Shock expressed over national anthem omission from school curriculum
Deputy McGuiness said it's shocking the Irish national anthem isn't taught in schools. Stock image
A Waterford TD has said it's "shocking" that Ireland’s national anthem is not part of school curriculum.
Sinn Feín TD and the party's spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Conor D. McGuinness slammed the Government’s failure to include 'Amhrán na bhFiann' anywhere in the national curriculum. Commenting on the matter to Waterford News & Star, he described it was "shameful, outrageous and a clear sign of how little respect this Government has for Ireland’s republican heritage". In response to a Parliamentary Question on the matter from Deputy McGuinness, the Minister for Education admitted that the national anthem is not part of the national curriculum at either primary or secondary level.
Teachta McGuinness said: “This response is a disgrace. The national anthem is taught in many schools, but only because teachers choose to include it. It is not guaranteed. It is not protected. It is not included anywhere in the actual curriculum."
"The Minister’s reply says it all," he said.
"Her statement is littered with phrases like ‘schools could choose to teach’ it, or that teachers ‘may wish to include’ it, or students ‘could engage with this style of composing'," he added.
"In other words maybe they will, maybe they won’t; that’s the government’s approach to the national anthem in 2025."
"The same government deleted references to the 1916 leaders from a Sinn Féin Dáil motion and won’t rule out turning the GPO – the very site where the Republic was proclaimed – into retail and office space," he said. “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are actively undermining Ireland’s republican heritage. Their disregard for the anthem, the GPO, and the ideals of 1916 is no accident. It’s a deliberate political choice."
Deputy McGuinness went on to say: “Amhrán na bhFiann should be taught to every child in every school. It’s a basic expression of national identity and civic belonging. I am calling on the Government to fix this and ensure Amhrán na bhFiann is included in the curriculum.”
