Musician 'open' to new anthem
ONE of Ulster's most distinguished songwriters has declared he would be willing, if asked, to pen a new sporting anthem for the Northern Ireland football team.
World renowned Londonderry-born artist, Phil Coulter, says he would be open to discussing the matter with the relevant authorities, should there be a consensus for a new song among local football fans.
The intervention from the skilled pianist comes after widespread debate emerged last week following a call by avid Northern Ireland supporter Kenny Donaldson, who is also an Ulster Unionist Party officer, to find a new sporting anthem, instead of God Save The Queen, which would be more acceptable to all traditions in the Province.
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'Politics should have no place in football'
In 1995, Mr Coulter was commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to write a politically neutral anthem for the Ireland rugby team, comprising players from Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The resulting 'Ireland's Call' has now been adopted by the respective Ireland cricket, rugby league and hockey teams.
Speaking to the News Letter, Mr Coulter revealed he would keep his "ear out" for a phonecall regarding a similar initiative in Northern Ireland.
"I don't know how far this notion has gone or where it is emanating, but if I got the call since I have some kind of that experience under my belt, I'd be happy to sit down and talk to the powers that be, if it got to that stage," he said.
The 68-year-old admitted he was well aware of the political sensitivities concerning an alternative anthem.
"My guess is you will have a reaction from conspiracy theorists who believe you are trying to sideline the national anthem, be it the Soldier's Song in the Republic or God Save the Queen in Northern Ireland.
"In my own experience with Ireland's Call it took a little time in the early days before the rugby public actually accepted the song as a sporting anthem. There was a bit of a reluctance and a dragging of heels which I fully expected. I did flag it to the IRFU at the time that it would take some time before the roots went deep enough to carry it."
As for any prospective song, Mr Coulter confessed while musically it would be "pretty straightforward", the lyrics could provide a possible "minefield".
"It needs to be a song which is easily assimilated and easily sung, and which is rousing and all of those good things that any anthem is supposed to be," he said.
"Lyrically, that is your real test to come up with a song in our part of the world which would have an across-the-board appeal. That would be part of the challenge if it ever came to it."
Last week, Irish Football Association president Raymond Kennedy revealed that the idea of replacing the national anthem was under consideration, prompting an outcry from senior unionists.
Pointing to the "many good famous songwriters" in Northern Ireland, Mr Kennedy said the launch of a competition to come up with a new anthem was an option.
Meanwhile, a Londonderry Catholic who represented Northern Ireland with distinction as part of two World Cup squads in the 1980s, has admitted he "never had a problem" with God Save the Queen being played prior to internationals.
John O'Neill, who won 39 caps for his country, said in his day the players treated all national anthems with respect.
"At the end of the day the debate about the national anthem is a political one," he said.
"We found through the 1980s that all the players tried to stay away from it. We found ourselves thrown in together in difficult situations and we stuck together no matter what our background. I think that is still the case. It was never a divisive issue at all."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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