Over the course of the last two years, I have written extensively about Scotland’s enduring problem with anti-Irish racism and the manner in which it is dealt with. We all know about the historic wrongs, which cannot be changed or blamed upon anyone now, but the concern is that this is an ongoing issue. A modern multi-cultural nation should not have public processions espousing such hatred in the present day, nor should footballers have received bombs and bullets in the post because of their ethnic background within the last decade. Therefore, I feel a moral obligation to use the power of social and fan media to call it out.
This morning we saw a large number of Rangers supporters being marched through Glasgow city centre, treating the public to a ditty about the famine being over and telling Irish descendants to go home. Such open racism has no place in a 21st century democracy, especially not when it is being belted out during a march facilitated by the police.
Glasgow’s multi-generational Irish community have made Scotland their home. They/we have been here for nearly two centuries and have worked, paid taxes and contributed to Scottish life in much the same way as every other citizen of the country. What’s more, many people identify as Scottish first and foremost, but still proudly celebrate their Irish heritage and the Irish culture that was passed down to them. That is an intrinsic part of one’s identity and causes no harm, yet it seems to upset a considerable section of society in Scotland.
Bizarrely, some of those singing the famine song, likely have an Irish forebear themselves. This is an age old phenomenon with mixed marriages, ever increasing as Scotland becomes more secular. Furthermore, these same people support a club whereby many fans wave the Red Hand of Ulster flag (as is their entitlement). The Ibrox support also celebrate ties with Ulster Loyalism to a certain extent (as is their entitlement) and have been known to sing songs such as Derry’s Walls and other chants about groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force. Therefore, they either seem unaware that Derry/Ulster is not in Scotland, or hypocritically decide that they can show pride in their roots linking to the island of Ireland if the shoe fits, whilst others in Scotland cannot.
In a further failure of educational achievement, the anti-Irish bigots shown in the above video would do well to read a book about An Gorta Mor. Within its pages they may find that the Great Hunger did not discriminate along religious or political lines. With a bit of further reading, they may even discover that during the 19th century most of Scotland’s Irish immigrants came from Ulster and, between 1876 and 1883, 83% of Irish immigrants came from the North of Ireland – 25% of whom were Protestant Unionists. No prizes for guessing which club many of those people, alongside the immigrant (Govan) shipyard workers, mainly supported in later years. And by extension many of their descendants.
In a sense, education can be useful, but one has to want to be educated. In the meantime, the tolerance of public hate processions cannot continue and the issue cannot be brushed aside as “sectarianism” or “Old Firm banter”. The recent bombs and bullets should have put paid to that notion.
The Irish community, which gave birth to Celtic Football Club, is growing in confidence and has come a long way. They/we are no longer prepared to keep the head down or refuse to call out such behaviour. Scotland is our home, we are born here, but we make no apology for being proud of our roots.
It would not be accepted if people publicly told refugees from other nations to go home, or slandered Scottish born citizens due to their different ethnic backgrounds. So why is it that the Irish community is fair game? Why are 34 Orange marches, during which the famine song is regularly featured, being permitted in a single Glasgow day on 18 September? Why did the police not intervene this morning?