Amhrán na bhFiann be thought to school children?

dvpower · 17-11-2009 01:02AM

Yes. Kids should be thought it. But just the Irish version, so they won't understand the words.:rolleyes:

Xavi6 · 17-11-2009 01:13AM

I was never taught it in school. Had to learn it in the Gaeltacht at 15 and glad I did. We should teach it to all kids, but replace the last line with a cheer and a "C'mon Ireland!". More practical in long run

Run_to_da_hills · 17-11-2009 10:39AM

I was once at a 21st in Tipperary where Amhran Na Bfiann was repeated three times in a row because someone a the back of the pub would not stand up and pay attention, he eventually got the message.

Shivers26 · 17-11-2009 11:29AM

My 10 year old still doesnt know it. The school teacher he had 2 years ago played for the Dublin GAA team as well.

I dont think there is any harm in kids leaning it. I wonder will it be phased out and replaced with Irelands Call?

Did you ever notice though at rugby or football internationals, a vast number of Irish players
a. Dont sing the national anthem at all, or
b. Try to sing the anthem but clearly dont know the words
Every other country seems to know theirs!

siobhan.murphy · 17-11-2009 11:35AM

Shivers26 wrote: »

My 10 year old still doesnt know it. The school teacher he had 2 years ago played for the Dublin GAA team as well.

I dont think there is any harm in kids leaning it. I wonder will it be phased out and replaced with Irelands Call?

Did you ever notice though at rugby or football internationals, a vast number of Irish players
a. Dont sing the national anthem at all, or
b. Try to sing the anthem but clearly dont know the words
Every other country seems to know theirs!

why leave everything up to the teachers?
teach it to them yourself.
it's on the inside of every GAA hurling/football programme.

BraziliaNZ · 17-11-2009 11:42AM

I never knew the words and I went to a Gaelscoil. Kevin Kilbane seems to sing along with gusto though and he's English!

ro09 · 17-11-2009 11:57AM

I would sing along to it and am proud of my country but when you really think about it any song that talks about guns and killing people is wrong. so I dont think it should be taught to children.

Fratton Fred · 17-11-2009 12:13PM

DazMarz wrote: »

And as for not teaching it because it's about killing and war... so many anthems are: French anthem is totally bloodthirsty; British one has references to killing fenians and frustrating their knavish tricks;

Where's that then?

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Verses get written all the time, including one in support of Marshall Wade. This was never adopted in the generally accepted national anthem though but is often quoted to show how bad the Brits really are. it is usually accompanied by the "Fact" that British citizens are "Subjects". I have never seen any references to fenians at all though

if in doubt, ask HRH herself http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/NationalAnthem.aspx

Anyway, back on topic, I find it amazing that people don't know their national anthem. I mean, how much effort does it take.

People can learn "Our Fathers", "Hail Mary's" and the Rosary, but they somehow can't manage the National Anthem. It's pretty poor really.

I must admit though, I usually struggle after the first two lines of Jerusalem:D

Macca07 · 17-11-2009 12:17PM

Was having this discussion with my OH the other day, she wasn't taught it in school, I was. And I think everyone should be, its our National Anthem. We were even taught the meaning of it as well

Macca07 · 17-11-2009 12:21PM

Shivers26 wrote: »

I wonder will it be phased out and replaced with Irelands Call?

It better not be!!!

Shivers26 wrote: »

Every other country seems to know theirs!

Not true

toiletduck · 17-11-2009 12:23PM

We weren't taught it in school, though we did have a poster of the Easter Proclamation outside each of the jacks. That'll instill patriotism in kids aswell..

fryup wrote: »

we're in the middle of a peace process in this island we need a new less confrontational anthem for the future generations

I nominate 'Rock and Roll Kids'

Dublin_Gunner · 17-11-2009 12:27PM

I was never taught it in school, though I did go to a multi-denominational school.

I do however think it most certainly should be taught, along with the meaning for the song too.

There's no sense teaching kids our anthem, and not having them understand it.

Its part of our history & heritage, and as such, should be respected. Sure, the lyrics are referencing a time long past, and this should also be explained.

Our national history and struggle, and fight for freedom and independence should be taught with more fervour also. This blooming country has forgotten who it is for the most part.

I'm not saying that we should all start storing guns and attacking Brits lol but we have a lot of history, and a lot of people died for what we have now, and this should be bred into every child in school.

If nothing else, it teaches that if you really want something, you have to work bloody hard and make sacrifices, and not be a lazy little shít getting everything handed to you.

No sense skimming over the fact that our national anthem is nationalistic & militaristic either - most anthems are.

Once again, most people who would say it shouldn't be taught, are the bloomin' PC brigade.

Political Correctness has ruined us IMO.

c'mon Ireland!

Bill2673 · 17-11-2009 12:28PM

Have always thought its a crap song, never inspired any pride in me, will always associate it with having to stand like a tool for three minutes at the end of the night in some country disco.

Should it be taught to kids in school? Thats subjective. What might be right for your kids mighn't be right for my kids. (the obvious undertone to the question, of course, is that kids don't have a say in the matter in the first place).

If I want my kids to learn civic pride about Ireland, i would bring them to the All-Ireland Hurling final, or to Newgrange or West Kerry.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 17-11-2009 12:31PM

I think we should teach them the canadian anthem, at least Canada's a country that's worth half a damn.

wudangclan · 17-11-2009 12:39PM

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Once again, most people who would say it shouldn't be taught, are the bloomin' PC brigade.

Political Correctness has ruined us IMO.

c'mon Ireland!

An aversion to instilling violence in children is not PC,imo.

dudara · 17-11-2009 12:40PM

Yes it should be taught.

The theme of the song may no longer be relevant, but that doesn't mean that it should be booted out in favour of Ireland's Call (or insert another). It does convey a sense of our history and heritage. Like or not, we did have to fight to gain independence.

We have a problem with it in this country because of the fact that the IRA continued to terrorise following our independence. Thus being patriotric and proud of the fact that we fought for our freedom has become tainted by the subequent actions of the IRA.

Being patriotic and proud does not mean that you are an IRA-head or that you have 32 tattooed somewhere on your body.

Agricola · 17-11-2009 12:42PM

It should be thought in school yes. Its embarrassing if you dont know it. I remember watching an Ireland v Wales 5 Nations match years ago with my Welsh 'uncle in law' He belted out Land Of My Fathers in Welsh and then when Amhrán na bhFiann came around, he encouraged me to sing up. All i could manage were the first couple of lines before defaulting to pidgeon pseudo-Irish and finally "doo doo dooooo, da da dooo, da dooo dooo doooooo!"

Wasnt my best moment - I have since learned it though.

Dont mind the content of the thing. Do other nations worry about their equally militaristic anthems when their singing them with gusto. No they dont. Its the song of the country, we should know, even we if choose not to sing it for whatever personal reasons.

I also think its abit of a cod that I could (and still can) recite any number of catholic prayers verbatim, but didnt know the national anthem untill I took some time to learn it myself. Priorities in schools were abit scewed there.

Xavi6 · 17-11-2009 12:43PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I was once at a 21st in Tipperary where Amhran Na Bfiann was repeated three times in a row because someone a the back of the pub would not stand up and pay attention, he eventually got the message.

Maybe he was waiting on the real thing -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhc7rVF3e_4

Dublin_Gunner · 17-11-2009 12:44PM

wudangclan wrote: »

An aversion to instilling violence in children is not PC,imo.

Exactly how is it instilling violence??

Did you even read my post??

Its called 'teaching'.

Lets surround our children in cotton wool and protect them from all the bad in the world so they can grow up knowing nothing, think life is a bed of roses, and become a big bunch of soft PC brigaders.

Good idea batman.

BraziliaNZ · 17-11-2009 12:45PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

I think we should teach them the canadian anthem, at least Canada's a country that's worth half a damn.

Worst. Anthem. Ever.

Wtf sort of post is that anyway?

wudangclan · 17-11-2009 12:52PM

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Exactly how is it instilling violence??

Did you even read my post??

Its called 'teaching'.

Lets surround our children in cotton wool and protect them from all the bad in the world so they can grow up knowing nothing, think life is a bed of roses, and become a big bunch of soft PC brigaders.

Good idea batman.

Then why not use the 'My Little Armalite' song.
It's a little more up to date at least.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHY14OVk7r0&feature=PlayList&p=0C2C0FA7F4412861&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=28

Dublin_Gunner · 17-11-2009 12:59PM

wudangclan wrote: »

Then why not use the 'My Little Armalite' song.
It's a little more up to date at least.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHY14OVk7r0&feature=PlayList&p=0C2C0FA7F4412861&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=28

You're just being stupid now TBH

gurramok · 17-11-2009 01:43PM

wudangclan wrote: »

An aversion to instilling violence in children is not PC,imo.

You better take Quake and Doom away from that kid on his PS3 or Xbox, don't want double standards now do we.

aDeener · 17-11-2009 01:53PM

Eh it is taught, well i was taught it anyway in both english and irish. i am happy that i was

genericguy · 17-11-2009 01:58PM

the national anthem should be changed to dearg doom.

/thread

Dublin_Gunner · 17-11-2009 01:59PM

gurramok wrote: »

You better take Quake and Doom away from that kid on his PS3 or Xbox, don't want double standards now do we.

While you're at it, better disconnect NTL & throw out the radio's, not buy the paper, and probably just lock the kid in a padded room until its 18.

aDeener · 17-11-2009 02:51PM

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

While you're at it, better disconnect NTL & throw out the radio's, not buy the paper, and probably just lock the kid in a padded room until its 18.

whoah not all kids mature at 18, they will all have to be individually assessed to see if they can handle such abhorrent things!!

aDeener · 17-11-2009 02:52PM

wudangclan wrote: »

An aversion to instilling violence in children is not PC,imo.

Lord bless us it really and truly does take all sorts

:rolleyes:

Cokeistan · 17-11-2009 02:56PM

we were thought it in primary school 7 or 8 years ago

Dublin_Gunner · 17-11-2009 02:59PM

aDeener wrote: »

whoah not all kids mature at 18, they will all have to be individually assessed to see if they can handle such abhorrent things!!

Apologies, how closed minded of me

Amhrán na bhFiann be thought to school children?

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