It was the 12th of July 1926 when the executive council of the Irish Free State decided to adopt the music of ‘The Soldier's Song’/‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ as the official national anthem.

Lee Carsley refused to sing the national anthem before his first game in charge of England against the Republic of Ireland after explaining that he has always opted out of the pre-match tradition.

This was to be expected. It isn’t the way to get an anthem. Ireland may have one already without knowing it. The Irish national anthem, when it is adopted, will come straight from hot Irish hearts.

Recommended England manager Lee Carsley explains why he won’t sing either national anthem in Ireland game Brawls, boos and ‘plastic Paddys’: how the English and Irish football teams became ...

What did Carsley say? The former Everton midfielder says he did not sing the Irish national anthem as a player or the British national anthem when he was in charge of England U21s because he was ...

Lee Carsley says he will not sing the national anthem before England’s game with the Republic of Ireland on Saturday and intends to instead be “focused on the football”. Carsley was placed ...