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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Paul67 – any chance you could do the team talk before the game tomorrow?
Top 5 fav players ( actually seen)
1. McStay
2. McGrain
3. Henke
4. Lennox
5. Jinky
Top Five Players ( Liked to have seen )
1. Pele
2. Maradona
3. Beckenbauer
4. Bobby Charlton
5. Roy of the Rovers
THE EXILED TIM
13:35 on 6 November, 2012
I’ll close the gap :)
The bampots made the arrows and hit their targets amongst fellow football supporters that also included Cosgrove and Spence (and Richard Gordon).
The bampots influence on fellow supporters, certainly those who bought season books, stopped Rangers being parachuted into any higher division than would have happened otherwise. No argument.
The bampots were encouraged by being heard, although would have persisted anyway but by rubbishing the main stream attempts to secure a parachute, Cosgrove and Thomson (who widened the debate to matters of governance and probity ) Spence , etc took the battle into an arena that needed and still needs the support of wider public opinion to make headway.
That battle is still underway and with the supporters’ SB weapon sheathed for another year both bampots and the likes of Cosgrove/Thomson/Spence etc need to work together (as they appear to have been) to bring about the total reform of both our game and its governance, untainted by any desire to favour one club over the rest.
When the FTT reveals whatever it does, you can be sure a PR battle will ensue that will need as much cooperation between the bampots and the msm converts to bampotery to make sure the truth will out.
Speaking of Lubo I just saw him there out side the Radisson…rocket that I am forgot my phone! Ran back to work to get it and he was away *sigh*
bournesouprecipe – Magic! (thumbsup)
Joe Filippis Haircut
Can only agree 100%. Whatever is wrong with the Spanish economy could peobably be fixed if two companies paid all their due taxes tomorrow! ……. approaching half a billion???
As admirable as they are and I look forward to welcoming them to CP, financial fair play is somewhere in the distance!
Who would the top 5 financially fair teams be?
Philvis
Thats not a very strong defence of the British gov. if that was your intention.
Philvis. I didn’t know the Romans spoke French.
What a talented bunch, but what did they ever do for us?
Very difficult to pick a top 5,
But hear goes :
Johnny Doyle
Danny Mc Grain
Bobby Lennox
Henrik Larsson
Roy Aitken ..
More to follow ,
Happy Celticing
BSR
Roy of the Rovers a controversial choice given the achievements of Hotshot Hamish and Billy Dane ( Billy’s boots fame)… Are you sure about your choice?
Jimmy Johnstone
Danny McGrain
Bobby Murdoch
Henrik Larsson
Harry Hood
South Of Tunis – Poor Angela.
I haven’t trusted her since she turned into a cyborg in Superman 3. (thumbsup)
my top 5 .
1 tommy burns
2 jock stein
3 fergus
4 Caesar
5 my wee da for making me a Tim.
enjoyed the article today Paul cheers
Moring Paul
Well.. it is here.
As you know, I’ve been on here for a long time.. but that has to be one of my favourite things you have written in all these years. Well done.
HH
Mike
Cultsbhoy
Old aunt always drummed into me that Celtic’s greatest team was not the Lisbon Lions but actually:
Shaw, McNair, Dods, Young, Loney, Hay, Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers & Hamilton (Templeton if Hamilton was not playing). Alec McNair is not my da just my hero.
Interesting article on back page of today’s Herald Sport.
Alistair Reid discusses the commercialisation of the Poppy and what he describes the ‘grief fascism’ that over the last two decades has become part of British public life.
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby – Thats not a very strong defence of the British gov. if that was your intention.
It wasn’t my intention. (thumbsup)
Green Lantern (((((0))))) – Philvis. I didn’t know the Romans spoke French.
Have you never read Asterix le Gaulois?
What a talented bunch, but what did they ever do for us?
They invented crepes, existentialism and the menage a trois. (thumbsup)
Here is an article of interest to Italian based supporters and which raises interesting points about TV cash distribution.
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/latest-news/tv-revenue-distribution-
the web site itself is perhaps worth book marking.
Philvis,
I am only too aware of the origins of the word DECIMATE.
However, the word has come to mean something more general.
dec·i·mate/ˈdesəˌmāt/
Verb:
Kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage of….
Drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of (something): “plant viruses that can
decimate yields”.
Nonetheless, I thank you for trying to enhance my understanding of this Saxon language which was forced on my old grandfather & others as they starved in times of plenty.
Good luck.
Irish population from Wiki
At the beginning of the 19th century the population of Ireland and England were almost the same [8M]
Whether through starvation or emigration the effects on the Irish population were devastating.
Philvis
Phew! ;)
Turn up / pay at the gate and watch these — my top 5 — Serie A
Diego Maradona
Falcao
Pavel Nedved
Franco Baresi
Gianni Rivera [ possibly the best fitba player I’ve ever seen ]
CultsBhoy @13:48
Sorry CultsBhoy, I have to disagree with your choice at number 6 … Kojo would surely be 6th equal with Collie, The Singing Detective and quite a few others. :-). I also think 50% of CQN’rs would have him in their bottom 5.
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
Philvis.
Differing views on existentialism:
To be is to do – Kierkegaard
To do is to be – Sartre
Do be do be do – Sinatra.
It’s not a Celtic cliché season until you’ve heard someone say “It’s not Celtic, until you’ve seen the ‘Walk On’ on a European Night.”
Top Five Players ( Liked to have seen )
How could you leave out Billy The Fish
The Wee Oscar Wristband and free ticket for the Celtic v Barca game stands at £200 :-)
Bid closes at 8pm
Thank you
HH
CRC
Kilbowie Kelt – Decimate isn’t of Saxon origin you krazy kook.
I’m aware of the creeping misuse of the word, but where there is darkness, we should bring light. (thumbsup)
Lennon n Mc….Mjallby – I’m sure I could mount a terrific defence of them on the specific charge of “genocide” but I fear it would lead to a tiresome argument, like the unwanted offspring of the poppy debate and the songs debate.
I think Paul67 nailed it in his opening remarks on today’s post anyway. (thumbsup)
It’s not a Celtic cliche season until you’ve seen the walk on on a European night and someone shoves a micorophone under your nose and asks ‘but are you not missing Ra###rs?
Soukous
Lest we forget Mighty Mouse….?
Very good articles from Paul67 and kitalba.
One a happy birthday card and one a happier future if we can break away from the current set up that inhibits our growth.
top5 my dads choice god rest him
Fernie
Peacock
Tully
Murdoch
Auld
H H
Dontbrattbakkinanger – At the beginning of the 19th century the population of Ireland and England were almost the same
Hmmm seems unlikely DBBIA.
The population of England and Wales in 1800 was 8.9 million. (thumbsup)
Green Lantern (((((0))))) – Ha!
Let us not forget Scooby Doo. (thumbsup)
Just logged on.
Superb opening piece Paul,very inspirational.
PAUL67
Can I please simply add my congratulations to those of everyone else whose heart skipped a beat at the following………..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Stunning,mate,just stunning…….
Hoy cumple 125 años el Celtic fc de Glasgow! mis felicitaciones y mejores deseos para los campeones.
Wee Nacho NotNovo