Ireland's Call is divisive to say the least but the rendition that rang out around the Aviva Stadium on Saturday was unlike any we've heard in recent years.
England were the visitors for a blockbuster Saturday evening tie to round out the opening weekend of the Six Nations.
Ireland came into the game as back-to-back defending champions but their only Six Nations defeat of the past two years did come at the hands of England in last year's Twickenham epic.
Much was made of the lacklustre atmosphere for the series of November internationals and the IRFU evidently took it to heart, with several changes made to the pre-match programme to get the crowd going on Lansdowne Road.
Fans were encouraged to arrive early to build up to the game and, by the time the teams emerged for the anthems, the Aviva was packed.
We've seen scenes of emotion during Ireland's Call down through the years but, as an unexpectedly bombastic rendition rang around the stadium on Saturday, it was laughter rather than tears that the Irish team were trying to hide.
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Irish team holding in laughter during unexpectedly rousing rendition of Ireland's Call
Paul Byrom was the man tasked with singing God Save the King, Amhrán na bhFiann, and Ireland's Call in the Aviva on Saturday evening.
Formerly of Celtic Thunder, Byrom clearly got the message to bring some rousing energy to the pre-match ceremonies. His bombastic, operatic take on Ireland's Call brought some hilarious reactions from the home team.
Ireland’s Call ☘
Un moment toujours spécial à l’Aviva Stadium de Dublin 🤩
📺 @FranceTV#IREvENG | #SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/CDTQVB9Wuz— Six Nations (FR) (@SixNations_FR) February 1, 2025
The cameras picked up the Irish team reacting to Byrom's operatic tone, with some doing a better job than others of hiding their surprise.
Caelan Doris seemed particularly bemused, with the Ireland captain struggling to contain hints of laughter to the newfound operatic style.
It must be said that the singer absolutely nailed all three anthems, with the Irish team merely taken aback by an unfamiliar approach to the divisive anthem.
Incredibly, Byrom would launch straight into a fourth number as the players prepared for kick-off. As the TV commentators rattled through the lineups, Byrom could be heard belting out the Fields of Athenry, in an attempt to get the crowd singing ahead of kick-off. A Balls.ie source in the Aviva described the reaction as mixed.
The IRFU have certainly tried to shake things up after criticism of the atmosphere on Lansdowne Road - it will be intriguing to see if this new take on Ireland's Call is here to stay.
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