Ireland's National Anthem and Céilí Dancing

T's class at school invited all the parents to come in for a little demonstration of tin whistle, gaelic songs and poems, Ireland's National Anthem and Céilí dancing (pronounced kalee). All the boys got to wear green to school that day. T was very excited for us to come to his school that day. My mother, L, and I went to see him at school for his Irish program. 

Ireland's National Anthem is called, "Amhrán na bhFiann" (A Soldier's Song). The song was first published in 1912 and quickly became the most popular of the Irish Volunteer's marching songs. In 1926 this song was adopted as the National Anthem of Ireland. 

T's class only sang the chorus of the song. There are also three other verses to the song. Its long anthem!

Chorus in Gaelic: (words in black, pronunciation in green)
Sinne Fianna Fáil atá fé gheall ag Éirinn
shin-na fee-in-na fall, a-thaw fay yeol egg erin
Buion dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
bween dar slew, harr thin the raw ne gooin
Fémhóid bheith saor. Seantír ár sinsir feasta
Fway vawid veh sair, shawn-tier awr shinshir fasta
Ní fhagfar fé'n tiorán ná fé'n tráil
nee-owg fur fay teer-awn naw feign trawl
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
an nocht a hame saw varna vwail
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
lay gown owr gwale cunn boss no sale
Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar,
le gunna sh-rake fay law buck naw bell air
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.
shull liv con-ig arawn naveen

Chorus in English:
Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come from a land beyond the wave,
Sworn to be free,
no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;
tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal
In Erin's cause.
come woe or weal;
'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Both of the 3rd classes did a demonstration of Céilí dancing. This is a popular form of Irish folk dancing in Ireland. A céilí is a traditional Irish gathering for fun, fellowship, and laughs. These dances were enjoyed at house parties and gatherings in the countryside. The Normans were credited with introducing these dances to Ireland around the 12th century. This type of dancing was revived during the Gaelic revival in the beginning of the 20th century. 

Here T is doing once of the dances and then after the first one they invited parents and siblings. L decided she wanted to go up with T with dance. You can tell she is nervous because she has her fingers in her mouth.

T and L after Céilí dancing