 When
Glasgow Rangers fans sang the Famine Song at an Old Firm derby they
never thought it would cause so much trouble:
I often wonder where they would have been
If we hadn't have taken them in
Fed them and washed them
Thousands in Glasgow alone
From Ireland they came
Brought us nothing but trouble and shame
Well the famine is over
Why don't they go home?
Now Athenry Mike was a thief
And Large John he was fully briefed
And that wee traitor from Castlemilk
Turned his back on his own
They've all their Papists in Rome
They have U2 and Bono
Well the famine is over
Why don't they go home?
Now they raped and fondled their kids
That's what those perverts from the dark side did
And they swept it under the carpet
And Large John he hid
Their evils seeds have been sown
Cause they're not of our own
Well the famine is over
Why don't you go home?
Now Timmy don't take it from me
Cause if you know your history
You've persecuted thousands of people
In Ireland alone
You turned on the lights
Fuelled U boats by night
That's how you repay us
It's time to go home.
But the song angered one fan so much he put in a complaint that led
Irish diplomats to raise the concerns with the Scottish government.
Now anti-censorship campaigners have stepped into the row, claiming this
weekend that any attempt to curb the fans from singing the lyrics would
be a dangerous assault on freedom of speech. It is the Rangers
fans' right, they say, to insult the Irish over the Great Famine if they
choose.
Index on Censorship's Irish-born spokesperson, Padraig Reidy, said he
was concerned about the state intervening: Considering we all know
that there have been nasty, offensive songs at Old Firm games for years,
making it into a national issue seems absurd and dangerous. It's trying
to set a legal limit on speech that isn't incitement to violence.
Rangers and Celtic have an agreement between themselves to sing what
they want.
Reidy said that, while the song about the Famine is undoubtedly
offensive, behaviour should be controlled by the two clubs rather than
the state: It's different to anti-discrimination laws, which are a
very good thing, but seeking to outlaw any kind of insulting or
offensive speech/songs does become very problematic, because someone
will always take offence.
Rangers FC said it has approached Strathclyde Police for guidance, a
spokesman for the club said, adding fans had been actively discouraged
from singing the song at games.
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