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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Philvis- life is an ole learnin’ experience; every day brings its share of surprises.
Only the other day I learned that Flavia Cacace’s belly button is prodigiously gifted.
” Either you are the oldest man on the internets, or your father and grandfather exhibited Des O’Connor levels of geriatric virility. (thumbsup)”
I heard he used to share a smoke around the back of the bike shed with Methuselah.
Hooper out. Cometh the time, cometh Tony Watt.. I hope.
A young unknown proposition, fearless and lethal, the energy of a boy in a man’s body. Go Tony go !
Kilbowie
Geeze a shot of your genes!!
Paul67 A very emotive lead article
Was talking to a St Mirren fan earlier who heard a piece on Radio Scotland this morning he had no idea of our origins! Thought we were just a “Catholic” club!!
Happy birthday Celtic
Embdy else think Andy Thom sired some of our current crop of players?? ;)
Aye, ole Mo’s fair gnocking them in for Stockholm
The Postman Always Gnocks Gnocks Twice
Daryl Murphy is waiting on the call
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Murphy
Check out the strip
Gnocks three times?
Paul George comes off the bench in the U20s game against Falkirk. His return from horrible injury at the end of last season.
Bsr.
Commons is struggling
Nursing a………
Some our best results have been when we were struggling to put our best team out
Sad that izzy`s out for a while, hope sammi makes it( gnock on wood)
Geordie
Steak Bake?
Gnocc,gnocc,gnoccin’ on Lennon’s door.
Beautiful Paul.
Tears and pride, sorry proud doesn’t come near it.
Things you learn from reading the Mags in the Dentists –
Flavia Cacace was born in Naples.
Flavia Cacace left Naples when she was 4 .
Flavia Cacace supports Napoli .
Flavia Cacace likes living in the UK but admits to being a wee bit concerned about the relative shortage of bidets in the UK.
*For what its worth* I think the ole injuries may not be such a bad thing, especially as if Sammi looks liking making it.
Charlie Mulgrew can revert to left back, and Kayal to step up on the big stage, Tony Watt and or Miku can cover for Hooper.
CANAMALAR 1446
Difficult to disagree,but I think the reference was to the fans. Not this or any other board.
The fans are the heart and soul of the club-you know that,mate.
So did Big Jock.
Keep going with the petition,btw. Disappointed that people haven’t picked up on it as much as we thought,but,again,thanks for drawing my attention to it.
Emilio Izaguirre out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Yes.
Mon the wee Hoops.
Celtic Football Club @celticfc
80. Goal for Celtic! Comeback kid Paul George swings in the free kick and Patrik Twardzik heads it home. 1-0
“Tomorrow will be a special evening. It’s a pivotal year for us & year of celebration & this would be the crowning glory in that year.” NL
Well Im hoping that the square sausage from the bootshers in Morrisons is not representative of the square slice elsewhere otherwise it will be another three year until I eat it again.
Just catching up but
MurdochauldandHay says it for me :))
12:27 on
6 November, 2012
For 51 years I can say with immense pride that it has been an absolute honour & priviledge to be a supporter of and associated with the Celtic fc may I wish Celtic a Happy Birthday and say thanks for 125 years of sporting integrity and illustrious history along with its charitable ethos which enshrines all that is good about Celtic fc and its supporters and makes us different from any other club.
Again, it has been an absolute honour & priviledge to be a supporter of and associated with the Celtic fc
and the celtic FAMILY,
Thank you all
“We are here to compete & want to compete. Proud of where we are at the minute. Will be a proud occasion tomorrow for club & players.” NL
Celtic_First
Thank you for that it is magic to hear the young bhoy
Paul George is back playing.
“We want to get a positive result. We know it will be hugely difficult. Under no illusions of how difficult the game is going to be.” NL
Paul
Fantastic article. Here’s Celtic’s finest moment as a football club……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7ON3mMMFSs
Don’t quite know why Pat’I’ll call them out’Nevin is on it for a brief moment, but other than that it’s a good video!
HH
P27
Izzy out for SIX WEEKS?!?!?! He’s risking missing the Spartak match big time, defo out of Barca and Benfica
Real shame he’s been back to his best the past month
I respect the diversity of views on what is an emotive topic, but I don’t think anyone should be forced to wear a gnocchi. It’s a personal decision.
canamalar
New years game at the bigot dome, we had half a team out, they were overwhelming favs……and the rest is history.
I hope Sammi is fit !!!!!!!!
Miku will start, young Tony will be on the bench.
SofTunis -she can have a lend of mine.
Anyways, Bridget St John, ‘Ask me No Questions’ – what a fantastic song, heard it for first time last night, while drivin’ home through the ole fog.
‘Fans have to support us. They are 12th man and get behind us. They give us belief & a lift. If we could do it for them would be great.’
‘Know it’s going to be hard but we have belief in ourselves.’ Scott Brown
BMCW,
Must admit the lack of response has surprised me.
The fascists response is never a surprise, make fun of attempts to raise awareness of child abuse, they are after all simply resources to be exploited eh
Full time. 1-0 to the wee Hoops.
Paul67 ………wow……….thank you for the reminder…!!!!
OK, one more for the road. 28 hours….