How well do you know the lyrics to “The Fields of Athenry”?

Try out our lyric quiz to see just how well you know the words to Ireland’s sporting anthem.

Frances Mulraney

Mar 24, 2017

$Try out our lyric quiz to see just how well you know the words to Ireland’s sporting anthem, \"The Fields of Athenry\".$

Try out our lyric quiz to see just how well you know the words to Ireland’s sporting anthem, "The Fields of Athenry". Tourism Ireland

The iconic “The Fields of Athenry” is screamed in football stadiums across the world as Republic of Ireland fans cheer on their team, but the world famous tune is actually a sad tale of a man who stole food for his starving family in the midst of a famine and was deported from the country in payment for his supposed crime.

Although a fictional tale, the folk ballad about the Galway town of Athenry has become an anthem since it was first written in the 1970s by Pete St. John. Although first recorded in 1979 by Danny Doyle, it only truly reached its biggest success in 1982 when it was released by Paddy Reilly, remaining in the Irish charts for 72 weeks.

No matter whether you’re Irish-born, are first-generation Irish or can trace your family’s immigration from the country back to the famine years, “The Fields of Athenry” is one of the first Irish songs that most people learn growing up but how well do you really know it?

Read more: How “The Fields of Athenry” became Ireland’s most famous song

Have a try of our lyrics quiz and let us know in the comments section how you do:

How well do you know "The Fields of Athenry"? Let us know how you scored or of any other quizzes you'd like to see us try out with our readers in the comments section.