A group of students who attend National Learning Network in Hollyhill, Cork, created a song called Find Your People and a vibrant music video filmed across the city. The students from Directions and the Skills for Life courses at NLN Hollyhill collaborated to harness their individual talents, working collectively to write lyrics, rap, sing, create an uplifting melody and film the accompanying video. You can watch a video of them performing the song here.
The song was then entered into a national competition launched by Education & Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to find a national anthem. Find Your People was chosen as the winning anthem. The students then followed in the footsteps of U2, The Cranberries and The Rolling Stones in recent weeks by recording Find Your People at the iconic Windmill Lane studios in advance of its formal adoption as the anthem of more than 340,000 learners across Ireland’s 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
The winning composers were elated to be at Windmill Lane to record their song. One of the students, Kane Buckley, said: “We are free to express ourselves at Cork National Learning Network. It is a place where everyone is equal and can learn. It has given me the confidence to talk to people. The song is all about that”. Riverdance composer Bill Whelan, rapper/songwriter MuRli, and musician/composer Ellen Cranitch were the judges of the ETB Anthem Competition.
As well as recording their anthem with a music industry professional in Windmill Lane, the winners premiered their anthem live recently at the ETBI National Conference, performing in front of the 16 Education & Training Boards. The story was covered in national and regional press outlets. The song will also be released and form part of a nationwide campaign to promote the services of ETBs.
Huge congratulations to the students and staff at NLN Hollyhill!