Last Saturday night in Belfast, the Fields Of Athenry rang out in Ravenhill for the opening minute of Ulster's Champions Cup game against Exeter.
It was a moment of recognition for Anthony Foley which Brian O'Driscoll, on commentary for BT Sport, described as spine-tingling. Just prior, an impeccably observed minute's silence for the Munster head coach was also held.
Earlier in the week, Ulster announced that they would be reciprocating Munster's tribute to Nevin Spence by placing a plaque in memory of Anthony Foley in their dressing room. The singing was further evidence to the respect between the two provinces.
In his as always excellent column in the Irish Examiner, Ronan O'Gara has sung the praises of Ulster and their fans for that 60 second salute.
What is very important to me is the massive progress the game of rugby has made in Ireland when you watch the Ulster fans singing 'The Fields of Athenry' in salute to Axel in Belfast against Exeter. Straight from the kick-off, in Ravenhill of all places. We give out enough times about Ulster but to show their glass by doing that was magnificent. And it wasn't just a small corner, it was the whole ground singing. Incredible. Thank you.
Ulster and Munster play tonight at Ravenhill in the PRO12. O'Gara says that Munster cannot try to replicate last weekend's victory against Glasgow in terms of emotional investment but that
Once the two provinces kick off tonight in the PRO12 at the same ground, Ulster fans will expect their lads to kick lumps out of Munster - and that's fine too. For the visitors, coming off last Saturday, it's like a new page and the mistake would be trying to repeat the Glasgow experience and emotion. Munster must treat it as a one-off, a special day for those players who experienced it. Tonight's starting over, but subsconsciously the Munster players will have taken a huge amount of self-confidence from that performance against Glasgow.
We urge you to pick up the Irish Examiner today for further insight into O'Gara's thoughts about last weekend's unforgettable events at Thomond Park.
