David Adderley from Co Kildare says he was inspired to pen this song by his diverse group of friends at school.
The 12-year-old, who attends Scoil Mochua, wrote ‘Ireland is Our Home’ to celebrate the cultural and music diversity of a more modern Ireland.
It was for a competition named Song for ’16, the brainchild of the National Concert Hall, Disney Music Group and the Department of Education. The competition was part of the country’s Centenary Programme and focused on what it means to be Irish in today’s Ireland.
There were 150 entries to the event which were then narrowed down to 14 songwriters who performed live at the National Concert Hall in Dublin last May.
Judges there included Josh McClorey, the lead guitarist with Irish band, The Strypes, as well as the lead singer of the band hamsandwicH, Niamh Farrell.
David said he felt strongly about his school friends and the importance of celebrating diversity:
“It’s amazing how I go to school with so many children who were born in other countries but have now made Ireland their home. This really inspired me when writing the song”.
Nigel Flegg is the head of Education from the National Concert Hall – he believes David and his co-performer, Ammani Bengo, have really pinpointed the changing nature of a more modern country:
“We have two fine examples of all that is positive about contemporary Ireland, and we wish them the very best with their developing musical adventure.”
David’s winning entry will today be released on Disney Music Group’s Hollywood Records imprint and is available to download from here.
(Feature Image via Facebook National Concert Hall)
