CELTIC will once again mark the National Famine Memorial Day by wearing special logos on their shirts at the game against Hearts this Sunday, May 9.
The National Famine Memorial Day remembers the tragedy of the Great Hunger (An Gorta Mor) in the 19th century when millions died or were forced to leave Ireland.
The inaugural event took place last year on May 17 when Celtic wore the commemorative logo on their strips when they played Hibernian at Easter Road.
The day was earmarked by the Irish Government to commemorate and honour the 1.5million people who either perished or emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine from 1845 to 1851.
As a mark of respect, the Celtic team wore the club’s Celtic Cross on their shirts when they played Hibernian that weekend and will do so again this Sunday when visiting Tynecastle.
The Cross, representing a bridge between Scottish and Irish cultures, is the symbol of the club’s charitable arm, established to continue the work initiated by the club’s founder Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brother.
This year, the event will be on May 16, and Celtic have chosen the nearest date to that occasion to pay their own tribute to those who were so tragically affected.
Celtic Chairman John Reid said: “Celtic is a Scottish club with proud Irish roots. These origins will rightly always be cherished by the club and as an institution which is so intrinsically linked to Ireland it is hugely important that we once again mark National Famine Memorial Day.
“This is an occasion when we remember the Great Irish Famine, one of the most tragic episodes in modern world history and indeed a lesson from history which we should never forget; an era which resulted in the death and forced migration of 1.5million people; a famine which blighted lives across barriers of age, * and religion and which visited its awful effects on parts of Scotland too, uniting the afflicted of both countries.
“For many affected by the Great Hunger in Ireland, the West of Scotland was their point of refuge.
“From such death and desperation, Scotland offered a sense of hope and a sense of future. This future was symbolised in the creation of Celtic Football Club - an institution formed to feed the poor Irish immigrant community in the East End of Glasgow and named in celebration of unity of the twin roots of our Scottish and Irish heritage.
“Children of the Famine were instrumental in the creation of Celtic Football Club and we are proud for the second successive year to be marking this international occasion of remembrance on Sunday.
“While the fusion of Scottish and Irish identities defines our great club, we are proud to have always been an organisation open to all. We will always be so much more than a football club and will always ensure that we extend a welcome to all people.
“On Sunday, we once again honour many thousands of people as we remember with immense sadness the Great Irish Famine.
“We also use this day as a reminder of Celtic's important origins, how Celtic came to be and how we go forward, upholding at all times the important charitable principles and vision of the club's founders.”
Pat Carey TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs said: “I understand that this was a great success last year and had a real impact on both participants and spectators alike.
“Sport holds such a strong and respected position in Irish society and I would encourage all sporting organisations to use their influence to pay tribute and acknowledge the losses suffered in Ireland as a result of the famine.
“Unfortunately, famine is not unique to Ireland and many countries across the globe still suffer from famine and hunger today.
“It is important that in acknowledging our own history we continue to raise awareness of the plight of these people”.
Discuss Celtic Mark National Famine Memorial Day in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.
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WaterfordCeltic
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celtic abu!
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seanolamisio
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this is why we will always be superior to them
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i'm as sympathetic as anyone else when it comes to the history of the famine......but they'll be wearing this badge on a day that isnt famine day. its a bit like sticking a red nose on yer gonk the week before red nose day.
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So would you rather the club never recognised it at all? -
i'm really not trying to annoy anyone but i'm of the opinion that wearing that emblem on a day that isnt the official day is a bit futile.....shall we celebrate xmas in november. easter in february.
the famine day is a special special day i feel that celtics attempt to honour it is misguided. i think a statement that the club recognises the significance of the day would suffice....wearing the emblem on a day that isnt famine memorial day lessens the significance of the object of holding an actual memorial day.
its just my opinion. i'm from irish parentage i understand fully the significance of this day. its almost as if celtic are trying to squeeze it into their calender. -
so do u wish us move to fixture to accomadate ur petty hate?
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eh ? ....what hate. this is a forum for opinion. i'm entitled to mine. i have no hatred towards the memory of the famine or towards celticfootballclub. if in doubt read my posts again.
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Rosario FC
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OK, so at what game should we pay tribute?? -
not superior...
just not alike a bunch of animals rolling around in their own muck...
id also like to add as a side note, i hope the dissidents in ni dont see this day as an opportunity to blow * up... -
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if it falls on a match day the of course we should honour it. do celtic think that if they dont wear the emblem they are somehow dishonouring the occasion..i dont think they would be.
i'd also suggest some kind of wreath should be placed at the walfrid statue at the front door. ( if this already happen excuse my ignorance )
furthermore what about holding a yearly occasion were one of the pre seasson games is against the champions of ireland. home one years ...away the next.
all monies equally divided between irish and scottish charities. -
celtic_bhoy81
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What about the near hundreds of thousands of scots that died and migrated in the same famine?
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as far as im aware the memorial day encompasses everyone who died during the famine. regardless of nationality.
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what about the walfrid memorial trophy.
celtic, shamrock rovers, liverpool & new york red bulls.
have it like the tournament we won last summer. -
celtic_bhoy81
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Doesn't suggest that at all but I hope it does. Though I think
it's just to please the irish fans as usual. Am not saying the remeberance shouldn't go ahead nor am I trying to offend anyone. -
Can you give us some more examples of how Celtic "please the Irish fans as usual". -
Remembrance should go ahead as the poster said, as long as it encompasses all nationalities who died in the famine, and famines that are happening now also as mentioned in the statement.
I think that's the whole idea of it.
Any charitable event as such cannot be a bad thing, i think the poster was maybe raising the fact that the club seem to lean towards the Irish at times, raising routes etc.... But at the end of the day, they are a Scottish club, and sometimes its thought that they may neglect that fact a bit.
Just a thought.
(IMO good game and time for Celtic to commemorate it) -
celtic_bhoy81
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That's pretty much what I meant yeah.
People forget the amount of Scots who died or had to leave their homes in the famine. I want MY club to uphold it's Scottish heritage as well as it's Irish.
You can feel like an outsider at Celtic events if you're not into the whole Irish thing.
Again, not having a dig or trying to argue. My mate that I sit beside is at CP is Irish and we talk about such topics all the time. -
celtic_bhoy81
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You're obviously a Celtic fans so I don't think I need to explain this tbh.
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