Irish anthem is voted top song by BBC poll
An Irish anthem has been named the world's most popular song in a poll by the BBC World Service.
It was the version of A Nation Once Again by the folk group The Wolfe Tones which topped the global poll.
The song was written in 1841 by Thomas Davis, the leader of the Young Ireland movement.
It beat classics such as John Lennon's Imagine and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody to take the title.
Vande Mataram, a Hindi song first featured in the 1950s movie Anan Mutt, was voted into second place.
The Wolfe Tones's surprise win is down to an online campaign in which an e-mail circulated around the world encouraging Irish ex-pats to cast their vote. The band have just returned from a pub tour of the United States.
Band member Brian Warfield said: "We didn't expect this at all and we can't quite believe it. To be voted ahead of The Beatles is quite an achievement. We haven't had quite the same global profile as they've had.
"There is a big Irish connection right around the world and they seem to have organised a good little campaign."
More than 150,000 votes from 153 countries were cast in the poll, which marked the 70th anniversary of the World Service. DJ Steve Wright will count down the top 10 on his weekly World Service show Wright Round The World on Saturday night.
The Top Ten songs are:
1. A Nation Once Again - The Wolfe Tones (Ireland);
2. Vande Mataram - Various Artists (India);
3 Dil Dil Pakistan - Vital Signs (Pakistan);
4 Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu - Ilayaraja (India);
5 Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu - Thirumalia Chandran (India);
6. Ana wa Laila - Kazem El Saher (Iraq);
7 Reetu Haruma Timi - Arun Thapa (Nepal);
8 Believe - Cher (US);
9 Chaiyya Chaiyya - A R Rahman (India);
10 Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (UK)
