To recognise the tragedy of The Great Hunger (An Gorta Mór), Celtic will once again be recognising National Famine Commemoration Day, and will wear the club’s Celtic Cross logo on the Hoops when the players take to the field at Celtic Park this Saturday, 20th May for the match against St. Mirren. You have to assume that the Celtic FC Women side will do the same on Sunday in their title decider against Hearts at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was announced recently that this year’s National Famine Commemoration will take place on Sunday, 21 May, 2023 in Co. Donegal. The Irish President will lead a wreath-laying ceremony and other commemorative events at the memorial which is being held at the former Milford workhouse and graveyard.

Unquestionably, The Great Hunger was a transforming event in Ireland, which changed the demographic and cultural landscape forever. Indeed, there is nothing else in the history of the Irish people that can be likened to The Great Hunger, either for its immediate impact, or its legacy of emigration, cultural loss and decline of the Irish language.

As a Scottish club established in 1888 with such proud Irish roots, Celtic will always be linked to these tragic events.

Announcing Milford as the location of this year’s event, the Republic’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said it would give the people of Donegal an opportunity to honour the suffering and loss.

“The choice of Donegal as host for the 2023 National Famine Commemoration is particularly welcome given the deferral of the hosting of the 2020 event in Donegal due to the pandemic,” she said.

“It is appropriate that the event will take place on the old site of the Milford workhouse, given the adversity endured by the people of Donegal in the face of poverty, hunger and emigration throughout the Great Famine and the 19th century.”

The origins of Celtic Football Club will forever be connected to The Great Famine and it is hugely important that we once again mark this annual memorial. It is vitally important that we always remember the devastating and lasting affect which the Famine had on the lives of so many millions of people, and everyone at Celtic is pleased again to play our part in this year’s commemoration.

A number of the special jerseys from this Saturday’s match will be auctioned, with the proceeds going to the work of Celtic FC Foundation.

Following on from the announcement regarding the Celtic jersey and our annual commemoration, Celtic is pleased that supporters, church and club will all come together to recognise the tragedy of An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) ahead of the match against St Mirren this Saturday (20 May) at Celtic Park.

On Saturday, a Mass will also be held at St Mary’s in the Calton, the birthplace of Celtic, at 10am, to which all are welcome. Then at 11am, a wreath-laying service will take place at the Famine Memorial statue in the grounds of the church.

Celtic was established to help people whose families had previously escaped the devastation of the Great Famine. It is important that we always remember the devastating and lasting effect which the Famine had on the lives of so many millions of people and we are pleased again to play our part in this year’s commemoration.