Madam, - In a few days of great celebration here in the UK for Ireland, I had to suffer the indignity once again of hearing an announcement on Friday evening at Kingsholm at the A rugby international and on Saturday at Twickenham that a cheerleaders' song called Ireland's Call is my national anthem.
At Cheltenham, even in the presence of the UK royal family, Amhrán na bhFiann is played without issue, as it should be and as we would play God Save the Queen in Dublin.
Yet the IRFU somehow seem able to sully our national anthem, without any rebuff.
This is an unacceptable insult that has now been perpetrated for a number of years whenever we play away from Lansdowne Road.
If the IRFU want to continue with Ireland's Call, so be it. But please do not continue to insult our nation by telling all and sundry during the public address introductions at rugby internationals that it is the Irish national anthem. - Yours, etc,
PAUL KELLY, Wellington Square, Cheltenham.
Madam, - Will the IRFU have the decency to play our national anthem in Croke Park? - Yours, etc,
KEITH NOLAN, Carrick~on~Shannon, Co Leitrim.