It is the day when the global village acknowledges the massive cultural heft of this small island.
The many millions of people worldwide who feel connected to this place are a crucial part of what we understand to be Irishness.
We have endured so much from our larger neighbour.
That is why there is an Irish diaspora of such size and scale.
On this day across this interconnected planet, they remember, in any way that suits them, that this little soggy place is part of who they are.
Sure, I wouldn’t be from anywhere else.
This morning I was sent this pic from mi hermano Paco in Madrid.
On this day, the world proclaims its love for Ireland.
That’s great to see.
Such scenes are replicated all over the world today.
However, it reminded me that this Irishman was born into a hostile environment.
Consequently, this Tweet:
Not a good look, Glasgow.
Of course, not every Scot is with the anti-Irish protocols in Fair Caledonia.
My publisher, a sound fella, pitched in with this:
On Planet Fitba, my club remains one of the most vibrant manifestations of the impact of the Irish diaspora on modern Scotland.
Founded in 1888, we weren’t the first, though.
So it is fitting that we’re hosting the other one tomorrow at Parkhead.
It is also a day to remember that migration and travelling somewhere for a better life are part of the human story.
From the coffin ships that crossed the Atlantic during An Gorta Mór to those little rubber boats in the Channel, everyone aboard is a human being.
If we in Ireland aren’t guided by céad míle fáilte, then we betray who we are as a people.
On the walk up my bóithrín today, the neighbours were passing with their wee ones.
They had the full Paddy’s Day regalia on for the parade.
Of course, that couldn’t happen in my home city, sin scéal eile.
Those babas in green were speaking Polish to their mammy.
I have amassed about a dozen words in that beautifully complex language, so I was able to offer my felicitations in Język Polski.
The New Irish are a powerful indicator that our best days are in front of us.
That means 32 and poor Jeffrey in the States at the moment just might finally have stumbled on a truth that the rest of us have known since Partition.
Bless him…
If this place is part of you wherever you are or first saw the light of day, then have a great one.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Poor Jeffrey obviously has never heard of Korea. Surprising really. It’s in the news at least as often as Ireland.
An article in the National today
ALL around the world, shamrock bunting was unravelled and green dye unboxed for this weekend’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations. City and town councils spent months preparing for the cultural event that draws people from all backgrounds out in celebration.
However, unlike other similar-sized cities with small Irish communities such as Stockholm, Auckland and Munich, Glasgow will be one of the only cities with a large Irish diaspora that can’t publicly celebrate the day. This seems exceptional considering current estimates suggest people of Irish ancestry make up some 20% of the Scottish population. Factoring in that most Irish settled in the Greater Glasgow area, this figure is much higher for this city.
In a freshly decorated courtyard in central Glasgow, hundreds of people turned out to the festive occasion arranged by the St Patrick’s Festival Committee – a yearly indoor festival hosted by the organisation. The day included traditional music, Irish dancing, face painters and much more. Dressed head-to-toe in all green were newcomers Ann O’Mara and Veronica Hood. This was the first time the pair had heard of the event taking place. Due to a lack of general information about what events take place every year, O’Mara and Hood spent the past number of years travelling to Coatbridge, a small town just over 10 miles outside Glasgow.
Helping to run the event was Irishman Evin Downey, a development officer for Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) in Glasgow. Downey mentioned that there have been times people have expressed worry about security in a public festival or parade was to take place. “In reality, if you are to talk about a [public] parade, there would be a security element in Glasgow that wouldn’t be there in other places,” he said. “It’s hard to separate anything in Glasgow.” The separation element is linked to the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers football clubs – a rivalry that unfortunately also contains religious and ethnic elements.
All he wants, Downey said, is for people to enjoy themselves and to learn and participate in a series of events happening over two weeks. “We’re doing our thing,” Downey said. “We are a positive and open celebration of Irish culture.”
One annual cultural festival delivered by Glasgow Life – a charity set up by Glasgow City Council – is Glasgow Mela, a celebration of Indian culture that attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
“The St Patrick’s Day celebrations are not as big a thing as the Glasgow Mela … that is backed big time by the City Council,” Downey said. “We don’t get any support from any local or regional authorities.
“It has been a while since we’ve asked because we felt we were knocking on a closed door for a few years.
“We decided to put our effort into more positive things.”
On a Friday night in Coatbridge, the town described by former president of Ireland Mary McAleese as “the heart of Ireland in Scotland”, locals were eagerly anticipating the night ahead. First, second and third generations all squeezed into a small room to celebrate their varied connections to Ireland and links with Irish identity.
“I think in general there could definitely be more resources for the Irish community in Glasgow,” Irishwoman Emily Pathe said. “There is lots of good work currently being done but it is based on volunteering and goodwill and a little bit more funding or resource could go a long way.”
She added: “I’m not sure why there is not much support but it is a shame really.”
Back at Merchant Square, Patrick Callaghan, when not managing the stage, works for Comhaltas, an organisation that promotes Irish music and culture around the world. He mentioned how zero public funding is received from Glasgow City Council or Glasgow Life and that any attempts to apply have been pointless.
“We applied first of all under the guise of representing Glasgow’s largest ethnic minority community and we were told by the at-the-time director of Glasgow Life that the Irish community weren’t an ethnic minority community,” Callaghan said.
The late former MP Jim Sheridan stated in 2015 that the Irish should not be regarded as an ethnic minority and public money must not be spent on St Patrick’s Day parades.
“Sometimes in Glasgow, parades have connotations,” Callaghan explained, claiming he understood why no parade existed for St Patrick’s Day. “It’s a city that has had historical issues with sectarianism and anti-Irish racism.” But he added that he would look forward to the day all communities would be properly represented and rewarded for their work in building the city.
“There is a certain element of this city that immigrants over the centuries built,” Callaghan said.
“Be that the Irish community or the Asian community. And we just want to celebrate our cultural identity in Glasgow as a valued part of the wider fabric of society,” he said. “But that doesn’t seem to be so welcomed.”
For the Irish in Glasgow to openly celebrate their culture, it must be done independently and on a scale not proportional to the past, present and future influence the Irish have on this city.
“The Irish are part of the mainstream culture but it is also a culture within itself,” Pathe said. “I think it is important to recognise that.”
But for now, celebrations of Irishness are kept in private venues hidden away from the main streets and will continue to happen like this every year until the real issue, the sectarian divide, is openly discussed.
Hide comments
Meant to say Grand Slam…still half sparkled to be fair…cheers
I think 50 percent is an under estimate. Glasgow closer to two thirds Irish which makes it a bigger embarrassment for our hometown
Had a great day yesterday with the clan, everyone took the day off, culminating in a house party listening to Irish music and watching Celtic dvd,s…those that went the distance finished off by watching The Quiet Man …Barry Fitzgerald..what a man..not a harsh word all day…great fun had by all.
Today its the Hoops and then in to watch Ireland for the Triple Crown in Dublin for possibly the first time, two wins would round the whole thing off beautifully.
Hope you all had a great day and have an even better one today.
Aye, ‘tis such a shame the auld country’s in as big a mess as it ever was.
Ye have to wonder what these politicians do all day.
It’s almost as if they don’t care about anyone but themselves yet still folk keep voting for them, like it’s going to make the slightest bit of difference and as though this ‘Democracy’ of theirs were a real thing
Yes, you’d think – if only for the obvious commercial reasons – there would be a Paddy’s Day Parade in Glasgow?
Like many, I was ignorant of the significance of the day until I started living abroad…
and then you’re left scratching your head at the shocking discrimination when you are later stuck in traffic
back in Glasgow – for yet another bunch of flute players marching down the road, trailing assorted ‘characters’. 😦
God bless to all who celebrate and those who are respectful of such celebrated holidays.
My beautiful Irish princess has chosen to come and live with my wife, 2 children and I in beloved Scotland. Whilst I, my family and close friends of all cultures and creed respectfully honour our perspective holidays of worship. I do worry about “cultural” influences that may befall my innocent cherub.
I do wish in this fair Caledonia that people of all backgrounds can RESPECTFULLY celebrate their our cultural differences, unfortunately that requires a citizen of the world mindset, rather than an imperialist and narrow minded skew.
As I’ve said on here before….I have no Irish lineage.
But that doesn’t stop me from loving the place.
However…some points to ponder.
When you remember that the Govan Club was allowed to operate for over a century with a policy of no Roman Catholics…then the chances of a St. Patrick’s Day Parade were… and still are… nil.
And don’t be fooled by the Everyone/Anyone crap…That’s to avoid sanctions.
But look on the bright side…
Way back…when the “ramifications” of Lent became apparent…( 40 days and 40 nights without alcohol)
it caused great consternation among the populace.
However…it took an Irishman to announce…
“Sure …we’ll pick a day to honour St. Patrick halfway through Lent…and everyone will be happy.”
Smart guys these Irish.
Have a great St. Paddy’s Day.
Ironically, both establishment parties in the UK, the Tory party and the labour party, both wished the world a happy st Patrick’s Day.
Must be an election coming.