"Question: No IRA songs allowed" Topic

They call this a song, but sounds like a chant. It says it has something to do with the IRA. Can anyone tell me what they are saying?

I'm just curious. Thanks

Subject: Uptight in Ireland… No IRA songs allowed… – CITIZEN FREE PRESS


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I'm not sure what it is. Interesting that they seem to be wearing orange shirts. I wouldn't think that would be a color that any IRA supporters would pick.

Ok I think they are chanting:

"Oh Ah, up da ra"

Which on the web, it says:

Expession of admiration for the Irish Republican movement. Can refer to the IRA, PIRA, CIRA, RIRA or INLA.
"up da ra ,ye black bastards!"

Is this correct? Again thanks

Ok it is
"Ooh ah, up the 'RA", which is associated with support of the IRA. So I guess I've answered my own question. 😉

From the Wolfe Tones – Celtic Symphony:

link

Ok, so it is a Chorus and that song. When you hear the full song, it makes sense what they were singing. Thanks

They are wearing orange because that's the colour of the Irish Womens football teams away kit.

A little more:

"Ooh Ah Up the Rah
Background: "Celtic Symphony" is a song performed by the Irish band, The Wolfe Tones. The song is sung at gatherings of Irish people. The line "Oh Ah up the Ra" is emphasized and belted out. The phrase is a declaration of support for the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Context: I witnessed my Irish friend's family perform this song while at his house for Thanksgiving last fall. While singing songs after dinner, this song came on and all of his Irish family members sang it together, most of them quite drunk. My friend explained that it was one of the songs Irish people always sing together. "Oh Ah up the Ra" is basically a "big ‘eff you' to the British," he told me."

Evidently it shot the song up to #1 in Ireland. It is catchy, but I like Celtic music.

Subject: Wolfe Tones fans send Celtic Symphony to number one in Irish charts after Up The Ra chant controversy


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IRA – newcomers.

A bit of Jacobite music:
YouTube link (best from 3:26)

Next month, at my boy's wedding we'll be singing this & doing an eightsome reel to it:

YouTube link

The LEWIS Wedding song – Mum's from Lewis.

And if you want something in pure Gaelic (ie the Scottish variety):
YouTube link

Ochoin thanks. Have not made it to Scotland yet. Ireland twice. Ancestors from 3 countries in Great Britain.

I thought it was the opening lines from Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"!

@35thOVI

Thanksgiving isn't a thing in Ireland, so I assume you mean an American friend who thinks he's Irish because some long dead relative came from Donegal.

There are places in Northern Ireland where singing the wrong song will get you killed. No ifs, no buts, and ignorance is not a defence. You're dead.

Any visiting Plastics with romantic thoughts about the Troubles should be aware of that, and maybe keep their traps shut.

@Robert Johnson

Please explain. I have never said anything about Thanksgiving?

"Thanksgiving isn't a thing in Ireland, so I assume you mean an American friend who thinks he's Irish because some long dead relative came from Donegal.

There are places in Northern Ireland where singing the wrong song will get you killed. No ifs, no buts, and ignorance is not a defence. You're dead.

Any visiting Plastics with romantic thoughts about the Troubles should be aware of that, and maybe keep their traps"

You wrote this, did you not?

Context: I witnessed my Irish friend's family perform this song while at his house for Thanksgiving last fall. While singing songs after dinner, this song came on and all of his Irish family members sang it together, most of them quite drunk. My friend explained that it was one of the songs Irish people always sing together. "Oh Ah up the Ra" is basically a "big ‘eff you' to the British," he told me."

No, it was from the web. Someone trying to explain the meaning of the song. That was why the quotes At each end.

My original question was what was the meaning and why were people offended by it. That was an explanation on the web. I assume the guy whose quote it was is from the US

How violent.

In Scotland, the "wrong" song would only get you a punch in the gub or maybe a kicking. Possible that a tin of beer might be thrown at you but I can assure you it would be empty – waste beer? Anathema.

Oh, Scotland has lethal sectarian violence too. Wearing the "wrong" team scarf can get you killed. Singing the wrong song would be no different.

Get you killed? Bit overly dramatic, methinks.

I was curious & looked up the stats – some rather full-on incidents:
link

but deaths? Falls, medical incidents, the awful '72 event at Ibrox but no criminal deaths for many decades. And even all of the above is rather out of the ordinary.

Next you'll be telling me that Weegies are violent folk instead of the loveliest, sweetest people on God's earth.

Sure, most sectarian violence doesn't result in death. (So that's OK, eh?) But some does.

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Gosh, there's no violence in most Western countries is there?
Don't inflate what is, after all, regrettable but isolated incidents.
Still you can believe in the Wild West if you want.But "get you killed" is obviously a nonsense.

I haven't said anything to suggest that other places don't have violence. The fact that they do (have violence) does not prove that Scotland does not. Mark Scott was stabbed to death while wearing a Celtic scarf, by someone who objected to it. I don't want to get into a flame war about this so I'm going to stop now.

35th – The whole Northern Irish situation is incredibly complex. The peace of the last 20-odd years is still fairly fragile and there is a worry that violence could break out again in response to anything that one side or other views as ‘provocative'.

I know Americans like to bang on about ‘free speech', and I agree with the principle, but there are times when total free speech could result in very bad stuff happening.

There have been reports of the families of people killed by IRA bombs being very offended by the Irish Womens Football Team.

Now, as an English person, I don't know the song, I'm not offended, I don't care and I suspect many other English people feel the same! Personally I think Northern Ireland should probably be united with the Republic. Although the Irish government, despite what they say in public, may secretly think ‘no,no, we don't want the headache, let the British government have it'. A bit like a grenade with the pin pulled…

Cedric I do understand the situation there. But thanks.

My only question was what was the meaning of the words the girls were chanting. I think I and others have answered that.

Yes the whole Northern Ireland thing is a sad situation and the hatred goes back hundreds of years.

I have visited everywhere in Ireland, except Donegal and Northern Ireland. Once on a tour and once on our own. The country is beautiful on sunny days, which we had all but half of one day. The people were friendly on the whole, except the one who picked the pocket of one of the men on our tour bus in Dublin, on the very first day in the Country on the first trip. Love the music and enjoyed the pubs. Favorite area was Connemara. It was like watching "The Quiet Man", live. Hasn't changed much since they made the movie in the 1950's. Not a fan of Dublin, but I don't like large cities anyway. Loved the rest.

35th – no worries. Mind, I might be on a Unionist hit list now though…

😉