Galway City Councillor Billy Cameron has taken up the fight to put an end to the singing of a new Glasgow Rangers song that has outraged Galway’s Celtic supporters.
In a letter last week Cllr Cameron, a Celtic season ticket holder, outlined the concerns of Galway’s Celtic contingent to Gordon Smith, CEO of the Scottish FA.
The fans are outraged at the “racist lyrics of a newly adopted anthem of Rangers fans”.
Speaking to Galway First, Cllr Cameron said, “On my most recent trip for the European Champions League match versus Manchester United I was approached by travelling supporters from Galway, Clare and Limerick both in Shannon Airport and on the streets of Glasgow who expressed their disgust with the lyrics of ‘The Famine Song’ which has been sung at recent SPL games.”
The song, whose chorus goes to the tune of the Beach Boys hit ‘Sloop John B’ contains the lyric, “Why don’t you go home, Why don’t you go home, the famine is over, why don’t you go home?”
Cllr Cameron slammed the tune saying, “I find it totally unacceptable that Irish fans attending matches not alone in Glasgow but also in Edinburgh would be subject to such outrageous racist behaviour.”
He added that while Celtic terrace songs are harmless the new Rangers tune was racially offensive to Irish people.
“I recognise the efforts of Celtic in ridding from the terraces racist and bigoted chants, most of the present Celtic songs are actually harmless ‘You’ll never walk alone’, ‘Willie Malley’, ‘Let the people sing’ and ‘This land is your land’ and are devoid of any racial content but at the same time strong rebellious football anthems. The introduction by particularly Rangers fans of ‘The Famine Song’ which targets Irish people and those of Irish descent is seriously worrying given the progress and mission statements of football clubs throughout the world in recent years with regard to racism.”
He added, “In my correspondence to Mr Smith I asked for immediate action to tackle the re-emergence of racists chants and action be taken given the fact Ireland has strong historic connections with both Glasgow Celtic and Hibernian of Edinburgh and that many ex League of Ireland players now grace venues throughout the SPL.
“I told him that sport should provide a healthy, non-racist and non-sectarian environment for all fans and players. I have demanded a response and informed him that I will be attending the Old Firm Derby in February and hope that the recent upsurge will not only have dissipated but by then be obliterated and if not arrests and life bans be implemented if there is a repeat in Celtic Park.”
