There were some tasty, some would say succulent, draws in the Champions League yesterday. Milan-Barcelona have both won the tournament within the last decade, and although Milan are at the bottom of the trough at the moment, this tie will be a huge attraction for those of us who like our football tinged with history.
Real Madrid will travel to Manchester for the second time this season as both teams look to reclaim former European eminence. Porto-Malaga is not one that sets pulses racing but it is a token of an often-discussed concept at this level. Malaga are a fine side but are new to the competition, Porto come from a less-illustrious league but are steeped in Champions League heritage. Do you need to learn how to play in this tournament or were UK TV commentators making excuses for the failure of the English champions? Not sure but I fancy Porto to progress.
Arsenal have the daunting prospect of Bayern Munich. The German champions are clear at the top of the league which produced three group stage winners. They are also still self-flagellating after dropping the ball against English opposition in May. Beating Arsenal will not mend those wounds but it will be an absolute must for Bayern.
I watched a bit of Shakhtar Donetsk during the group stage; they are a very skilful team. Borussia Dortmund will not enjoy their trip to Ukraine, I expect Shakhtar to progress.
Valencia are not enjoying the best of seasons but although Paris Saint Germain are now top of Ligue 1 I think they are set for a fall in the Champions League. PSG may have enough to get past Valencia but if we make it to the quarters I would be happy to face them.
Galatasaray sit alongside Celtic as rank outsiders at the bookmakers, never a bad place to lurk at this stage of the competition. Schalke are tighter odds than Milan (7th in Serie A) and Valencia (11th in La Liga) perhaps because of the ‘kind’ draw. There will be at least one team in the quarter finals we would fancy our chances with.
The immediate challenge for Neil Lennon is to keep his players’ focus on tomorrow’s game against Ross County. It took an injury time equaliser to earn a point for Celtic against County earlier in the season, so nothing can be taken for granted.
Have you ordered your CQN Annual yet? Get it here!
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Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
I prefer this version
Kate Voegele – Hallelujah
bawbaws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk5b4vTP6Qs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RpGgooQZh4
bed
No nighshift tonight?
James_Oregon
Out of the depths we cry to thee Oh Lord.
The Black ’47 Journal of Gerald Keegan
Source: Gerald Keegan, Famine Diary: Journey to a New World, Dublin: Wolfhound Press. First published in 1895; reprinted in 1991.
February 18, 1847. I am beginning this journal today in the hope that it will be a
message to the world from this downtrodden land of ours. I realize that it may never
be beyond the confines of this little village in County Sligo. In that case I will at least
have the satisfaction of putting my thoughts into words. They are the words of a poor
village schoolmaster, one of the two thousand tenants on Lord Palmerston’s hugh
estate.
If the outside world only knew the facts about Ireland’s condition I know that we
would get help. The news that is getting out, mainly from the London Times, is a
complete distortion of what is actually going on. I am determined to write down
everything that strikes me as the reality of our situation. The weather on this bleak,
cold February day is in tune with the mood and the state of the people all over the
land. What is most heart rending to me is the sad plight of the children.
Today when I told my cousin, Timmy O’Connor, to put out his hand for punishment
for neglecting to do any work all week he said: “It’s not that I meant it, sir. It’s the
belly gripe that I feel all the time and I can’t do any work.” The tears in his eyes
overwhelmed me. I am shocked at myself for even thinking of any kind of
punishment for neglect of duty. What is duty after all when people are literally
tortured by the pangs of hunger? When school was out I slipped a penny into
Timmy’s hand to buy a scone at the baker’s.
February 19, 1847. When I came to my boarding house after school today Mrs.
Moriarty, my landlady, told me that my Uncle Jeremiah was coming over to see me.
Poor man, he must be coming to ask for some help to keep Timmy and the two girls
alive. But I won’t have a shilling in my pocket till the board pays my quarterly
salary, if indeed my allowance could be called a salary.
The drawn and haggard look of Jeremiah when he came to the door left me in no
doubt about his own half-starved condition. Many of the parents in this area are
starving themselves in an attempt to keep their children alive. I got Mrs. Moriarty to
roast another herring and serve it to him with a cup of tea. It turned out that he did
not come to borrow or beg but to talk of emigration. He claimed that the whole
country was in the throes of a mass emigration movement to Canada. I knew about it
myself but I also know that it is, deep down, a forced expulsion under a plan
conceived and now being executed by the landlords.
February 21, 1847. It is true that there is a potato famine in practically every part of
the country but there is corn and wheat and meat and dairy products in abundance.
For putting his hands on any of this, the tenant is liable to prison, even to execution
or exile.
February 23, 1847. The most disheartening effect of the intense sufferings of the
people is a kind of despair and a sense of hopelessness that they are beginning to
show. The average Irishman is a lover of conversation, music, poetry and even of
leprechauns, so symbolic of the spirit world in which we like to roam. But all of
these, together with the saving gift of seeing the humorous side to even the most
desperate situation, is giving way to an alarming indifference to what fate has
seemingly decreed for us.
March 3, 1847. I started school after Christmas with 23 pupils. This week there are 14
left. I don’t think I can endure facing their pathetic-looking glances much longer. I
am trying to teach them something about the various uses of numbers, though about
the only practical calculating they can do is to count the number who are dying
around them every day.
March 7, 1847. Father Tom noted my presence in Church and he sent an altar boy to
ask me to come and see him. After a hearty greeting he led me to his humble
presbytery for a cup of tea. We had a long chat about the emigration movement. We
agree that it would be better to meet death right here, in preference to submitting to
the treacherous terms of the landlords.
We did not mention it but I’ve heard that there is a price on his head. I feel that
this will be our last meeting. When told about my engagement to Eileen Shanahan he
was genuinely pleased and favoured going ahead with the marriage, suggesting that
it would be a small tribute to life in a world of death.
March 8, 1847. Evictions and tumblings are going on at a mad rate now. The
tumblings are cruel. The brutality of the herds of marauders who are smashing down
the humble cottages of the tenants knows no bounds. People are beaten, even killed,
when they resist. They are given no time to remove their belongings. Seldom are
there any reasons given for the evictions. Living on a choice bit of land, not turning
in enough crop to the landlord, being in arrears with the landlord’s rent or the fees
collected by the State church — any of these can serve as excuses for the tumblers to
demolish a cabin without warning.
March 9, 1847. I had a long chat with Eileen today. She came to the school and saw my
woe-begone little group of scholars. Acutely aware as she is, of all that is going on,
she still continues to radiate happiness. On the way home she expressed her complete
agreement with my plan to close the school very soon. The main topic of our
conversation was the emigration movement. Should we join the emigrants or should
we stay here? We both want to do something for our people and the choice is a
difficult one to make. The vast majority of the tenants in this district have made the
decision to risk emigration. They are our kith and kin. And once they sign a paper
they will be at the mercy of the landlords and their agents. We feel that they are the
ones who will be in great need for help. These considerations make us feel that we
should join them. Eileen’s father, the last of her family, is going to move to Limerick
where some of his relatives live. He is in ill-health and feels that his term is short.
Eileen showed me a clipping form the London Times which shows how
ridiculously ill-informed, or should I say deliberately blind, are the people who are
mainly responsible for our condition. The clipping contained a news item which tells
us that the Queen, on the basis of information given to her by ministers of the
government, declared that there seems to be a “dearth of provisions in Ireland.” If
she had only declared that there is a “dearth of provisions for a few million who are
under the heel of oppression and plenty of food for the chosen few,” she would have
been telling the truth.
March 11, 1847. Tomorrow is Thursday, the day I intend to close my school. I am
packing my few books this evening and trying to brace myself for tomorrow. Eileen
knows the way I feel about it all and she is coming to visit me tomorrow evening. We
will make our final decision on the emigration question.
March 12, 1847. I sat at my desk in school for a long time after the children left today.
It was with tears in my eyes that I told them they would have to stay home for a
while, though I myself knew it was forever. The ordeal of witnessing them trying to
say goodbye to me was crushing. Some of them seemed to know that it was a final
goodbye. Eileen arrived early and, to get our minds off the present, we talked about
our immediate future. If we are to join our people in their exodus we must get things
done immediately. March 25 is our choice for a wedding date. Getting our few
belongings together will be a simple matter for we own very little of this world’s
goods.
I was not at all surprised when Tim Maloney dropped in this evening. He keeps
steady on the move and is finely tuned to what is really happening in these dark
times. As usual he brought some important news. Referring to the emigrants he told
us that the landlords have selected the old, the infirm, the children and the destitute
for the first shiploads to Canada. Anyone who is still able to work for them, to make
the land produce, they are trying to hold back.
March 13, 1847. The outside is finally learning about our plight. Contributions are
coming in. Newspapers in Dublin and Cork are publishing the names of countries, all
over the world, that are collecting money and sending it here to help provide food
for the starving. This is very uplifting. The thought that the outside world is
concerned about us adds hope where all else is despair. The United States, the chosen
homeland of many thousands of Irish emigrants, outdid all others in generosity. A
city named Philadelphia topped all other United States centres in the magnitude of its
donation. The Jewish people of New York city matched the Irish in their response to a
public appeal for funds. Among all the donations from various parts of the world
there is one that is singularly appreciated. It comes from a small tribe of native
North American Indians, the Chocktaw tribe from central western United States.
These noble-minded people, sometimes called savages by those who wantonly
released death and destruction among them, raised money from their meager
resources to help the starving in this country. This is indeed the most touching of all
the acts of generosity that our condition has inspired among nations.
March 16, 1847. The emigration scheme, though fraudulent and treacherous, is
serving one useful purpose. It is raising a flicker of hope in the hearts of many who
would otherwise give up. Countless thousands are now ready to take the chance.
Today the local agent came with an attorney who got the people to sign a paper. What
they are signing is a release of all claims on their property and furniture and a
promise to give the agent possession by April 10.
March 22, 1847. Patrick Michael Shanahan, Eileen’s father, died during the night.
Like myself Eileen is an orphan now. On account of the pestilence Patrick will have
to be buried without delay.
March 24, 1847. Tomorrow, Thursday, is still a big question mark. As far as we
ourselves are concerned, I mean Eileen and myself, there is nothing to prevent us
from going ahead with the wedding ceremony. But convention demands a reasonable
period of mourning. I purposely spoke to several of my closet friends to sound out
their opinion. They all seem to think that, considering the times in which we live,
there would be nothing indelicate about carrying out our plan.
March 27, 1847. Thursday was our big day and it was indeed a big day for our guests.
After the wedding Mass, Father Flynn invited all present to a meal at the schoolhouse
at noon hour. Where it all came from I cannot for the life of me imagine but there
before us was a huge pot of hot vegetable soup, scones, and even some cakes, fish and gallons of tea.
March 31, 1847. It is early morning as I write this last note before departing. We now
join a huge army forced to leave their native land for the convenience of the rich
and the powerful. The heavy morning mist is a fitting curtain for the final scene, the
climax, of all our strivings against impossible odds.
And from such despairs…Celtic FC was born.
Morning Celts
up and at them, there’s a game today!
V
From Choctaw.com
The Choctaw people have a history of helping others – one of the best examples is the $170 that was given to the Irish in 1847 during the potato famine. To realize the beauty and generosity of this story, one has to understand what a challenging couple of decades this had been for the Indian people.
In 1831 the Choctaw Indians were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in Mississippi to what is now known as Oklahoma. The Choctaws were the first of several tribes to make the trek along The Trail of Tears. The years during and immediately following this journey were very difficult for the tribal people. The winter of this particular Trail of Tears was the coldest on record – the food and clothing of the people were severely inadequate and transportation needs were not properly met. Many of the Choctaws did not survive the trip, and those that did not perish faced hardships establishing new homes, schools, and churches.
A few years after this long, sad march, the Choctaws learned of people starving to death in Ireland. The Irish were dying because although there were other crops being grown in their country, all but the potato were marked for export by the British rulers. The Irish poor were not allowed any other sustenance than the potato, and from 1845-1849 this vegetable was diseased. Only sixteen years had passed since the Choctaws themselves had faced hunger and death on the first Trail of Tears, and a great empathy was felt when they heard such a similar story coming from across the ocean. Individuals made donations totaling $170 in 1847 to send to assist the Irish people. These noble Choctaw people, who had such meager resources, gave all they could on behalf of others in greater need.
This charitable attitude resonates still today when crisis situations occur across the world. In 2001, tribal people made a huge contribution to the Firefighters Fund after the Twin Towers attack in New York City and have since made major contributions to Save the Children and the Red Cross for the 2004 tsunami relief and 2005 Hurricane Katrina and victims of the Haiti earthquake. Good works are not exclusive to humanitarian organizations and funds. The Choctaw Nation received the 2008 United States Freedom Award for the efforts made for the members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families. There are countless stories of Choctaw individuals and churches who have looked past their own needs to help their neighbors. “It is only right that the tribe share what God has so generously allowed us,” said Choctaw Chief Gregory E. Pyle.
The people of Ireland have never forgotten the kindness shown from the Choctaw Indians. The Irish, realizing that these Native American had delved deep into their own pockets for what little they had to share, have welcomed delegations from the Choctaw Nation and have visited the tribal lands in Oklahoma. In 1992, a plaque was unveiled at the Lord Mayor’s Mansion in Dublin, Ireland that reads, “Their humanity calls us to remember the millions of human beings throughout our world today who die of hunger and hunger-related illness in a world of plenty.”
Check out this Childrens book. (Amazon sells it)
The Long March: The Choctaw’s Gift to Irish Famine Relief by author/illustrator Mary-Louise Fitzpatrick
Endorsed by the Choctaw Nation.‚ A Smithsonian Notable Book for Children, 1998.‚ Children’s Books of Ireland BISTO Book of the Year Merit Award, 1999.
What drives these scumbags in government is fear…..they fear illness, they fear disability, they fear the stranger, the immigrant, the homosexual, the other, anything that strays from their narrow, white, tied-up tied-down view of themselves and how all around them should be. Should anyone veer from the proscribed path they will be put to the test, be it the dunking chair in the local pond, or Atos. Tested in such a rigorous way that the despised has no way to pass the impossible test. In the 17th. Century it would mean death.
In the 21st. Century it means sanctions, removal of benefits, and eventual death (they hope). Either way, it is the identical mind-set which drives the prevailing culture of the times when the fearful rule by fear in order to be perceived as the feared. And they will put their fear upon us, even unto death.
That is their nature.
IDS is the modern equivalent of The WitchFinder General.
It’s a pity modern America is no longer the land of hope it once was.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post your selection at the end of the previous article :
“Celtic-Juve after two previous tight encounters ”
Alternatively, if you cannot access the previous article for any reason, then you can send me an email message with your selection to : fleagle29 at gmail.com
All the best,
fleagle1888
Not had time to read back I’ll do that on the bus,
Celtic park awaits mi amigos…..
Vmhan offski———>
This is good:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2012/dec/19/falcao-backheel-free-kick-video
HH
8am ISH . Feels like 3am…
Cannae wait to see the Bhoys today..
What chance the Celtic shop will be busy???
Ha.
Good Morning Gents. Hope everyone is well. 3 pts today and all the Christmas shopping done, Cant Beat it. Eggnog still to be made today and a few pints with the Bhoys from work, Cant beat it. Enjoy yer day Bhoys.
Hail Hail!!!
KLV
Just found out NEIL is Sky Sports Manager of th year ………WOW
Just started my leave and man flu has taken hold.
Will drag my self bravely over to the Mac at 3pm, fear not.
Congrats to NFL on his latest acolade…
morning from a miserable BT, or blantyre at least….soggy best conditions to expect today…
looking forward to meeting St Martins bhoy and his fellow tynesiders; a bus from Montrose and our old friends from Methal this morning..
safe journey to you long distance travellers making your way to Celtic park..
HH & KTF
BT
You still on for tonight?
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
08:45 on
22 December, 2012
Just found out NEIL is Sky Sports Manager of the year ………WOW
—————————————————————————————-
I’m just WOWING at your surprise,it was a certainty.
Even though I never knew they had a manager of the year:O)HH
HT
at the moment negotiations are heated …
whats your plans? you staying out or coming home first?
Good morning CQNers from a wet n wild n very dark Gourock. Looking forward to the game today with ma youngest bhoy.
Kitalba, never knew that about the Choctaw Indians, thanks for the info on the book, will purchase that later.
Christmas night out after game for a few bhoys back in montys.
Hail Hail
BT
Staying out mate. Will probably wait for a taxi after the game so the old yin doesn’t need to walk it into town. So will be in one of his preferred hosteleries by about 6.
Hostelries…..
6.20 train from Tyre will have me at Argyle St for 6.35… will text you to find out your position… o))
BT
Roger that and out (well out to the pics with the weans!!!)
Watching juve v Cagliari and surprise surprise cag get a man sent off for nothing whilst winning 1:0.some things never change.
Any help bhoys
If you get a fixed penalty from the police, and they have spelt your name wrong and have the address wrong by 9 doors, will I get away with it?
Was done for drinking a bottle of beer.
Swiftly followed by a soft penalty.if anyone thinks we will
Be allowed to beat them you are kidding yourself on…….by the way pen missed
6 mins extra time. Feck me
Audi Skybox for Cowiebhoy and family today, so if any of the Prawn sandwich Bhoys pass by, say hail hail.
92 mins winner cants
Off to get ready big day today,have a good day Tims.
Great news for Neil Lennon, just think about what that man has had to go through.
I’ll bet the MSM are searching for their “Lennon scowling” photo files to publish alongside the report.
Enjoy the prawns Cowiebhoy, watch n no choke;-)
Good morning friends from a very wet and blustery East KIlbride.
Efe Ambrose named in Nigeria’s provisional 32 man squad for ACN
All set to take a soaking and watch the Bhoys win three points. Charging up the phone for the second half light show. :-) (Hope it`s not the black socks.)