Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise with the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and Members and to commend the campaign launched yesterday by Rachel J. Cooper at Croke Park for people to learn the words of the national anthem, "Amhrán na bhFiann". There is a startling statistic that many people in this country apparently do not know the words to "Amhrán na bhFiann". A campaign is being aimed at third-class to sixth-class students, who are invited to send videos of themselves singing the national anthem. I remember when I went to primary school, the national anthem was always on the inside cover of your homework journal. I probably learned the national anthem as a six-year-old because I was in Croke Park every Sunday and the words of the national anthem were on the programmes. Being successful back then was something you learned on a weekly basis. I was proud to go to Cork last Sunday and belt it out in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the juggernaut of Meath football relaunched again when we defeated the Cathaoirleach's county.It is a serious campaign.

I pay tribute to Rachel J. Cooper for doing this. Ms Cooper is the author of Our National Anthem, a children's book. The fact that it has instigated such a debate already is amazing. There were significant debates on the breakfast programme on Newstalk yesterday about people who actually do not know the words to the national anthem. Dr. Ciara Kelly talked about how she visited to Ghana and representatives there stood up and sang their national anthem. Of the 30 people present from Ireland, not one knew the words of the Irish national anthem. That is quite a startling statistic. This campaign is worthy of the support of the Oireachtas in order that we will get a generation of young children who know the words to their national anthem.