'This will be fun': New role for Limerick's former Munster rugby star

EX-MUNSTER rugby player Barry Murphy once thrilled fans with his footwork on the pitch but now he will rely on his vocal chords as he steps up to perform the national anthem at Ireland's next four fixtures at home and away.

Barry, who is used to performing as part of his band Hermitage Green, will become the first former-Ireland international to sing Ireland's Call when he does so ahead of Saturday's clash with the All Blacks in Chicago.

He will sing Amhrán na bhFiann as well as Ireland's Call at the Aviva Stadium then for each of the three home November Tests against Japan, Australia and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.

Barry never had the opportunity to sing Amhrán na bhFiann when lining out for Ireland because he won all his four international caps away from home – two in Argentina on the 2007 summer tour, and one each in Canada and the USA on the 2009 summer tour.

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The Irish Independent reported that the 42-year-old has spent the last few weeks rehearsing Ireland’s Call in his local studio in Limerick, and that he is very nervous. “To quote Shane Lowry, ‘I have a chance to do the coolest thing in my life.’ That’s the way I’ve tried to look at it. That line just really grabbed me when he said that at the Ryder Cup a few weeks ago."

“There’s definitely different ways you can prepare yourself mentally for these things. And Shane probably learned the hard ways of golf, that you can approach a shot like that and be thinking, ‘Please don’t f**k this up for everyone!’"

Barry's children, twins Mick and Annabelle enjoy singing the national anthem and learned it in creche before the 2023 World Cup. "They know every word to Ireland’s Call, although they say ‘the four proud promises of Ireland.’ I’m trying not to f**k that up!”