Irish Football Songs

One of the pleasures of going to a soccer game is experiencing the atmosphere generated by the crowd. If you go to a game played by the national teams of Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, you are sure to hear the crowd singing songs to encourage the players.

  1. Fields of Athenry

    • Perhaps the most well-known sporting song in Ireland, the Field of Athenry was written by songwriter Pete St. John in 1979. It tells the tale of a young men deported from Ireland for stealing corn during the Irish Famine of the 1840s. Sent to Australia, his wife is left behind in Athenry, a town in Galway, to raise their child. Although the song has its roots outside sport, it is widely song by sports crowds in the Irish Republic, including at soccer and rugby internationals and by fans of the Munster Rugby team.

    Away In A Manger

    • Northern Ireland fans have adapted the popular Christmas song to pay tribute to their top goal scorer David Healy. The fans sing the first verse of the song, before ending the line, “the stars in the bright sky looked down where he…” with shouts of “Healy! Healy!” The chant was subsequently taken up by fans of Fulham, where Healy played his club football.

    We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland

    • Sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland is sung by fans at Northern Ireland international games. The lyrics tell the story of the country’s World Cup quarter final in 1982, along with wins over much larger nations including Italy, Germany, France and England. In 2005 a studio version was recorded by BBC Northern Ireland soccer commentator Jackie Fullerton to raise money for charity.