God Save Ireland Unofficial National Anthem of the Irish Republi

God Save Ireland
"God Save Ireland" was the unofficial national anthem of the Irish Republic and the Irish Free State from 1919 to 1926, when it was displaced by the official Amhrán na bhFiann.

The song was written by T. D. Sullivan in 1867, and first published December 7th 1867, inspired by Edmund O'Meager Condon's speech from the dock when he stood trial along with the three Manchester Martyrs (Michael Larkin, William Phillip Allen, and Michael O'Brien).[1] After the three were executed, the song was adopted as the Fenian movement's anthem. This song shares its tune with "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Prisoner's Hope)" a song reportedly written in 1863 by George F. Root in response to conditions in the Andersonville Prison, a Confederate prison during the American Civil War.[2]

John McCormack, an Irish tenor residing in the United States, had a big hit with the number, making the first of his popular phonograph records of it in 1906. For some years he was not welcome in Great Britain because of this.

Workers during the Dublin Lockout of 1913 adapted the lyrics to "God Save Jim Larkin", after the union leader. Later the song was sung at soccer matches by fans of the Republic of Ireland team, and by those of Celtic Football Club.