A recently launched initiative aims to encourage as many people as possible to learn the Irish national anthem.
Rachel J. Cooper, the author of Our National Anthem, is leading the Learn Our Anthem initiative,.
It aims to encourage people to learn the words to Ireland’s national anthem, ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ (The Soldier’s Song).
The Learn Our Anthem initiative by Abair Linn Publishing and supported by the GAA was officially launched on 30 January at Dublin’s Croke Park.
This book targets children and aims to teach them the exact words of Ireland’s National Anthem.
The Learn Our Anthem initiative – encouraging people to learn the Irish national anthem
Rachel J. Cooper said, “I think we all know something about the majority of us in Ireland, a somewhat sad truth – most of us don’t know the words to our national anthem ‘Amhrán na bhFiann‘ or ‘The Soldier’s Song’.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if all Irish children in the future knew their national anthem for life? Singing it with depth of feeling and pronouncing every word correctly?”
She continued, “A few years back, I went to a sports match, and during the singing of the national anthem, I realized that I didn’t know the words past the second line.
“I also realized that people around me were mumbling uncomfortably or looking at their phones. I then embarked on some minor research, asking people in general if they could sing the words starting with family and friends. Very few could”.
Competition – involving schools around Ireland
The Learn Our Anthem initiative’s official launch was accompanied by a competition for school children. Furthermore, the competition is supported by Schoolbooks.ie and the GAA.
This competition encourages all primary schools in Ireland from third to sixth class to attempt to learn the Irish anthem. Then, send a video of their performance in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
The winning school will receive a specially commissioned Abair Linn trophy and a special guided tour of the GAA museum at Croke Park.
Cooper said about the competition, “This competition is a fun and engaging way of encouraging kids to learn it.
“The campaign is being launched purely from a cultural identity viewpoint; it’s a cohesive and countrywide effort so that we are no longer the only country in the world where the majority do not know their own anthem.
“If we all worked together to bring awareness to this project, I believe that we could make this year the year that families learn it together”.
2023 – the 100th anniversary of the Irish national anthem
2023 is the 100th anniversary of the Irish national anthem being officially published in Irish. Cooper claims that there is “no better time” to learn the anthem and to show pride in the Irish language.
“Amhrán na bhFiann is the most famous Irish song in the world. I think we should all know it” said Cooper.
Cooper also revealed that many parents told her that while their children would learn the words to the Irish national anthem at school before St. Patrick’s Day, they would then usually go on to forget them afterwards quickly.
“Our national anthem may be written in our national language and harder for many to learn – but is that not the reason we should know it?” asked Cooper.
