Examining the politics and emotions behind one of sports most memorable events: When Ireland beat England on home soil in 6 Nations Rugby following the Gaelic Athletic Association ruling that non-Gaelic games could be played in Croke Park.
Examining the politics and emotions behind one of sports most memorable events: When Ireland beat England on home soil in 6 Nations Rugby following the Gaelic Athletic Association ruling that non-Gaelic games could be played in Croke Park.
Right. I am an old Englishman. What I have to say is not about Ireland because I Have visited a few times and I love the country, It's not about the Irish because I never met an Irishman (Or woman) that I didn't like. It's not about rebublicanism because if I was Irish I would be a republican. It's about sport and how grateful the rugby community was to the GAA to graciously let us play at one of the greatest stadiums in the world. Thank you Ireland. x
Well said on all points
2 of my siblings were at this game and were surrounded by supporters from both sides. There was 1 English elderly guy who to that point never missed an England game since his first game about 70yrs previously. He was well into his 80's but he was never so emotional as he was on that day, not just because of the respect given to GSTQ but more so after irelands anthems. He was in tears. He found it very hard to control his emotions and though Ireland won the game because they played better, he said it was the only game he was actually wishing Ireland would win. I swear by siblings were convinced the guy was going to drop dead of a heartattack. My siblings were in their late 20's and early 30's at the time, with tears flowing during the anthems and this guy just hugged them. Its a game no one will ever forget.
Thank you for respecting our anthem, even despite what our state put yours through throughout periods of history. You're a very welcoming nation.
Yes, it was the state, not the people. Always remember that.
Thank you! I hope we can all be mature about our history! We have to make a special effort to get along with our neighbours from across the pond!!
Hi Dani ..in fairness I know many english people who despise that GSTQ now GSTK anthem ..it's one horrendous dirge ..you should try JERUSALEM ..I quite like that song just as I love Amhrán na bhFiann 😉
@@margaretsmith1926 Amhrán na bhFiann still gets dogs abuse from the fascist EDL and their ilk and even from a certain amount of that scotch parcel of anti Irish anti Catholic rogue huns😏
Back in the bad old days when other countries such as Wales and Scotland had refused to play in Dublin due to security fears, England did travel in 1973 for the Five Nations Championship, and that was at the height of the 'Troubles' and they deservedly got a standing ovation. Sport can transcend politics at times.
Ridiculous how emotional I am watcing this 15 years later
I know!
Mm e to😢
hey guys. I'm french but I can't stop thinking about this game and about how great your country and your people was that day. Ireland is a country I want to visit before i pass away. great job and great respect for you guys.
Greetings from Ireland ☘️🇮🇪🇪🇺.hope you can visit,!
We're just around the corner, hope you can visit when the covid situation calms down!
Wouldn't waste your time. Place is a dump
@@gazzanorth4373 typical tan
Visit anytime. We all look after visitors to our land. All 32 counties. And pay no attention to Gazza there, chances are his parents were related. Eire Abu
I'm an England fan and also know a bit of history. When it was announced that we would play Ireland at Croke Park, I thought "Well that's a match we wont win." The respect shown to the anthems and the passion in the singing still raises goosebumps. Ireland have always been my second team ever since the days of WJM and Mike Gibson. And I get why GAA people might have been hostile to the idea because I know how I would feel about soccer matches being played at Twickenham. God bless Ireland.
Thanks, huge respect for English rugby.
Up the Tans🇬🇧 GAA/IRA scum
Some quarters there are still difficulties on certain aspects of 2005 more of a sense of peace being downe institutions and organisations and individuals are ready
If I’d have played one game for England it would have been this one. Respect to the Irish and their history. Respect for the victims of my country’s actions. And respect to the crowd on the day. They were the 16th man for their team.
yes your country did some truly evil things in my country, but that doesn't mean you and I cannot respect one another and even have love and respect for one another. That's what rugby is all about. Good luck to England in the WC next year.
Thanks but you've nothing to apologise for. I always felt more at home in England than anywhere else.
@@SMacCuUladh Jesus did you really have to say that? Gobshite.
@@winterishere9828 stay in England then... Wanker 😂
The ordinary Englishman has, and never had, anything to apologise for. State actors caused the problems.
I remember watching this live at home in Scotland. I’m not a huge fan of rugby but I knew the significance of it all. I remember being in tears when Amhrán na bhFiann came on. I just wish I was at Croke Park to witness it in person.
Martin Corry is an excellent guy, both on and off the pitch.
Met him in Killarney once. Our club captain presented him with a rugby jersey from our club. We were all shocked when he whipped it on straight away and posed for photos.
Known for never buying a round
I cannot put into words the emotion and pride I felt when my namesake scored the opening try in this momentous match, and the fact my Uncle Martin had performed at Croke Park during the commemorative pageant Aiseirí 1966 in the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Uprising depicting Daniel O'Connell... an unforgettable experience.
Beautiful stuff man, this is bringing back some memories for me also. All I could think of at the start of this documentary, was that while we're a wonderful and damn confusing Island at the best of times, what we all can agree on is that we're loaded with some historic David vs Goliath kind of stories. Even with the GAA, it's Irish. No words needed. 🍀🙏
It's a match I'll remember all my life. I wasn't there, but watching it, having seen the runup, the speculation, the growing excitement, the nervousness, sensing the historical magnitude of it - it was something special. The respect shown for the national anthems and the emotion in the faces of the Irish team turned it into a match of epic proportions. It was truly once in a lifetime.
I developed a whole new respect for the GAA after this happened. I really admire the forward thinking of the GAA President and all GAA members. Great stuff!!
actually sort of depressed me that only 70% voted yes. I’m 35 and had a memory of R42 being vetoed much smoother than that
Sean Kelly deserves an award
As long as everyone remembers.. We put our hand out for peace.. Ireland is for everyone if you love our place
100% Declan, you are so right!
We've a difficult past with our neighbors but the battle for this was with our selves and we came through with flying colours but once we welcomed England in, we all won as a result
I videotaped this game and have rewatched it a million times. A sporting event like no other and a performance, especially in the maul, from Paul O'Connell like no other. Magnificent.
I watched his last game ever live, broke his leg in the WC against France, we put them out that day. He was immense.
As a Gaelic player living in Dublin going to college back then , it was a special time , we couldn’t get tickets but had some session in the Big Tree , the English Rubgy fans were salt of the earth, there was great craic and Johnny Wilkinson was my favorite rubgy player , it was great seeing him at croke park , as a kerryman now living in New York, this was a fantastic documentary, thanks for sharing it, brought back great memories!
Astonishing Doco! What a visionary Sean Kelly was!
I was there and weirdly, it was irelands call rather than amhran na bhfiann that I remember more as a moment. I think because the applause after God save the Queen was so loud and long it kind of drowned out the start of our anthem
I was a GAA man all my life,played from the 60's to the 80's,was never at a rugby match but always watched the Internationals from the late 60's with Tommy Kiernan ,Noel Murphy.Mike Gibson etc when Ireland could never seem to beat Wales. We were Gaa kids but we supported Ireland Rugby and Soccer as much as any one.
Who cares what you think? The GAA are sectarian.
@@gazzanorth4373 Obviously you care because you're here
@@gazzanorth4373 tan
@@gazzanorth4373 Tough shit loser.
Visited Croke park in 2008 when over in Ireland for Ireland v Wales fabulous stadium, and we had a win 🏴
And it's a massive huge characterQww obsessed and halfway lin so I can try to hammer the coursesz Patty Wallace step up and head over no problem but man was to make sure that over before lastA and it was nice to get a few I think the end of thataa hamstringa and he really really wants to play Driscoll team doctor did the team run and warm he warmed up on his foot and he wasn't and I just went through some things and then I was watching and I saw it I knew but if he plays against France he doesn't want us to championship he got the game but it was risky but he doesn't play against France for England at that time 07 he was the most important part of the team he is a remarkable player is the greatest player I've ever seen he followed remember Paul O'Connell when I asked him what is special about you go to man you wanna get the ball to the crisis if you need something to happen also the first guy trenches with you and he will throw his body on the line and bravery physically dispute so he was he was pretty much complete of the team player and without him I will never quite the same around that time it was also a bit of a shame that the moon wasn't first I think that would've just a little bit better I think people would like to be the first match against England I think medication even better because even in the parka
So proud of Ireland.
Not much to be proud of ya tool
@@gazzanorth4373 - Oh please... Some prod from the North, are ya?
@@gregbrogan9061 Yeah. Im from the North. .... Donegal🤣🤣🤣
@@gazzanorth4373 - I love Donegal...
@@gregbrogan9061 You must be the only one. Place is like the rest of Ireland. Backward dump.
Rugby has done more for the peace process than anything else. We play the game together and show the respect you expect on a rugby pitch. Let’s keep it going.
When attending Crescent Jesuit school in Limerick back in 1967, a superb player on our rugby team was selected to play for the Irish soccer team. And for that honor, he was expelled from the school because soccer was not a gentleman's sport. In hindsight, it's no wonder I ran away from Ireland in my late teens.
What a great president 👏 and visionary well done sean
I worked on building the new stand's back in the early 2000s and every time I go past it I say I helped build it I Pumped a lot of concrete in the Hill 16 end.
Good man. The ultimate "taking pride in your work".
And when I walk by your missus i say I helped ruin her.... I pumped a lot into her in the rear end.
Im a plumber and anytime I drive past a building I helped build ,I tell the kids I was the first one to take a shit in that building (testing) + morning coffee obviously 😂😂😂
so proud
An amazing interesting video. Thank You.
No man wearing green would every have given an inch that day. It had to be won. A little respect for the players from the north that had a hell of an emotional ride to take that day would have been appreciated in this documentary. We share the green shirt after all.
@@gazzanorth4373 the foreign anthem is played at Irish Fa games
@@gazzanorth4373 Grow up man, the English have abandoned you, the truth is they never cared in the first place. All of your comments are hatred and bigotry. You should go on a few train journeys south and see how good these people you are calling a hostile foreign power are. And I say this as a Rangers fan. First and foremost though a supporter of an independent Scotland.
i believe the Irish philosophy that day was 'losing is NOT an option' 🇮🇪🇪🇺☘
Full respect; Wallace contribution was excellent
Thank you so much for this
A new get thereI w that was very exciting and it just kickin enormous and excitement throughout the school
Was there that day.... Goosebumps...when there was silence for gstq you knew there was only going to be one winner .,... Which there was, and the manor of the victory said it all
Now Ireland came down to NZ and won a series down here,beating us at our National game!The last team to do that was France 1994!!!No reason now why you can't be the best in the World!See you in France 2023!!!
There's been some incredible battles shared by the Irish and all blacks in the past few years. But there's a lot of genuine love and respect involved too! It's genuinely an honour to call New Zealand rivals!
A great video and occasion for everyone there. From an English perspective - these are the most enjoyable games. I suspect most opposition fans do not understand the intense togetherness England fans feel when all is against you. We are spoilt with rivalries - it is a real plus that many nations want to beat England. It makes the atmospheres at almost any England game excellent - in Rugby and especially football. Look how pleased the Aussies were to win the Ashes (again!). I wouldn't want to lose that edge to games. One of the Ireland players was spot on when he said England will feed off any hostility. As a supporter I completely agree. Winning or losing means so much more with rivalry and historical baggage - ask any Old Firm fan - from either side. I have joined other fans as a neutral before. Loads of fun - but something was missing - the all is against you atmosphere. Personally - nothing compares to being in the England camp.
L
Total respect, rugby ,
We have to bear in mind that we are talking about opinions in the culture of the time. Easy to look back and criticise. Just be happy with where we are 🇮🇪
Bellend
Nobodys criticising what was done
I was always a fan of Irish anthem only but the UK national anthem was played before Irish rugby crowds for years without incident. I personally was always in the terrace so I wouldn't have to actively stand. Croke Park was the first time I actively stood. Even after years living in UK.
Brilliant story
Absolutely fascinating, always wanted to understand more about Irish independence and as a diehard rugby supporter (but from S.Africa, not knowing much of the backstory) this was a great window into the history. Respect all of the Irish supporters on the day of the game, for their maturity, and being able to see a bigger picture at play, and Irish rugby winning in the grander scheme. One thing I don't understand, in football (soccer, for the sake of clarity), there's N.Ireland and Republic of Ireland, but in rugby, only one team. Was there ever a time where there were 2 Irish rugby teams? And (I know I'm at risk of over-simplifying) but, to try understand: was rugby in Ireland initially an 'English' sport played by Protestants, and after that it became a nationwide sport played by all, or was rugby played by both 'halves' of the divide, and then both came together to play for the national team? I don't expect anyone to have to explain every detail of the history - I'm learning so much just using wiki reading about everything that pops up, starting with the War of Independence. That said, any informative links that are posted here, I will appreciate reading them. thank you!
This is a guess on my part; it might be due to social class, with rugby union being popular among the middle class in Ireland just as it is in England. However, rugby union in Wales is very much a working-class sport.
For a short period when the game first started in the 1870's there were two separate rugby unions in the Ireland, one for the South and one for the North. In 1879 the two joined each other and there has only ever been one Irish rugby team since. Rugby and cricket have always seen as a protestant (ie. English or descended from England/Scotland) and middle class game. Rugby and cricket still are mostly a middle class game in Ireland with the exception of rugby in Munster were for whatever reason it's been played and embraced by everyone. Just like in South Africa schools rugby is bigger in Ireland for young people than clubs, and the schools that specialise in rugby are the British founded protestant grammar schools and universities, so for a long period of time the majority of Irish rugby players were Protestants. I'm not sure at what exact date this started to change but for decades now the Irish rugby team has been a great unifying force for both Protestants and Catholics in Ireland to unite around a single shared team, in both the North and South of Ireland.
The Rep. of Ireland soccer association (FAI) broke away from the 32 county all ireland association (IFA) I don't know why. Other sports off hand golf boxing hockey rugby stayed united. There was some messing about in cycling and I don't know where it stands atm. It's a sad state of affairs as it just makes another front on the sectartan divide.
I do love my hurling but i personally believe that the real issue wasnt foreign sports being played there, it was the fact the english anthem was going to be played. i recall there was an american football game played there before this and i dont remember any ruckus about it
Of course it was all about the anthem. And the great thing is it ended up being a great big nothing burger. Huge respect shown by both sides and we ended up with a great day.
It was simply that the Irish have a deep bigoted hatred of all things English. Pretty sad really.
@@gazzanorth4373 : Well, the English started it all. And the Irish finished it…
@@gazzanorth4373 can you genuinely not see how the English national anthem would be hard to hear in that ground?
Gerry Flannery sums up what every Irish person felt at that moment
I happened to have my dad up for a tour of HQ a few weeks after the decision was made to open her up, i was for it, my Dad being old school GAA was totally against it, on the tour we met 3 Welsh dads with young sons in tow, one of them being coming to Dublin for years supporting the Dragon he never knew Croker existed,, it blew him away,, you gotta love that. Fast fwd to that gane against the English, i watched it in my local in my Village, a Village that may be the most Republican of all Republican villages in Ireland as Wolfe Tone is buried there, and you could hear a pin drop in the lead up and anthems,, The most must win game Ireland will ever have played until we get to a WC final🍀🍀
As someone who was involved in setting up a rugby club and was asking pre opening up about borrowing the local GAA I was told "let's see if they lift the ban first, we'd have no problem it's soccer we hate" I nearly died laughing. Later when my son was having a go at hurling I found out that what ever they thought about other sports hurling and Gaelic football hated each other more. 🤣🤣
Eamon dunphy over here looking like a reverse panda
I was there…cracking game…apart from the result…but it was a proper “occasion” befitting of the historic significance
does anyone know how to watch the full match of this classic. Thanks!
My late departed Daddy was a great Offaly man and he was from Tullamore but went to BlackRock. His name was Séan Kelly and I am sure that he would be proud of his namesake Kieran Kelly
The team doctor Gary O'Driscoll is Brian's cousin , so not an easy call.
Wow didn’t know that.
How long is bertie out
Joe Kernan was Armagh Manager not Antrim Manager as you state…. How difficult is it to get these things right!!!!!
Nearly 20 years later and people are still making the same tired argument against rugby being played at Croke Park. The GAA didn't collapse in 2007 or any time afterwards
Cusach from carrion in county Clare, founder of gaa, played rugby and all sports while in lived in Dublin. What a betrayel .
😭😭😭 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🍀🍀🍀☘️☘️☘️
There's only one Billy that matters.... King Billy 1690
@@gazzanorth4373 up the RA
@@gazzanorth4373 The homosexual Dutch prince that fell off a horse what joke a black horse at that not the mythical white horse silky Ulster Scot Orangemen believe it to be.
@@odin8010 King Willy Billy the Dutch Anglican prince fell off his horse in 1702 Irish Roman Catholics laughed non stop that day.😂
This Day, 87 years later, the Ennemies were back to the Temple of the Gaelic Games : unthinkable, but The Green Army blasted them, beautiful revenge ! RIP Michael Hogan !
1990i was dropped for playing for dingle utd .
The last time i watched ireland as a rugby team, and i loved the way they battered england that day, as it meant so much to be playing england in that stadium, where english killed irish people a century before. What an amazing performance by ireland that day. It was such an important occasion for irish rugby, and they battered england. Like i said first time england played at that stadium, since a century before english soldiers killed irish people in that stadium. Such an amazing performance. I do not care about rugby or sports, but that day i watched, and loved how ireland just battered england in such an occasion. Best performance ever by an irish rugby team, when it mattered they showed those watching that day, and history how much it meant to that team, and there supporters. Sport at its best. Glad i do not watch sport anymore, but i will always remember that day, and how special that performance was.
Away dry your eyes. If the gutless IRA hadnt hid behind woman and children as usual nobody would have got hurt.
It was a chastising day for us English fans. Looking back though, you have to be happy for Ireland. Must have been an amazing day to be Irish. Deserved. By the way, you should try rugby again - Ireland are the best team in the world currently.
Ulster Unionists seem very glad to bear thier masters that pay thier social welfare.
He says 'Amhrán na bhFíann gets you fired up', then agrees to dropping it for away games. Ridiculous not tp play our actual anthem. A pathological Unionist fear of the Irish language shouldn't be enough of an excuse. Anyway..I'll get my coat.
Ulster Unionists and Loyalists always moan since 1609
Great - if only you dropped that bollix Eamonn Dunphy it would be perfect.
Hollowed ground simple
Jerry Flannery lol 😂
🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
There Is Only One Queen The Queen Of Éireann And Heaven Our Blessed Lady Mary.☘🇮🇪💚
At least the British Queen actually exists. Not some made up entity of your childish imagination. Bet you still believe in the tooth fairy. Idiot
Illiterate, indoctrinated muppet!
@@gazzanorth4373 and another ignorant comment! It’s hitting you hard isn’t it Gaz?
@@ArchangelAva I hate to break it to you but Santa doesn't exist. "The Queen of Eireann" 🤣🤣🤣
@@gazzanorth4373 Say That When You Reach Hell.☘🇮🇪
Sure who wouldn't listen to "God save our German queen,". Imagine the amount of memorisation it took for that supreme west Brit Limerick bollox Jerry Flannery (shout out to the hovel on Catherine Street) to be able to sing Amhrán na bhFiann at Croke Park.
Why did they have people talking through the Irish National Anthem, fucks sake.
It's the sandwich guy!!!!!!
I thought so!! hahaha.
Bertie 'THE LIAR' Ahern.
Could have played that game 10x and England were never gonna win
Chip on your shoulder , dunphy.
It could have been bad if it was a soccer match
The day The Troubles ended.
Until Brexit🤦♂️
@@seanomalley7073 those were quiet years, really miss them now..
Knob🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
@@gazzanorth4373 i bet that your mother loved you
Ulster Unionists behaved themselves for Irish anthem I thought they cause a scene like drunken 12th July bigot.
Always living in the past
England has many Queens Ireland has one always our mary mother off god
Could you stop with the Catholic trolling? Thanks!
Potato
Dunphy is a liar. They were not there . Ask me dunphy the raif.
yawn
Sean Kelly the sell out
He was Bertie's sleveen.
CC44998 the nobody
Sell outs. Sacred ground.
grow up
I hate the GAA and everything they still stand for today.
If ur Irish ur a fucking fool
That's your problem.
Go tell someone that actually cares Anthony! No one cares one bit who or how you feel here lad!👍🏻
Antony get over it mate,move on with your life & bring your hate with you.
I'd love to know what you think the GAA stands for 🤔
Ulster is British🇬🇧
Only six counties of it
@@angelachannel304 The only 6 that matter. No Surrender!! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Another box room goblin. Grow up ffs.
@@gazzanorth4373 surrender to who,, nobody wants f all to do with you
Ulster Irish 100% ☘️🇮🇪🇪🇺