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A song written and performed by over 50 Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB) learners in Clonmel has been nominated in a national anthem competition which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the establishment of ETBs.

Further education and training learners from across the country were invited in recent months to submit entries to the ETB Anthem competition, run by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) and Music Generation. The Tipperary-based entry ‘Just Sing’ is one of 12 nominations to make the final shortlist, with the winner to be announced later in July.

‘Just Sing’ was performed by the Singing for Health Group, including Tipperary ETB Community Education learners from the Men Singing for Health Group, the Something to Sing About Group, as well as the Tipperary ETB Staff Choir.

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Community Education Facilitator for Tipperary ETB, Veronica Crowe, supported the three groups who wrote the lyrics based on being asked ‘what does education and training mean to you?’ The song was then composed by tutor, Suzanne Buttimer, and performed at the Tipperary ETB Army Barracks Campus in Clonmel on Monday, 22 May.

Final judging on the 12 nominations will take place later this month by a panel including Riverdance composer Bill Whelan, musician, composer and broadcaster Ellen Cranitch, and rapper, producer and songwriter MuRli. The winning entrants will be invited to record their anthem with a music industry professional at the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studio in Dublin, and will have their anthem launched nationally as part of an ETBI publicity campaign.

JUST SING TIPPERARY ETB

The Singing for Health Group performing ‘Just Sing’ at Tipperary ETB’s Army Barracks Campus in Clonmel.

Community Education Facilitator for Tipperary ETB, Veronica Crowe, said she’s proud of the great work which has been undertaken by learners and tutor on this project:

“It was great to see over 50 adult learners coming together to sing about what education and training means to them. We recorded it in one take and one take only, and now we are in the final.

“Well done again, to all the learners involved and our tutor Suzanne, for their work during this project.”

The ETB Anthem Competition is part of 2023 celebrations to mark the 10-year anniversary of Education and Training Boards, including Tipperary ETB which formed following the amalgamation of North Tipperary and South Tipperary Vocational Education Committees (VEC) in 2013.