National anthem of Northern Ireland
As Northern Ireland is a constituent country of the United Kingdom, the official national anthem is God Save the King, usually played at state events, such as British war memorials.
Two pieces of music are used to represent Northern Ireland in a sporting context:
- Londonderry Air is played as the anthem of Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. "Danny Boy" is a popular set of lyrics to the tune.
- God Save the King, the national and royal anthem of the United Kingdom, is played as the anthem of Northern Ireland at association football.
Cultural links between Northern Ireland, the rest of Ireland and the rest of the UK are complex with Northern Ireland sharing both the culture of Ireland and the culture of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland competes separately at the Commonwealth Games, and people from Northern Ireland may compete for either Great Britain or Ireland at the Olympic Games.
"Amhrán na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song), the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, is used by some organisations operating on the island of Ireland, such as the Gaelic Athletic Association.
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