National anthem singing backed by county council

The learning and singing of Ireland’s national anthem should be made compulsory in all schools, a Cork county councillor has said.

In Monday’s full meeting of the council, Aontú representative Peter O’Donoghue pointed out that this summer marks the centenary of the official adoption of ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ by the Irish State in July 1926.

In his motion, Cllr O’Donoghue drew on his own time spent living in Alberta, Canada, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of fostering national identity from a young age.

“The first thing that you would hear every Monday morning was the national anthem of Canada being sung by the pupils, and it was a very powerful experience,” Cllr O’Donoghue said.

The Fermoy councillor went on to note that countries such as New Zealand, Kenya, Mexico, India, and the United States already implement similar mandatory practices.

While the motion received was supported across the floor, a number of councillors expressed reservations regarding the “compulsory” nature of the proposal, particularly for secondary schools.

Independent Cllr Daniel Sexton and Fine Gael Cllr Una McCarthy both raised concerns about forcing the measure onto an already tightly structured second-level timetable.

“I don't think it needs to be sung every week in school,” said Cllr Sexton, adding that if children were to learn the anthem well in primary school, there would be no need to continue the practice at second level.

Addressing councillor O’Donoghue, Fianna Fáil Cllr Gobnait Moynihan added: “I have pride in my flag and in my national anthem, and I imagine you do too, and I imagine that's the basis of your motion. But I would be uncomfortable with the compulsory nature of it.”

Fianna Fáil Cllr Anne Marie Ahern pointed out that the issue had already been dealt with in the Dáil just four weeks prior. She said under the Education Act 1998, the decision to teach or sing the anthem rests firmly with individual schools.

However, the motion was carried, with themes of culture, pride, and tradition present in the statements of numerous councillors.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Frank O'Flynn spoke passionately about the respect owed to both the anthem and the national tricolour, urging that the flag be treated with dignity and “not to be used for personal gain” in local towns and villages.

Responding to the feedback of his fellow elected members, Cllr O’Donoghue remained steadfast on the need for a mandatory approach.

“We say our prayer here every day before the meeting. It takes what, 60 seconds, and that's it? The same should happen in schools,” he concluded.