Northern Ireland's Anthem
Yes, you read that correctly. Northern Ireland has three national anthems and which one is used depends on the event. The official National Anthem is "God Save the Queen", usually played at state events because Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

The second one, "Londonderry Air", which is usually set to lyrics of "Danny Boy", is used as its anthem by the Northern Ireland team at the Commonwealth Games.

For Rugby events, especially when Northern Ireland players compete on the same team as players from the Republic of Ireland, a specially commissioned song has been adopted, "Ireland’s Call". The Republic of Ireland's national anthem, "Amhrán na bhFiann", or in English, "The Soldiers Song", is also used at Dublin home matches as a courtesy to the host country.

God Save the Queen video
 

The melody of "Londonderry Air" is considered traditional. It was first published by Jane Ross of County Londonderry (known as County Derry by the Republic), in what is now Northern Ireland, which may explain the name. Various lyrics have been given to it, most famously the song "Danny Boy."

The tune was first called "Londonderry Air" in 1894 when Katherine Tynan Hinkson set the words of her "Irish Love Song" poem to the tune. A more recent song with this melody is "You Raised Me Up", sung by Josh Groban, Il Divo and others. Original English lyrics to Londonderry Air

(set to the tune of Danny Boy)
Would God I were the tender apple blossom
That floats and falls from off the twisted bough
To lie and faint within your silken bosom
Within your silken bosom as that does now.
Or would I were a little burnish'd apple
For you to pluck me, gliding by so cold
While sun and shade your robe of lawn will dapple
Your robe of lawn, and your hair's spun gold.

Yea, would to God I were among the roses
That lean to kiss you as you float between
While on the lowest branch a bud uncloses
A bud uncloses, to touch you, queen.
Nay, since you will not love, would I were growing
A happy daisy, in the garden path
That so your silver foot might press me going
Might press me going even unto death.

Danny Boy video

 

Ireland's Call video



Ireland, Ireland
Side by side
We stand like brothers
One for all and all together
We will stay united through darker days
And we'll be unbeatable forever

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Come the day and come the hour
Some will live in song and story
We were born to follow our guiding star
And to meet our destiny with glory

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Hearts of steel and heads unbowing
Vowing never to be broken
We will fight, until we can fight no more
Till our final requiem is spoken

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!
We'll answer Ireland's call!




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