MusicReference

Irish and English National Anthems Played at “Crokers”

A rugby match between Ireland and England on 24 February 2007 was politically symbolic because of the events of Bloody Sunday in 1920. There was considerable concern as to what reaction there would be to the singing of the British National Anthem God Save the Queen. Ultimately the anthem was sung without interruption or incident, and applauded by both sets of supporters at the match, which Ireland won by 43-13 (their largest ever win over England in rugby).

Bloody Sunday 1920: In retaliation for an earlier incident that day in which a dozen British agents were killed by IRA forces in Dublin, British forces opened fire on the crowd at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park, killing fourteen Irish civilians.