Irish folk singer Damien Dempsey has released a tribute song in honour of Derry-born footballer James McClean, with the tune also referencing his stance on not wearing a poppy.
The Dublin singer-songwriter dedicated his latest ballad, which appears on his new album Hold Your Joy, to the Republic of Ireland and Wrexham winger.
The tune is aptly titled ‘James McClean’ and references sectarian abuse the footballer has faced across his career for identifying as Irish.
In the past McClean has famously refused to wear an embroidered remembrance poppy on his football shirt each season, believing it to be a “gesture of disrespect” towards victims of the Troubles, especially those who died in the Bloody Sunday massacre in his home city back in 1972.
McClean has regularly been targeted with abuse by football fans for the decision and disclosed that he has received death threats in the past.
The Dubliner’s tune comes ahead of Remembrance Sunday next month, with lyrics such as: “He walks into the stadium to compete with the best, but he’s greeted with hatred all because of his vest.
“He would wear one for soldiers who died in the world wars but won’t wear one for killers who kicked in Irish doors.
“James McClean, James McClean, James McClean.
“We must commend his bravery; he stands up to the mob.”
In 2014 the footballer published a letter to Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan outlining his reasons for refusing to wear a poppy.
He said that “if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one”.
“I want to make that 100pc clear. You must understand this. But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me,” McClean’s letter continued.
“For people from the north of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different.
“Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially – as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.
“It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people, to my people.”
Last year, speaking to Sky Sports, McClean added that he thought his stance would “pave the way for young Irish lads”.
“Maybe I was a bit naive in thinking you know, with me being the one that took the stand first, it’ll pave way for young Irish lads coming through and it doesn’t seem to be the case,” he added.
“I speak to a lot of people and I’ve had players say that they don’t believe in wearing the poppy and they wouldn’t wear it, but they just don’t want to the hassle.”
In 2021, the Royal British Legion, which runs the Poppy Appeal, defended McClean’s stance, saying: “To insist that people wear a poppy would be contrary to everything that it stands for. We offer our full support to James for exercising his right to choose not to wear a poppy.”