Ireland officially has one national anthem, but in many sports – especially rugby – you hear two songs because of the island’s split between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and efforts to be neutral and inclusive for everyone on the island.

Quick Scoop: What’s Going On?

  • The Republic of Ireland’s official anthem is Amhrán na bhFiann (“The Soldier’s Song”).
  • In rugby and some all‑island sports, teams also use Ireland’s Call , a newer, specially written anthem meant to represent players and fans from both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
  • So it’s not that the state of Ireland has two official anthems – it’s that sport created a second, neutral song to avoid political tension.

1. The Official Anthem: Amhrán na bhFiann

Amhrán na bhFiann is the official national anthem of the Republic of Ireland.

  • Written around 1909–1910 by Peadar Kearney (lyrics) and Patrick Heeney (music).
  • Adopted as the state anthem in 1926 after it became popular among Irish nationalists during the independence period.
  • The song is militaristic and anti‑colonial in tone, celebrating armed struggle and independence, which some people now see as outdated or divisive in a modern, peaceful Ireland.

Because it was closely linked with republicanism and even nicknamed the “Sinn Féin anthem,” unionists in Northern Ireland often feel it does not represent them.

2. The “Second” Anthem: Ireland’s Call

Ireland’s Call is not an official state anthem – it was commissioned for sport.

  • Written by Phil Coulter in the mid‑1990s for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
  • Commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union because a significant minority of players and officials come from Northern Ireland, where using Amhrán na bhFiann alone was seen as politically loaded.
  • Designed as a neutral, all‑island anthem to represent all four provinces: Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht, without nationalist or anti‑British wording.

In practice, Ireland’s Call became the go‑to anthem whenever a team represents the whole island rather than just the Republic.

3. How It Works in Rugby and Other Sports

When people say “Ireland has two national anthems,” they’re usually talking about what happens before rugby matches.

  • The Ireland rugby team represents the entire island:
    • Republic of Ireland (an independent state)
    • Northern Ireland (part of the UK)
  • At home games in Dublin:
    • Amhrán na bhFiann is played as the anthem of the host state (Republic of Ireland).
* _Ireland’s Call_ is also sung to symbolise unity across the whole island and all communities.
  • At away games:
    • Usually only Ireland’s Call is used, to avoid choosing the Republic’s anthem when the team is meant to represent both jurisdictions.

So the “two anthems” are really a compromise: one for the state , and one for the all‑island team.

4. Why This Became a Big Talking Point

This double‑anthem situation taps into deeper questions about identity, politics, and reconciliation on the island.

  • Some nationalists think Amhrán na bhFiann is essential to Irish identity and should always be used.
  • Some unionists and more moderate voices prefer Ireland’s Call because it avoids nationalist and anti‑British language.
  • There are regular debates about whether Ireland should eventually replace Amhrán na bhFiann with a more inclusive, less militaristic anthem altogether.

A recent documentary‑style video on the anthem’s divided history again raised the “which would you choose – The Soldier’s Song or Ireland’s Call?” question, keeping the debate very current in 2026.

5. Simple Answer to Your Title Question

Why does Ireland have 2 national anthems?

  • Legally, the Republic of Ireland has one national anthem: Amhrán na bhFiann.
  • But because the island is split politically and rugby teams represent all of Ireland, a second anthem, Ireland’s Call , was created as a neutral all‑island song.
  • In big rugby matches you often hear both, which is why it feels like Ireland has two national anthems.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.