With Euro 2016 kicking-off today, here's a timely look at the best and rest of the football songs celebrating the Republic of Ireland's participation at various tournaments over the decades.
This year's European Championship marks the sixth major football tournament that's included the Republic of Ireland. Along with creating a Leprechaun hat and inflatable hammer industry, It's led to pop anthems of varying quality, a heap of hits, and a hell of a lot of tuneless singing in pubs. Thankfully this year's official FAI anthem, Seo Linn's The Irish Roar is a bit of a belter.
What constitutes the best and worst songs sung for the Boys in Green is - of course - largely a matter of taste. But TEN's John Byrne is both a serious football fan and a music lover. Here's what he thinks:
THE PREMIER DIVISION
1: Put Them Under Pressure
If Euro '88 was the great adventure into the unknown for Irish football fans, Italia 90 had the entire country in such a state it seemed like we were all transfixed for the whole month of June.
Ask anyone who was around back then: no one did a tap.
Put Them Under Pressure was the official song of the Republic of Ireland squad and cleverly blended elements of Dearg Doom, We're All Part of Jackie's Army, the Olé chant that had recently been popularised, and Jack Charlton's immortal pre-match catchphrase: 'We'll put 'em under pressure'.
Produced by U2's Larry Mullen, it featured an intro by Moya Brennan of Clannad and it's basically become an alternate national anthem. Olé!
2: Joxer Goes to Stuttgart
Now here's a song that succinctly sums up what it was like to have experienced at first hand the thrill of seeing the Republic of Ireland debut at a major football tournament. And beat England.
Released in the wake of euphoria that followed Euro 88, Moore's ode to the fictitious Joxer and his mates as they travelled to that fateful game in Stuttgart still resonates. It's also quite brilliant, and proves Moore's stature as a great storyteller.
It just doesn't get more zeitgeisty than this, and here's just one of the song's many great couplets:
'There were fans from Ballyfermot, Ballybough and Ballymun
On the journey of a lifetime and the craic was ninety one'
3: Jack's Heroes
The Pogues and The Dubliners got together - like nearly everyone else - to record a song for Italia 90. Typically, what you got was a cracking tune that rattles along and smells as much of stout as sweat.
The accompanying video shows the two bands playing football in Shelbourne's Tolka Park. The Dubliners in shorts!!!!
Coincidentally, this great song honouring Englishman Jack Charlton's squad was written by Pogues' tin whistle player Spider Stacy - another Englishman.
4: The Game
Billy Joel wrote We Didn't Start the Fire as a list song, reflecting on national and international incidents that had occurred during his lifetime.
Then Dublin band The Memories got their markers out and made it Green.
Sure, some of the lyrics are naff, but there's a great energy and enthusiasm at work here. And it was a smart choice as a cover.
5: Here Come The Good Times
Originally this was a 1996 song written by Dave Couse, the main man in quirky Irish band A House. He produced this football version, which was recorded with Nicky Byrne and Christy Dignam, as well as Ireland's 2002 World Cup squad.
Ironically, the greatest row in Irish sports' history occurred when the squad arrived in Saipan ahead of the tournament. And while Keane-McCarthy was the mother of all spats, this tune hit the spot.
THE SUNDAY LEAGUE
1: Watch Your House for Ireland
The 1994 World Cup was ultimately disappointing from an Irish perspective, and we should've expected that, really, following the release of this flaccid track.
It was the official song by the Republic of Ireland squad, was sung by Christy Dignam, and of course it got to number one. But it was dull, dull, dull!
2: Rocky Road to Poland
This surprisingly wooden and uninspired interpretation/re-write of Rocky Road to Dublin by Damien Dempsey was the official anthem of the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2012.
The song is apparently the last recording that featured the late Barney McKenna and the final single released featuring The Dubliners. Bressie and Danny O’Reilly are among the guest vocalists. Ho and, well, hum.
3: We Are the Boys in Green
The original of the species. Written by the late journalist and musician Michael Carwood, this song was the official ditty by Ireland's 1988 European Championship squad and spent four weeks at number one.
But being first doesn't make it the best. Although it's clearly well-intentioned, We Are the Boys in Green never gets out of first gear. You could call it the Love Me Do of Irish football songs.
4: Put the Green Cape On
This was a re-write of Jedward's Lipstick to coincide with Euro 2012, which came a year after the twins had represented Ireland at the Eurovision with the original. The new lyrics were written by 2FM DJ Colm Hayes.
In years to come this will be held up as a prime example of the Jedward phenomenon - and a musical reminder of that daft haircut of theirs. As a football song, it's pretty forgettable.
5: Hand Me a Beret
Admittedly there's a good few to choose from this year. This Dublin Spin 103 FM effort by Zoo Crew presenters, Graham and Nathan is the 'Official Unofficial' song for Euro 2016, so while it might be cruel to get the boot in, it is pretty low rent. The hokey video actually makes it worse. And yes there's a bad rap in the middle.
Nice try though lads - just don't give up the day jobs just yet!
