Thursday, June 14, 2012

Erin go Bragh!

Ireland crapped out of EURO 2012 today after getting smoked 4-0 by Spain. Earlier this week they lost 3-1 to Croatia. They still have a game against Italy but are officially eliminated from advancing to the next round. Did anybody expect them to win it all? No, but Ireland just hoped to steal a game or two and make it to the knockout stage. Were the defeats surprising? No. But getting crushed is disappointing. And with all the news of riots and hooligans at EURO 2012 one would expect fans of eliminated teams, fans that spend a lot of Euros/Zloty to attend the matches in Poland, to run wild through the streets. Did they? No. Did the Irish fans get drunk? Well, they are Irish, so I would guess a few did. So what did the Irish fans do? They sang. They sang The Fields of Athenry as the game wound down. 

The Fields of Athenry
by Pete St. John
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young girl calling
Micheal they are taking you away
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.

Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters Mary when you're free,
Against the Famine and the Crown
I rebelled they ran me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.

Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

By a lonely harbor wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

They sang beautifully. They sang a song about a man that was sentenced to transportation to Australia for stealing food to feed his starving family during the potato famine. How so very Irish.


The Fields of Athenry by ftw1905

To the Ireland soccer team, to the Irish soccer fans I say, thank you. Moments like this make whatever Irish I have left in me swell with pride. Moments like this make me a bit less cynical. Moments like this make me remember why I love sport. Thank you and Erin go Bragh!


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