The National Anthem, called The Soldier's Song was written in 1907 by Peadar Kearney, an uncle of Brendan Behan. It was first published in the newspaper, Irish Freedom in 1912, but was not widely known until it was sung at the GPO during the Easter Rising of 1916. The chorus was formally adopted as the National Anthem in 1926.

You can listen to the 'Army Band' playing the National Anthem (File 1022kb).

If you would like to play the music on a musical instrument you can read the music (File 263kb) .

A section of the National Anthem (consisting of the first four bars followed by the last five) is also the Presidential Salute.