HERE’S WHAT YOU were making in to a mixtape to play on that boom box you were saving up for 25 years ago…

10. Hooray. Hooray.

Banjos, folksy chorus, ‘Paddy’s on his way’: This is the song the rest of the world expected of us.

9.Release the little Bollocks

When Father Ted was just a twinkle in the eye of Scrap Saturday, Dermont Morgan was acing satire on the stage with this Christy Moore-esque protest song on behalf of the rebel Eamon Dunphy.

8. We are the Boys in Green

YEAH WE ARE!

While this was issued as an official song for Euro 88, it naturally fits well with the tournament that came two years later too.

Check out Mick Byrne’s hypnotic dance moves that lull Packie Bonner into a slow dance.

Also, Niall Quinn’s hair FTW!

7. World In Motion

“You can be slow or fast but you must get to the line,”  enough said.

6.  Give it a lash Jack

This song was, shall we say, of its time. Annoyingly catchy, but with some questionable rhyming couplets.

5. Watch Your House

Paul McGrath’s attempt at rapping was even worse than John Barnes’, but this Motown-Showband fusion did at least wedge a few ‘ooh ahhs’ in there.

4. Time of My Life

This song will forever be synonymous with people in Celtic jerseys  hanging out of lamp-posts on the news.

See it in that context from 7.40 in the video above, or in the boring way in the one below.

3. The Game

Before T-Swizz got all young and restless,  mmming along about how she loved the game, The Memories were all over it, turning a Billy Joel classic in to an Irish history lesson.

2. Nessun Dorma

With or without a bit of classic football in the background, Luciano and his choir make the hairs on our neck stand up every time.

1. Put ‘em under pressure

The song of a united people. Combining the Horse Lips with the gruff tones of Jack Charlton, this was the mash-up that all others have come to be judged upon.

Click here for more of The42’s commemorative coverage >