THE Pogues front man Shane MacGowan has once again joined forces with two Co Longford brothers to record a song to inspire the Republic of Ireland football team to glory.
Je t'aime Irlande is a play on the Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin classic Je T'aime Moi Non Plus and also features Joe Rooney of Father Ted fame (Fr Damo) and a host of others, including a 50-piece choir.
Back in 2012 Les Cronins - brothers Johnny and Michael Cronin from Drumlish - collaborated with MacGowan to create the Euro 2012 song The Rocky Road to Poland, which featured on the soundtrack of The Hardy Bucks Movie.
Friends for over 10 years, the singer was happy to come on board once again to get behind Martin O'Neill's troops.
"We love Ireland and we love football so we have joined them together in the best way we could see how in this tune," Johnny Cronin told the Irish News.
"It's our second Republic of |Ireland song with Shane, so please God it will be part of a trilogy if we make it to the world cup."
The latest song, released on Friday on itunes and spotify, will hope to emulate the success of its predecessor which topped the traditional Irish itunes chart.
"It will be out there. We know it's going to be played in France already," he said.
"Serge Gainsbourg is massive over there and I suppose Shane is the Serge Gainsbourg of Ireland so it is a mix of the Gallic traditions.
"We hope to go the whole way and this song will help. We'll put the song out there and see where it lands in France."
The Republic of Ireland begin their Euro 16 campaign against Sweden today in Paris. The match at the Stade de France kicks off at 5pm.
You can listen to the song online at soundcloud.com or download it on itunes or spotify.
