"The Soldier's Song" was widely if unofficially sung by nationalists.[28] Public perception that it was officially recognised sprang from a concert on 3 February 1924 at the Theatre Royal, Dublin by the Irish Army music school under its German-born director, Colonel Fritz Brasé. As an encore to the concert, Brasé conducted "Irish March, no.1", his medley of Irish patriotic airs, which ended with that of "The Soldier's Song". Most dignitaries present stood up at this point, including Governor-General Tim Healy, Cosgrave and most of the Executive Council, although Richard Mulcahy remained seated.[24] On 28 April 1924, Cosgrave expressed opposition to replacing "The Soldier's Song", which was provisionally used within the State.[3] Sean Lester, Publicist at the Department of External Affairs considered "The Soldier's Song" to be "hardly suitable in words or music"[28] and favoured the music, though not the words, of "Let Erin Remember".[28] This was used as the anthem for the state at the 1924 Olympics in Paris,[4][n 2] and other events abroad for the next two years.[28] The Dublin Evening Mail held contests in 1924 and 1925 to find verses for a new anthem; the first produced no sufficiently good entry, and the second's winning entry was soon forgotten.[5]