Adam Smith, regarded by many as the father of modern economics, once observed that crop failures caused dearth but that it took “the violence of well-intentioned governments” to convert “dearth into famine.” Throughout the 19th century, governments, social-reformers and subsistence –dwellers learned the enormous human cost that resulted when the poor were left to starve.
Ireland suffered regular famine for more than a century before when what became known as THE Irish Famine first struck the country in 1845. The potato blight travelled across Europe before arriving in Britain and then Ireland, but in most places the links between those who were suffering and those who were in a position to alleviate that suffering were sufficiently established to ensure dearth did not become cataclysmic famine. Not so in Ireland.
The famine lasted until the 1850s, a million starved to death. Nothing would ever be the same again. The blight returned in 1879 but by then the Celtic population of Ireland, who suffered disproportionately in earlier famines, were politically better represented and had structures in place to ensure those in need were assisted. As a result, the 1879 blight caused great hunger but cost fewer lives.
Brother Walfrid lived through the famine of the 1840s. The community who 125 years ago today decided to form a football and athletic club in order to feed the starving either lived through the same hardship, or were the progeny of those who did. All were informed by the actions across the water in 1879. Squalor, disease and starvation afflicted Glasgow, as it did many of the newly industrialised cities of the world. Walfrid and his colleagues were not going to stand idly by and hope for the best.
Celtic Football Club was not the only institution established in those years to cater for the poor. Across Britain others campaigned for clean water, sanitation, better working conditions and occasionally health care, but Celtic were quite unlike any others.
Football had caught the public imagination and benefited from the increased availability of leisure time in the early 20th century. Brother Walfrid could just as easily established a musical troupe to raise funds. If so, there would be no Celtic. Those who met in St Mary’s hall had seen how successful other football clubs were becoming and decided to copy their ways. They watched how successful Hibernian, from Leith, had become and decided Glasgow’s east end would be equally fertile ground.
Hundreds of other football clubs were formed in the 19th century but no others had the unique story of Celtic. If you listen to modern brand consultants you will hear them talk about establishing a legend for your brand. Adorn it with positive, aspirational sentiment that people want to be a part of. Whenever I hear this kind of talk, or watch a business try to position itself along these lines, I think of how getting the foundations right on day one set our club out on this enormous journey.
No one was trying to establish a brand in 1887, in fact, those in charge of the club seemed immune to the concept for over a century, but all of the positive sentiment which is persistently associated with Celtic can be traced back to that meeting at St Mary’s, even down to what might have seemed like small detail. Unlike Hibernian, Celtic would not be a club for members of a church or parish, this would be a club who wanted all members of society to work with, support and play for. From conception, the message of social responsibility was evangelised.
The world is enormously different today than it was back then, and our community reflects those changes, but anyone who counts himself a Celtic fan is a product of the club’s history. You are here for a reason.
Tomorrow night’s opponents proclaim they are ‘more than just a football club’. In their case that is correct, but this is a truism for most football fans. Few will say, ‘Although I turn up every week, there’s nothing special about this place’. Those who understand how much more Celtic are than just a club, know that it is no longer the responsibility of Brother Walfrid, now it is yours and mine. We have the enormous responsibility to take care of that 125-year heritage and, if possible, enhance it. That’s the challenge every time you get your ticket out your pocket, you scribble on a blog, or you’re asked to assist someone in need.
What an enormous privilege.
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In all honesty I think Obamma and the other 1 are as bad as each other.
WW3 will happen whoever is in charge, the build up is happening as we speak.
The new world government, I won’t be around to see it, but my kids will.
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
as I take to my bed your sister will be in my prayers , along with family, friends and wee oscar, good night all
COYBIG
dannygall
23:43 on
6 November, 2012
Why on earth would the Barca team choose the Radison on bloody Argyle St to stay in?
Somebody made a boo boo there
I take it the GB are there tonight:-)
I was thinking the same myself, it woild be a great shame if the Barca players had a disturbed nights sleep:)
I would start with Miku and Watt if Sammi is not fit, Miku doesn’t look lke lone striker material to me but with a partner he has good skills and awareness in and around the box…
Too wired up to sleep noo!!
Craiginho
“Strachan’s midfield tactics stifled him as he couldn’t charge forward to the same extent.”
Cannot really agree. This criticism might apply to his use of Aiden but I don’t recall tactical stifling of Broony more technical weaknesses in passing and decision making at that time.
Scott showed a lot of guts to play through that bad spell but, just like Sammi, the support were on the verge of losing patience when he found a better balance to the way he contributed to Celtic.
Scott grew up as a player. He is now a leader of men. The other players look up to him. The fans were always calling for him to be replaced as captain because they wanted a crowd pleasing captain like Roy Aitken. I always argued that other players and the manager are the only ones to have a say in electing a captain.
The crowd would choose an unsuitable rabble rouser like Di Canio whereas team-mates never would.
We will need every drop of Scott Brown’s remarkable energy tomorrow night.
newradbhoy
Agree, it`s all about their egos and if theyr`e the highest paid or not.
jude2005,
prayer said for your sister,hope things turn out ok,
my sister took me to my first Celtic game,the 71 cup final against Thistle,
she got me a ticket for Seville to make up for it
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5629/abp5294fw.jpg
St Marys mosiac
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6280/abp5285fw.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3860/abp5082fw.jpg
Good to see BTM is getting it right down at Boro. Liked the big guy btw. Just the wrong time maybe!!
starry plough
23:57on
6November,2012
I would start with Miku and Watt if Sammi is not fit, Miku doesn’t look lke lone striker material to me but with a partner he has good skills and awareness in and around the box…
Too wired up to sleep noo!!
My heads bursting thinking about it ;)
Geordie..,
100%
thetimrieper
A bog standard Irish saying.
A huge crowd, massive fighting all around, how do you know that they are knackers ?
A wedding will suddenly happen……..
……………………………………………………………..
Afore you jump down my throat, only repeating, no offence intended.
If Mitt Romney wins, he will be the first Catholic Sacrament elected to the post of US President.
The fact that Reagan was extremely unctuous does not make him the first.
Paddy must start
A wonderful piece of work paul
Well done
Thanks lads for ur thots and prayers. Night all. Night wee Oscar & Izzie x
Time for bed.
Up at an ungodley hour, got a Jeep to sell, have to get it running.
Take care and god bless Timland.
What a time to be a Celtic supporter.
HH
KTF
THE EXILED TIM
:-)
newradbhoy @23:26
Someone on facebook has posted ,something supposed to be happening on 31 dec.
He say’s not to tell timmy,s.
Does anyone know what he means, or is there anything in this?
Or is he talking lilian gish.
Ignore it.
It’s called attention seeking.
They believe that we are ‘obsessed’ by them, so if we all start talking about that particular date, it shows our obsession.
It’s bizzare, but I think by concocting this rumour it gives them an attatchment to us and our club. The ‘we need each other’ mentality.
At work, I’m called obsessed for questioning anything that C.Green utters or the lies peddled by the LL and MSM.
I have no problem with being called that as long as my message gets through to them.
What they want is for us to go away and leave them alone so they can establish their own account of what happened to their club.
I won’t be going away anywhere soon.
As long as I’ve breath in me I’ll challenge their lies and deceit.
SPF
sftb
Please explain.
STBF, that’s cos there’s never been one good enough.;)
Excuse my ignorance but wtf is a Catholic sacrament?
As jobo would say only 19hrs 30 mins till we play barca.
Night all.
HH
Craiginho
23:44 on
6 November, 2012
Believe it or not, the press conf is to announce thems celebrating their 140th anniversary at some game in december!!
Sevco holding 140 year press conference tommorow
Andrew Dickson@rfc_dickson
Some news, Rangers fans. We’re having a press conference tomorrow to celebrate the club’s 140th anniversary. Unbroken history and all that!
Damn, I shoulda noticed judes post and I wouldnt have looked so ignorant
sftb
Please excuse my ignorance as well.
What about JFK ?
SFTB at 00.05
Mitt Romney is a Mormon
Pauls a Tim.
What do you think would happen if we jumped in a river?? ;)
jude,Geordie & TET
Sorry, A poor pun, I’m afraid- Mitt Romney = Matrimony
The joke is dead when it needs explaining-
Robin, I know
In the mile high city of Denver this week. The Celtic pub doesn’t open till 4 pm! Hunting for alternatives tonight. The British Bulldog shows English Premier League so will check that out tonight.
Any Denver based Tims out there? Any alternates that will definitely show the game tomorrow?
Off out shortly to see who wins the election.
Hail Hail!
RobinBhoy
Just had my first chance to log on today.
What a great article!
One more sleep.
Here in Glasgow with my brother. Had a great night with him and his best friend. Good to be here. Brillant to be seeing Barça @ Celtic Park tonight. A privilege.
Back to the article. They say we carry memory in our d.n.a. That is how evolution works; we remember and we learn from it. The Famine and the resultant diaspora taught us,” never again. ” That memory, only a few generations away still gives us descendants of the survivors, chills.
Brother Walfrid’s work is so important. It is why we’re where we stand today.
Strong and defiant. Tonight is our night. A celebration of all that it means to be part of The Celtic Community. Our day has come.
COYBIG!!!
Sftb, lol. Yeah its lost once you explain.
At least you got a reaction. My tony watt gag earlier went down like a lead balloon :(
setting free the bears
Aye, it really is time for bed.
You are way, way too inteligent for this thick Tim :>)
HH
Has he got 4 wives??
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7DXpghCIAA7TTr.jpg
TET
Good advice.
The joke just bombed.
Night all mk2
Ohio about to declare.