Boos during English anthem ‘disgraceful’ and ‘childish’
The booing of God Save The King by Irish fans has been described by one loyalist as “disrespectful” and “classless”. Ireland lost 2-0 to England in the Nations League opener on Saturday, with Taoiseach Simon Harris and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in attendance. Thousands of people in the crowd could be heard booing the English anthem God Save the King when it was played ahead of the match. On Newstalk Breakfast, loyalist organiser Moore Holmes said he thought the booing gave people in his community an insight into how people in the Republic view the United Kingdom. “It’s not so much that I’m not happy,” he said. “I just think it is a demonstration of people’s attitudes south of the border. “I think when you look at what happened at the Aviva Stadium, 50,000 or so Irish fans booing and jeering your British neighbours’ sacred song, I don’t think that’s a good look for Irish fans.” When presenter Shane Coleman – who was at the match – disputed his claim that 50,000 people had booed the anthem, Mr Holmes said the exact number was not important. “Regardless of the finite detail of how many people did it, it was classless, churlish and it was a demonstration of disrespect from Irish people to their British neighbours,” he said.