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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SFTB: I thought the 2 man central midfield often meant that we were over-run in that area. We tried so many different combos but none worked. Lenny has moved away from two wide attackers and I think this has suited Scott more.
Agree he will be crucial for us tonight and really glad he has turned it around.
Paulsatim: the brass neckery of it all is astounding. Debt – Oldco, Titles – Newco, Punishment – Oldco, assets – Newco. Laughable stuff.
philvis my father was born 1n 1891 ,his father was born in 1856 my oldest brother died 6 years ago aged 80 and he could use a computer so don’t try taking people down who never got the same opportunities as you
american elections is it.
what a stupid convaluted ,
dafty voting system this is.
great democracy, my arse.
DJBEE
THATS IS FUNNY!!
THE EXILED TIM
23:43 on 6 November, 2012
So has Obama or Romney won ????
Does it really matter?
two masks on the same face.
setting free the bears
23:58 on 6 November, 2012
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
——————–
quite sure roy made his first game aged 15 or 16 in first team.And was part of a top midfield of mcstay,burns,grant etc.
bid roy was not the most talented player of the bunch but always gave 100% and dragged the team on to victory many a time.
scott like roy gives 100% and will try and try even if other do not like his style of play never hides or runs away when things are not happening.
thats what the managers of the time see every day
not just the 90 mins on a saturday
and thats why they end up captains of our great club
a bit like puyol at barca imho
feed the bear earned his position the same as scott has done
jam67
Maybe a tad premature about Ohio.
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:-)
———————
when spain came last time to play scotland they also stayed at the radisson.
after booking in they took a walk up argyle street , and had a wander about.
next day , departing for hampden , i was in the crowd with the spanish inlaws, all waving to them.
a more confident, easy looking, relaxed bunch of guys your could not have witnessed.
when your that good, why not stay in the city, see some sights, buy something from the celtic shop, then go play your football.
they are a special group of players.
we just need a BERTIE AULD, in the tunnel tomorrow, step forward broonie, its your time.
keep it lit.
A premature election result
Craiginho
You have made your point better this time. I agree the 2 man midfield was over-ran most times by 3 or 4 opposition midfielders. I reacted to the word “stifled” because this unequal battle gave Scott a lot of room and territory to cover, rather than force him to apply territorial discipline by making him more defensive than he wanted to be. Scott was allowed to be both defender and attacker. He was over-tasked rather than stifled.
Scott continued to have some difficulties with form under Tony Mowbray too with a different tactical system. i think it had more to do with form than tactics.
jungle jam 67
very good response.
I did not intend to deride Roy’s ability. My point was more about the fan’s identification with Roy and their acclaim of him as a good captain. An acclaim withheld from Scott.
I do not think the crowd are a good judge of what is a good captain. They are, most of them, good judges of what is a good player but they do like a bit of showmanship and Roy’s game breaking charges enthused them more than Scott’s energy, deployed towards tackling and stifling opponents, ever did.
My only criticism of Roy would be that I preferred him as a midfielder because I felt he was a bit rash in defensive tackling and conceded a few pens because of this. Not all were down to masonic refereeing.
MurdochauldandHay
23:59 on
6 November, 2012
pretty brillaint pictures, thanks for sharing.
.
Sammi will Defo play..Think Neil has been keeping his Cards..Tight tae His Breest..Sammi is Probably the Only Celtic player Barca fear..
Making space for a An Other..
Miku..?
I Would Love to see Miku up beside Him his Experience in Spain would be Vital..
I Would run at them Hard the First 20 Mins..
Make (New) History Celtic..
Summa
Saint Stivs
More pics from earlier at St Marys
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paddimir/sets/72157631947265176/
My daughter bumped into Lubo in a hotel hallway in Glasgow today,..stood gobsmacked as he patted her on head and apologised.
Minutes after the church at St Mary’s emptied tonight …
A question asked of Barcelona group-including club directors- heading to their bus…
“How did you feel about the presentation tonight?”
Answer #1: “yes we have people who have the same passion in our halls (I took ‘halls’ to mean meeting rooms or small groups of supporters) they would be comparable …
Answer #2 following on from his fellow director: ” …yes ..but I have a feeling there are hundreds of groups here doing the same things…that was a view of the history of football … The experience was full of emotions, I am closer to the soul of real football people tonight …it was a very special ”
I think they enjoyed their evening as much as I did :)
Well done Celtic Graves Society.. Powerful stuff!
HH
I just heard two young women from both camps in the Yankee bunfight to elect the next drone-lovin’ killer (Nobel Peace Prize?), both daughters of physicians : neither of them could speak coherently nor understand simple language. This is the overall state of things in a cobbled together nation of severely dumbed down people overseen by a cynical, cleverly and expensively educated greedy elite; a template our Tory masters would love to see replicated here, and thy are working hard to achieve this by rolling back as much social progress as they can, mandated or not, propped up by a vengeful and compliant LibDem sell-out gaggle.
Miki67,
Spot on.
MurdochauldandHay
00:58 on
7 November, 2012
Saint Stivs
More pics from earlier at St Marys
———————————————-
I took a friend from Salisbury to St Marys, just last month.
I had took her rounf rutherglen, calton, the barras, celtic park and even brigeton, for a view on modern glasgow-ish divisions.
i love saint mary’s. been often, but not to practice my baptised religion, i struggle with this , its my personal dilemma,
however, my salisury friend , 50% kerry, 50% dundonian, 100% an example, and humble with it told me
“tommy burns was here, celtic were born here, its such a special place”
i told her about James Maley. non-religious, but a calton celtic man.
it is indeed a special place.
God Bless Gil Scott Heron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-F_hOL_nw8&feature=related
Alabama votes for Romney.
“You don’t say. . . .”
All hints point to O’Bama.
I really should be asleep; busy day, enjoying Glasgow, being with my brother, Celtic Park to watch The Hoops play some Catalan chancers (joking btw…..I saw those lovely pics of the wee Barça imps recognising our 125).
I feel very lucky. It’s been a road and a half and I’m just very happy to be here, today.
Looks like Obamney will win the shaky fakey pseudo election…..pick a monster: here’s two crazy men. Now, choose.
That’s democracy. Aye. Right.
Bruce Springsteen chanting for Obama. Ditto The Foo Fighters. wtf? Foos booted outta my cd collection. Brucie’s always been a fake…one good album around ’77. A victim of his own hype.
Ah….who cares really?
A 21st. Century Holocaust is in the offing, regardless. The world is busy busy busy talking itself into it.
“Stick your head between your legs and kiss your **** goodbye.” Advice from the 60’s..still valid.
There must be a lesser of two evils…
We have Obama’s drones killing folk in Pakistan, and lining up “Israel” to hit Iran.
Or we could have Romney’s good ole boys just goin for Iran with the Dukes Of Hazard and my brother.
I can see why its close…
MIKI67
Bit harsh on Bruce-his first four albums were stunning,IMO.
Granted,you could hardly say that about what followed.
BTW,enjoy the match tomorrow. Delighted for you!
Tunnel Of Love by The Boss was the first album I ever bought.
Still regress to Springsteen as my drunken safe haven.
setting free the bears
00:45 on
7 November, 2012
seems we both agree roy was better in midfield than defence
p.s.never thought your were putting roy down at time ,just recalling a lit bit of history from my view from the jungle.
as for scott has the best years of his football life in front on him to come and doing the broony will be remembered for many a year to come also.
right time for bed now
thanks for the wee chat and enjoy tonights game ;)))))
go get em celtic
jam67
Ohio lookin good for Obama.
Game, Set, and Match.
paulsatim is neil lennon …
It’s not a “press conference” at AyeBroke to celebrate 140 years of history.
The correct terminology is “holding a wake”.
Right, I’m calling it.
The Democrats have won the election.
Good, and dreadful.
But what would you do?
From the news I’m listening to, Obama has won.
We will wait in line, and do what we are told.
But I hope we will do the right thing.
Kilbowie Kelt 14.03 Late reply 7 hour time difference.
Rarely if ever agree agree with Philvis on politics but history ok.
Read a book recently The Potato/Larry Zuckerman plus general historical knowledge.
Agree on grain exports (even taught this at English school) and the general callousness of the British government to all its peoples apart from the favoured elite.
Seems that the problem had been growing with the population and equally decreasing plots of land. A large number of better off Irish took advantage of these land laws.
The first year of blight was followed by 2 more years of wet summers and long hard winters throughout Europe.Disease followed famine as usual much more death.Holland lost 60000 people, Scotland 9000 (before charitable help arrived-far less got to Ireland with more people to help).
The Highland Clearances ( not as my children where taught at school in Sutherland). Yes instigated by Stafford the Duke “on the hill” and carried out by his factor ,English! Taken up by various Laird of the Glens who saw more profit in taking care of sheep than their own clanspeople. I could expand.
England- The Enclosures/Hedgerows Acts (seemingly unknown of) many,many people evicted and beaten off their smallholdings (if you couldn’t afford to fence you surely couldn’t pay the fine). If not absorbed into industry, same as …emigrate!
It should be a well known fact that at the height of the British empire/industrial revolution the English poor lived in abject poverty just like their kind in Wales,Scotland and Ireland. Life expectancy was so low in the cities. The British Army lowered the physical standard 3 times for entry prior to the Boer War..
Sweden- population halved (all those vikings in midwest states) No English to blame!!!
This was a European time and was the rich getting rid off the excess poor to the underpopulated parts of the world. As throughout history greed was to blame not not just the English. A change in attitudes is long overdue IMHO.
Who’s a popular b(h)oy today ???
Obama wins! Allah be praised! Oops……
today is a Celtic day
Morning Celts, couldnae sleep last night, probably a few others like me :>)
We’ll score tonight but so will Barca, a draw would do it for me.
C’mon you Bhoys in Green!
Devastated to hear that Izzy will be out for 6 weeks…..just when he was finding his real form again. He will not be available for our next 3 CL games.
So, who plays left back tonight? It’s more of a problem than who plays up front. If Hooper & Samaras are both out, and we start with Tony the Tiger, he will be a………..
REVELATION…..
HH
Good morning CQNers,
Good luck to the team and supporters who have the privilege of attending tonight’s game.
Much has been written and more spoken about the Irish Famine, even here we’ve seen an English interpretation obliquely stated by philvisreturns.
Thackery ‘To have a an opinion about Ireland “, one must begin by getting at the truth; and where is it to be had in this country? Or rather, there are two truths, the Catholic truth and the Protestant truth…….belief is a party business.
Let me put the Irish truth……..
There is little argument the English had the belief Ireland was overpopulated, had too many small farms and much the same as now, their humanitarian impulses came up against a distaste of subsidized improvement schemes.
There existed then an unconcealed attitude held by the English that Irish agriculture was backward and the Irish were lazy and the lack of economy would bring about a retribution that would work out best in the future.
English government interventions to relieve the worst effects of the famine were designed to achieve their own agenda to make Ireland more like England and their motives weren’t humanitarian but business and market-driven.
It seems English/British government haven’t moved on much since then but the target is no longer the Irish , today’s targets being those on benefits and those relying on the state to help them in their struggle to live.
VMHAN
I think we need to win tonight,as Barca might put out a weakened team in the other two games if they have already qualified.