Roll of Honour is an Irish rebel song by the Irish rebel band, the Irish Brigade. It commemorates the ten Provisional IRA and INLA volunteers who died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike in Northern Ireland. It was written by Gerry O'Glacain,[1] and was released on the band's 1983 album of the same name.[2]

The strikers are listed in the order of their death and described as being "Ireland’s bravest men". The song ends with the call to "Fight on and make our homeland a nation once again".

In 2014 the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 33, remaining in the chart for one week.[3][4]

Legislation

Since the enactment of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012, singing Roll of Honour at Scottish football matches by some supporters of Celtic F.C. has led to arrests and convictions for singing "a song in support of a proscribed terrorist organisation".[5][6] However some prosecutions have resulted in acquittals with one sheriff stating "If they can proscribe a list of songs which people are banned from singing, they will find the courts are full and the football grounds are empty."[7]

The Green Brigade group of Celtic fans believe that the 2012 Act is "a ridiculous piece of legislation" which has resulted in "expressions of Irish identity, culture and politics being deemed illegal" and highlighted the hypocrisy of the legislation at the Celtic game on 23 November 2013: while ‘Roll of Honour’ was being sung, banners were displayed containing the lyric from the Scottish national anthem: ‘they fought and died for; their wee bit hill and glen’.[8]

In December 2013, seven members of the Green Brigade appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of having behaved in a way that "is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder" by singing the Roll of Honour at Celtic Park, with trial set for June 2014.[9] In April 2015 two men were initially convicted of charges surrounding the singing of the pro-IRA song at a match between Hibs and Celtic at Easter Road on 19 October 2013.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Warfield, Derek; Daly, Raymond (24 October 2008). Celtic & Ireland in song and story. Dublin: Derek Warfield. p. 79. ISBN 9780956104700. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Irish Brigade – Roll Of Honour (CD)". Discogs. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "BBC angers unionists by playing 'terror' song 'The Roll Of Honour' in Radio 1 Top 40". The Independent. 16 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Official Charts Company". Official Charts. 22 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Celtic fan denies singing pro IRA songs at Dundee match www.bbc.co.uk, 13 February 2013
  6. ↑ Celtic fan banned for sectarian singing at Tannadice www.thecourier.co.uk, 19 September 2013
  7. ↑ Crown considers appealing Celtic fan's not guilty verdict over Dundee disorder charge www.bbc.co.uk, 11 April 2013
  8. ↑ Green Brigade Statement 27.11.13 ultras-celtic.com, 28 November 2013
  9. ↑ Celtic Green Brigade fans face trial over 'IRA song' www.bbc.co.uk, 17 December 2013
  10. ↑ Williams, Martin (22 April 2015). "Top judge says Irish rebel song sung by fans will be regarded as "threatening and offensive"". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
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