The Bandon native’s spine-tingling version of Amhrán na bhFiann leaves NFL crowd in awe at Croke Park.
Cork singer Lyra
28 September 2025; Pittsburgh Steelers players run out before the 2025 NFL International Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
A Cork-born singer says her ‘heart is bursting’ with all the support and praise she has received following what has been described as a ‘beautiful’ rendition of the National Anthem at the NFL game in Dublin.
Bandon native Lyra, whose music has featured on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Love Island, was tasked with singing Amhrán na bhFiann ahead of the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Dublin this weekend between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.
While the game saw the Steelers hang on for a 3-point victory, much of the talk after the game was about a different kind of performance on the pitch, as Lyra sang The Soldier’s Song in her own style, finishing with a rousing crescendo for the final line.
In a striking white dress with green collars and her name emblazoned across her shoulders, the singer delivered what those watching described as ‘beautiful’ and ‘leaving them with chills’ on the official NFL Instagram page.
The 32-year-old, who had previously talked about her experience of being bullied as a youngster in the West Cork town, has had a meteoric rise in the past few years, and this performance is sure to put her in focus for the sought-after American audience.
Thousands of positive comments came in on social media, praising the singer-songwriter for her rendition of the song at Croke Park, and she took to social media to give her thanks.
“My heart is still bursting and the happy tears just keep on coming,” she said in an Instagram story.
“Singing the anthem yesterday was one of the scariest and most beautiful moments of my life, and the love you’ve shown me since has completely overwhelmed me.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for every single message. You will never know how much your support means to me.
“I’ll carry this feeling with me forever,” she signed off, with an animated tricolour underneath.
According to NFL figures, 74,512 were in attendance for the game, which marks the first of what the league hopes will be many regular-season games at the famous stadium, which hosted the college football meeting of Kansas State and Iowa State only a few weeks previously.
Cork’s Lyra has certainly put her best foot forward for the callback!