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Do you know the Irish national anthem? Why/Why not?

[Deleted User]

Simple question (OK, two simple questions).
Can you sing, recite, or at least write down the words to our national anthem in either English or Irish? If you can't then why not? If you can, then where did you learn it?

I can't. The reason being no one ever deemed it necessary to teach it to me in school. Like most people I spent 13 years in primary and secondary education. None of my teachers in any class or lesson, not Irish, not history, not civics, not anything, ever once made any attempt to teach it. On finding out I didn't know it, no one expressed any interest that I should.

It was never a requirement for any exam or curriculum. Therefore by age 17 and leaving secondary school I therefore saw no reason why I should try and do it myself when nobody else was ever bothered.

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Dravokivich

Nope, it's a song I never had much interest in and then again I don't generally remember the words to songs I do have interest in.

indioblack

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I know the basic humming and grunting noises to get through it.

"You hum it son 'an I'll play it".

mickoneill31

misterbizmuth wrote: »

I can't. The reason being no one ever deemed it necessary to teach it to me in school.

Well that bits not right. I'd hope you're capable of learning plenty of stuff and don't need somebody to teach you everything.

Lady is a tramp

Yup. I went to the Gaelteacht a few times, and every morning and evening we had to stand in a big circle out in the yard and sing the whole thing.

It's a pity really that it's not taught in primary or secondary school, or at least it wasn't in the schools I went to.

KERSPLAT!

I asked in secondary school to be taught it, music teacher had no interest. Unfortunately I don't know it, to my shame. Something I will have to rectify

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Barry Badrinath

Deleted User wrote: »

And because the concept of a national anthem is very silly in 2016.

And why is that?

[Deleted User]

Speedwell wrote: »

OK, then. I'm the sort of chorister who chose to take Latin in high school, when it was very much optional in the US, because we sang in Latin in choir class and in church (to confuse all of you worthy Irish people, I was brought up Presbyterian). I worked hard to perfect my pronunciation and understanding of Hindu mantras for meditation. I guess I inwardly cringe at the idea of sounding like I learned a bunch of nonsense syllables by rote. But when you come down to brass tacks it's better than standing there with a silly smile while everyone else is doing their best.

Well, consider it a start until you have time to take an irish class

Speedwell

riffmongous wrote: »

Is the problem pronouncing the words? If you know the tune it's a pretty good start

It starts with 'shin-ne fee-ana faw-l, a-taw fwee gyal egg air-er-inn'

OK, then. I'm the sort of chorister who chose to take Latin in high school, when it was very much optional in the US, because we sang in Latin in choir class and in church (to confuse all of you worthy Irish people, I was brought up Presbyterian). I worked hard to perfect my pronunciation and understanding of Hindu mantras for meditation. I guess I inwardly cringe at the idea of sounding like I learned a bunch of nonsense syllables by rote. But when you come down to brass tacks it's better than standing there with a silly smile while everyone else is doing their best.

[Deleted User]

Do I? No.

Why not? Because it's in another language. And because the concept of a national anthem is very silly in 2016.

[Deleted User]

Speedwell wrote: »

I'm an immigrant and a musician, and it bugged me that I didn't know the national anthem. All I know is the tune, though. Nobody around here is interested in teaching a middle-aged American woman Irish, for love or for money.

Is the problem pronouncing the words? If you know the tune it's a pretty good start

It starts with 'shin-ne fee-ana faw-l, a-taw fwee gyal egg air-er-inn'

cdeb

I know the whole thing (well, chorus anyway) in Irish, but I don't really know what the second half in particular actually translates as. And I'm quite happy with that balance, seeing as most anthems seem to just be about killing your enemy anyway.

Malari

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Of course,

'Ireland, Ireland. Come the day and come the hour...'

That's the one I know too! I know the tune of the other one though.

Avatar MIA

Of course,

'Ireland, Ireland. Come the day and come the hour...'

Nah, Amhrán na bhFiann is dreadful. Know a few lines phonetically, but it doesn't have the stirring effect of the French or Welsh anthems.

But, at least we have an anthem. Unlike Britain, who have an ode to a person.

runnerholic

Shovin' connie around the field

Lyaiera

I don't know it. I was never taught it (or maybe I ignored a teacher teaching it.) I have no particular interest in learning it. If I was somehow picked for a sporting event where singing anthems was traditional I'd probably learn it. However given my age and rotundity that's unlikely.

I do know the lyrics to Flower of Scotland. And I've sung it with many pissed Scots (I was generally pissed too.)

lawlolawl

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

It's a terrible dirge

It needs a good remix to blow the cobwebs off it

Needs a few Pitbull-style airhorns in the middle of it along with numerous bass drops.

Also, guest vocals by Fetty Wap.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Speedwell wrote: »

I'm an immigrant and a musician, and it bugged me that I didn't know the national anthem. All I know is the tune, though. Nobody around here is interested in teaching a middle-aged American woman Irish, for love or for money.

Says who? I'd probably do it for love. Conas atá tú?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Speedwell wrote: »

I was pretty sure I was talking about a nation, so since you are not a nation, I am pretty sure I was really not talking about the jingoism that you do not have or the self-esteem that I am sure is perfectly adequate in your individual case.

Ok. Wrong post, so.

Speedwell

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

It's a terrible dirge

It needs a good remix to blow the cobwebs off it

It would gain a lot if it was played gently and freely on the guitar or violins, I think. Maybe even a symphonic sort of treatment. A brass band is exactly what's wrong with the thing.

Speedwell

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Eh... I'm not a nation? Or did you reply to the wrong post..?

I was pretty sure I was talking about a nation, so since you are not a nation, I am pretty sure I was really not talking about the jingoism that you do not have or the self-esteem that I am sure is perfectly adequate in your individual case.

SEPT 23 1989

It's a terrible dirge

It needs a good remix to blow the cobwebs off it

PARlance

misterbizmuth wrote: »

It was never a requirement for any exam or curriculum. Therefore by age 17 and leaving secondary school I therefore saw no reason why I should try and do it myself when nobody else was ever bothered.

That's the spirit, soldier.

corner of hells

I can sing it and I know the dance

failinis

Peregrine wrote: »

Yes, I can sing it in both Irish and English.

I was taught the Irish version in school and I looked up the English version later. I can't say that I've ever had to sing it in English but it's good to know what the words mean.

Same as. Was taught in school as a excuse to teach some Irish to be fair.

Samaris

Yiiiis and nooo. I can sing it, but it's a bit phonetic. It was drilled in at some stage, but I never really associated the sounds with the meanings of the words, so a native speaker might wonder what the hell I was singing about.

Also, the line that ends in "bearna baoil" tends to get replaced with "This is the line that no-one knows" because it scans and I can never recall the first half of it.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Speedwell wrote: »

See, that bugs me a bit, too. Jingoism is a terrible thing, but it's perfectly OK for a nation to have the equivalent of a self-esteem. Isn't it?

Eh... I'm not a nation? Or did you reply to the wrong post..?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Know the first line sort of but that's it. Never learned and don't want to learn it ever as I simply don't like it as a piece of music or song.

Speedwell

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Plus I don't particulalry care for nationalism anyway, so have no interest in it.

See, that bugs me a bit, too. Jingoism is a terrible thing, but it's perfectly OK for a nation to have the equivalent of a self-esteem. Isn't it?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

McGruber wrote: »

Yes, work.

What do you work as? Primary school teacher?