It is impossible to look at Brendan Rodgers’ comments after the game yesterday outside of the current context.
You might be able to follow them, but you wouldn’t fully understand what he was saying or where he was coming from and to fully appreciate them you need to. There is a level of sophistication to them which is way beyond his critics.
In the aftermath of the game, Rodgers was asked about the Ibrox club’s game today against Dundee.
His comments were wonderful, far and away the most impressive he has uttered in his time as boss so far. “It’s St Patrick’s Day tomorrow so I’ll be celebrating St Patrick’s Day,” he said. And as if the point wasn’t clear enough, he went further. “There’ll be a celebration of the Irish community worldwide so I won’t have any interest in any results.”
Isn’t that incredible? Isn’t that a brilliant call-out to the debate being had on the margins, the one some of us write about but which the mainstream media wants to completely ignore? The one about anti-Irish racism and the way it continues to blight this country?
I do wish he had gone a little bit further and more openly rubbed their faces in it and made them confront it, but what a reminder of where he’s from, what we endure and a statement of pride in that. Every one of us from that background and community feels that same emotion about today, and every one of us understands why, here in Scotland, it is so special.
That was gratifying to hear Rodgers say that yesterday, and in particular in such a dismissive way of the Ibrox club’s match which we all know is important, but not that important, because come what may this is still in our hands and that was part of the message. A little important, just not enough to distract us from what is, after all, our day.
This is why I love Rodgers, and you know what? Some people will say not to trust a word that comes out of his mouth, not to believe a word that he says, but you know what my answer to that is?
There are people for whom a sentiment like that wouldn’t even come to mind, people who wouldn’t say that line if some spin doctor fed it to them with a guarantee of ten extra approval points in the polls.
So I don’t care whether Rodgers meant it or not, he’s a high-profile Irishman in Scottish football and those words came out of his mouth … and that’s great whatever his motivation was.
And coming at the end of last week, when so many of us wanted issues about Irishness and the way we are treated in Scotland brought to the fore … that was wonderful, that was a message and that hit home.
I was delighted. I am still delighted.
Happy St Patricks Day comrades, friends, ladies and gents. Enjoy every second of it.
Even better if Dundee do over sevco
Glasgow which is, allegedly, is under the control of the unseen Fenian hand, does not allow St Patricks day to be officially celebrated for fear of it being too confrontational. I know I don’t need to spell out why that is such an utterly ridiculous assertion to make.
You are right. Brendan SHOULD have taken it further.
As a guy who left school at the age of 15 and started work in 1959 I lost count of the number of times I was called a wee Fenian or Irish bxxxxxd. As a boy born in Govan with Irish roots that were around 3 generations back, I found this strange, but soon learned to treat it as a badge of honour.
Anti Irish racism is so deep rooted and shameful in Scotland that politicians are vilified if they dare to raise the subject. The media are part of the problem as they have been in denial of this form of racism for around 150 years and still are.
Glasgow with its large % of people with Irish roots doesn’t even have a St Patricks day Parade because of the aggro a certain segment of the cities population would have shown towards it.
The Irish/Scots have contributed a lot to Scottish society over the years, yet that under current of sectarianism and racism is still there among some Scots.
Happy St Patricks day James
Yep – Happy St. Patrick’s Day to one and all Celtic supporters everywhere in our Planet Earth…
Time for parades all over town’s and cities, villages and hamlets the length and breadth of Scotland…
They have plenty of them in England so why on earth not in Scotland…
And just go the full hog and have St. Andrews ones in November as well…
Given that there are ‘other’ parades in Scotland St. Patrick’s and St. Andrew’s ones could not be stopped in any which way whatsoever…
Let’s do it fholks and celebrate our Irish links and heritage like every other country…
I’m out on the piss big time tonight…
Hope everyone else on here is as well…
And also all Celtic (and Hibernian) supporters everywhere as well are too…
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY TO ONE AND ALL OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CULTURE !!!!!!
St Patricks day is Glasgow is great. Google it. Big parties down the Merchant city. Why not try it out rather than moaning Clacnacuddin.
Yeah – Done it in Glasgow many times and Coatbridge, Derry And Belfast as well and enjoyed it immensely if not the hangovers…
Oh and Jimmy please tell me where in the fuck am I ‘moaning’ in the above post !
I’m wishing EVERYONE a Happy St. Patrick’s Day – That also includes yourself as well !
Have you stopped the voice over on some of your posts James, due to failing eyesight this was very helpful.
Michael, I couldn’t find a specific tab for audio playback but I did find a workaround to get it, albeit it will also read out some titles preamble before the story kicks in.
Hopefully you’re able to see what I am describing. Press a word in the story, then ‘select all’ from the popup, the.n press the 3 dots menu & finally choose ‘read aloud’.
PS. It will also read the titles under the heading, ‘Most Read on the Celtic Blog’ before returning to the article. It might also read the comments too.
Happy Saint Patricks day to the Irish Diaspora where ever they find themselves in the world today !!! always be proud of the Heritage that was handed down to us !!
Hail, glorious St. Patrick, dear Saint of our Isle,
On us your poor children bestow a sweet smile!