“Danny Boy” played as Irish anthem upsets gold medal boxer

Northern Irish boxer Paddy Barnes has caused a storm after declaring “that’s not my anthem” when the band played “Danny Boy” on the victory podium at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland yesterday.

The Catholic West Belfast native Barnes, who won gold at the games, was expecting “The Soldiers' Song,” the Irish Republic anthem, as boxing is a 32-county sport in Ireland.

His reaction caught on television and online caused an angry Twitter storm, especially among Northern Ireland unionists.

However, Barnes replied saying “So I said that’s not my anthem, so who cares. It’s not that NI (Northern Ireland) hasn’t got one educate yourselves, football is GTSQ (God Save the Queen) so make your minds up,”

“I won that medal for everyone that supports me, Catholics and Protestants alike. I don’t ask what your religion is! Some clowns out there.”