between Ireland and England at the home of Gaelic games, Croke Park, affectionately known as Croker. There are some that believe that the hallowed turf shouldn't be violated by the detestable foreign games that are soccer and rugby. There are also some who are happy to share Croker with the "garrison games", but draw the line at hearing England's national anthem, God Save The Queen.

These armchair republicans find the thought of it an insult to those who died in Ireland's struggle for independence. What appears to rankle with them is Bloody Sunday when, on 21 November 1920, British forces opened fire on the crowd at a Gaelic football match between Tipperary and Dublin at Croke Park after 14 British agents had been earlier assassinated by the IRA. This resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including the Tipperary captain, Michael Hogan, after which the Hogan Stand is named. More died later that day. I've heard that that Republican Sinn Féin are planning a protest outside Croker on Sunday. Let's hope things don't turn out like the protests against last year's 'Love Ulster' parade. There has been some talk of Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary, of laying a wreath before the game. While it may be a noble gesture, I don't really think it will help that much, and there is also some opposition, particularly from unionist circles.

Personally, I think it's ridiculous that we're having this debate. We're talking about events that happened over 87 years ago - before my grandparents were even born. There is no denying that the British did some reprehensible things. However, one has to put them in the context of the time. Britain, of which England is the main and driving component, was an imperial power at the time, and didn't do anything worse than its counterparts (although someone out there, I'm sure, will give example!). I'm not condoning what they did and Bloody Sunday was an unfortunate act, but it's time to move on.

So what's all the fuss about then? What exactly do some people object to? Here are the lyrics to God Save The Queen in full:

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world o'er.

From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!

George is magnanimous,
Subjects unanimous;
Peace to us bring:
His fame is glorious,
Reign meritorious,
God save the King!

From France and Pretender
Great Britain defend her,
Foes let them fall;
From foreign slavery,
Priests and their knavery,
And Popish Reverie,
God save us all.

The fourth and sixth stanzas are questionable, to say the least, and the last is downright anti-Catholic. However, only the first and third stanzas are generally sung, and I can't see anything particularly offensive about them. There didn't to seem to be a problem when God Save The Queen was played for many years at Lansdowne Road. Many also seem to forget that many Ireland rugby fans are from a Protestant unionist background and probably won't mind it - some may even stand! I've even heard that it was played at Croker at the 2003 Special Olympics. I think that we should extend the courtesy of playing the national anthem of the visiting team, regardless of whether it is England or not. Should we take exception to the playing of Das Lied der Deutschen (the German national anthem) when the German football team visits later this year because the first stanza was used by the Nazis, and it fitted in with their expansionist plans?

That being said, I hope the courtesy ends there, and that the Boys In Green give the English a good pasting!