From CiCi. Visit their website for more details:
www.cici.org.uk/SummaryofEqualityandDiversitytrainingCelticFootballClubsupporters.htmSummary of Equality and Diversity training - Celtic Football Club supporters
September 23rd, 2010Celebrate Identity Challenge Intolerance recently delivered Equality and Diversity training for supporters groups and fans of Celtic Football Club. The training day covered a whole range of issues ranging from political expressions and ideology to sectarianism, racism, Irish culture and wider Equality issues.
Owing to social myths and misconceptions many of the songs that are frequently heard within football stadia have been incorrectly categorised and cultural ignorance has sought to sectarianise certain songs when such accusations are without foundation. Consequently this has created a confusion around songs that are heard within Celtic Park and stadia throughout Scotland and beyond.
Various Celtic supporters groups were represented at the training day. Within the content of the Equality and Diversity training day we focused on the rules and regulations which effectively govern football supporters in and around stadia in Scotland, as well as ensuring there was an emphasis on wider Scottish law. We also offered clarification on the long standing controversy around Irish songs, this being an area of concern for many Celtic FC supporters and the wider Irish community in Scotland.
We wish to make clear that :
A ) Celebrate Identity Challenge Intolerance is an Equality and Diversity consultancy. Our fundamental position is that people have a right to celebrate their identity regarding the Protected characteristics within Equality and also have the right not to be discriminated against for the same aspects of identity.
B ) What is set out below is coming from an Equality perspective, we are apolitical and as such do not enter into current and ongoing political matters, ideology or belief.
C ) It is intended as a guide only for supporters, what is set out below has not had any approval from Celtic Football Club, the football authorities or the police. We cannot give guarantees that supporters will not be intimidated, threatened, ejected from stadia, banned from stadia or charged for what is legitimate expression.
D ) We are not advocating that supporters sing any particular song, our findings are around rights and responsibilities from an Equality perspective.
Irish songs
It is this area that has created the most controversy. Whilst we appreciate that this is and has been an emotive issue, our view is that this controversy has emanated from certain songs and expressions being erroneously classed as sectarian. We have agreed to create a list of Irish songs that are not in breach of any of the legislation above, and have no sectarian connotations, either through lyrical content or the event(s) the respective song is themed around. Ireland is a sovereign nation and as such enjoys the same rights as other sovereign nations. Within this there are rights to celebrate national identity and nationhood whether that is expressing an affection or love for a nation, or remembering those who died in order to secure a nations freedom or independence. This is a right afforded to any citizen and by extension, nation, not just around the Irish or Ireland. When we covered this area we looked at it from a commonly used definition of racism in the field of Equality which alludes to 'to treat an individual or group less favourably based upon race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity' and we feel it is necessary to convey that racism is not merely the presence of hostility, it is also the denial of equality regarding skin colour, nationality, national origins, ethnicity etc and cultures therein.
When this is looked at then it is clear that to refer to legitimate Irish songs in unfavourable terms could be construed as racist if the same rules are not applied to songs and cultures pertaining to other nations. This is an area that we feel is important to refer to regarding the positions of both the stewards and the police who oversee crowd behaviours within professional football. Both parties have a difficult job in making stadia a safe and secure environment and we hope that this information will be beneficial in ensuring that neither party is subject to accusations of racism. This also has a relevance outwith the immediate vicinity of football matches, particularly those tasked with reporting on professional football.
Taking all of this into account we have listed songs that are Irish in nature, which stem from a pride in Irishness, or are themed around Irish patriots, it was around patriotic songs that most clarification was sought. Some of the songs referred to are known outwith traditional Irish circles. For example the song A nation once again featured in the Irish dancing show 'Celtic Tiger' which was seen by millions throughout the globe, as was the song 'Four green fields'. Both A nation once again and Foggy Dew topped BBC radio polls in recent times and several of the songs have been top of and featured in the Irish music charts.
The accompanying pictures below illustrate the Irish Government endorsement and recognition as patriots of those who died during the Easter Rising and War of Independence in the former part of the 20th century. The British ambassador to Ireland has attended these commemorations in the recent past. The pictures mirror those of other nations, their political leaders, armed forces and citizens who annually commemorate those who have died for their respective nations fighting against persecution, fascism and tyranny.
Below is a list of Irish songs that from an Equality perspective do not infringe any of the outlined legislation.
Amhrán na bhFiann ( Irish national anthem )
Fields of Athenry
Irish soldier laddie
Irish soldier boy
Lonesome boatman
Boys of the old brigade
Merry Ploughboy
Broad black brimmer
Foggy Dew
Let the people sing
Meet me at the pillar
Bold Robert Emmet
Kevin Barry
James Connolly
Michael Collins
James Connolly's ghost
Protestant men
Henry Joy
Dying rebel
Boolavogue
A nation once again
God save Ireland
Patrick Pearse
Banna strand
Boys of Wexford
The valley of Knockanure
Wearing of the green
Only our rivers run free
Tri-coloured ribbon
Oro Se Do Bhatha Abhaile
Save a piece of this island for me
On the one road
Grace
Farewell to Dublin
Galtee Mountain boy
Flight of earls
This land is your land
No Irish need apply
Lough Sheelin eviction
Four green fields
Winds are singing freedom
Down by the glenside
We would also strongly recommend that the songs listed above are sung without any additions or interjections which would infringe the legislation above. We also want to stress that the songs listed are not a complete list of songs that do not breach any legislation. Owing to there being thousands of Irish songs it would be impossible to have a detailed list of all songs which are considered Irish and have both a theme and lyrical content to support such an assertion. If people have concerns around this then please contact us at contact@cici.org.uk and we will try to answer any queries in due course.
The reasons for the selected songs stems from the position that :
a ) Through research and dialogue on the matter we understand that these are Irish songs that many supporters have a familiarity with.
b ) As a result of that familiarity we would hope that supporters would give some consideration to introducing these songs instead of songs and expressions which breach any of the rules, regulations, law, Unacceptable Conduct etc.
c ) None of the songs listed above would, if the Unacceptable Conduct document is adhered to, be likely to have Celtic Football Club sanctioned in any way by any football authority, both in domestic football and under the jurisdiction of UEFA. Patriotic songs are heard frequently in UEFA governed matches, most notably at international level and to our knowledge this has never brought sanctions to any national association.
More here:
www.cici.org.uk/SummaryofEqualityandDiversitytrainingCelticFootballClubsupporters.htm