The Famine Song

"The Famine Song" is a football chant by some Rangers F.C. and Hearts F.C. fans against SPL rivals Celtic F.C. and Hibernian F.C.. It has been part of a diplomatic storm between Ireland and Scotland.

The song states the Irish famine is over, and that Irish people in Scotland should go home. It also criticizes Jock Stein for his handling of a Celtic official who was embroiled in a sex abuse case, as well as calling Celtic child abusers. Another verse highlights alleged Irish assistance to Germany during World War II. The song criticises also Aiden McGeady for playing for Ireland instead of Scotland.

Opponentswho say the song is racist and sectarian, but supporterswho say it is a parody of the Scots who claim to be Irish even though they are three or more generations in Scotland, and is to be taken tongue in cheek. A complaint was made to the Irish Embassy in London, who instructed the Consul in Edinburgh to deal with it. They decided not to follow through, because sectarianism has always been a problem, and sufficient steps are being brought in to deal with such problems.

Although Rangers fans don't sing the full version at football games. They sing 'why don't you go home, why don't you go home, the famine is over, why don't you go home'. [ cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7617518.stm | publisher = BBC News | title = Concerns raised over famine song | date = 15 September 2008 ] Criticism has in risen with Rangers fans protesting against the 'Fields of Athenry' saying that the song also contains reference to the Irish famine [ cite news | url = http://www.irishlinks.co.uk/fields-of-athenry-words.htm | publisher = Irish Links | title = The Fields Of Athenry Lyrics That Also Contains Details About The Irish Famine | date = 13 June 2006 ] which Celtic Football Club play over the speakers on match days as well as other Irish Rebel Songs such as 'Let the People Sing' [ cite news | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn7z6f1SZhQ | publisher = Youtube | title = Let The People Sing At Parkhead | date = 5 January 2007 ]

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