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Famine Song’ Ter Partridge, Played by Steve Partridge

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Famine Song’ Ter Partridge, Played by Steve Partridge The Irish Post January 15, 2011 | 9 NEWSDESK t: 020 8741 0649 | f: 020 8741 3382 e: [email protected] | w: www.irishpost.co.uk NEWS Sir Alex’s Ah-ha! It’s the passion TD’s fury at Irish Father Ted creators! for Irish BY NICK BRAMHILL THE CREATORS of Father Ted Government’s have told how they get more recognition for a cameo role they history played in another offbeat comedy than for penning the timeless BY NICK BRAMHILL Craggy Island scripts. Writers Graham Linehan and MANCHESTER UTD boss Alex apathy towards Arthur Mathews once played two Ferguson has revealed a secret RTÉ TV executives in an episode passion for Irish history. of I’m Alan Partridge. Fergie said he is a huge In the episode, To Kill A Mock- admirer of Michael Collins, ing Alan, Linehan and Mathews who he describes as a “roman- travel to Norwich to sound out tic figure”, doomed once he socially incompetent TV presen- Steve Coogan’s character Alan signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty ‘Famine Song’ ter Partridge, played by Steve Partridge. and agreed the partition of Coogan, for a job. the Six Counties. However, it all goes horribly ly encapsulates the frustration of BY PHIL MAC GIOLLA BHAIN wrong when tactless Partridge a Sunday.” UNSATISFACTORY: upsets the pair when he refers to Linehan said his five-minute A DONEGAL TD has angrily Donegal Fine Gael TD the Irish as “toothless simple- cameo in that episode gets him reacted to what he believes is the Joe McHugh criticised tons”, before further displaying more recognition on the streets continuing inactivity of the Irish the Irish Government’s his ignorance of Irish popular than all the scripts he wrote for Government in the face of racist lack of action over the culture and history with a tor- Father Ted. “We’re not recog- abuse aimed at Irish people in Famine Song. rent of insults. In reference to nised at all for Ted,” he said. “We Scotland. the potato famine and the 2mil- did an episode of Alan Partridge Deputy Joe McHugh has hit lion who were forced to emigrate, once and we got more recogni- out at the so-called ‘Famine song’ he quips: “You pay the price if tion for that, even though I was which implores the Irish in Glas- you’re a fussy eater. If you can wearing a big wig. gow and people of Irish descent afford to emigrate, you can afford “One time I was walking along Sir Alex, whose wife Cathy to “go home” to Ireland because to eat in a modest restaurant.” the street and a garda van pulled has Irish roots, said he has “the famine is over”. And, in a discussion about over. Two guards said, ‘Come huge respect for the network This song was the subject of U2’s classic song Bloody Sunday, here, you’. “I went over to them of people Collins built up an official correspondence he again misses the point about and one of them shouted out, ‘Ah- between 1916 and 1922, which between the Irish Government its reference to the 1972 massacre ha’, Alan Partridge’s catch- he likened to the modern-day and the Scottish Executive in in Derry, saying: “That song real- phrase.” CIA. 2008. The matter was raised on “I started reading history the floor of the European Parlia- many, many years ago and one ment by Eoin Ryan MEP, then of the topics I took was Irish the member for Dublin, in Aer Lingus to fly daily history from the Easter Rising November 2008. through to the Civil War,” he West of Ireland MEP Marian said. Harkin has written to the Scot- “I was fascinated by tish soccer authorities and to from Gatwick to Shannon Michael Collins. I think he UEFA President Michel Platini general. However they do seem McHugh TD on the issue of anti- AER LINGUS’ decision to establish a daily route from London was never going to be success- in 2009 complaining about the to enjoy some tolerance from the Irish racism in Scottish football. Gatwick to Shannon from March 27 has been welcomed. ful at the talks in London. ongoing racist abuse of Irish Scottish soccer authorities. That “If the objective of the football Newly-appointed Shannon Airport Director Mary Considine Even, as he said in his own players and Irish people in Scot- is troubling to me. authorities in Scotland is to said the move was a vote of confidence in the airport for 2011. words, he signed his death tish soccer stadia, mainly by “However most of my anger, remove all vestiges of religious She said: “For Aer Lingus to add Gatwick, not least with its warrant that day when he Rangers fans. Harkin also point- as a Dáil Deputy, is directed and racial prejudice then they early arrival time at Shannon, to its growing network of servic- signed the Treaty with the ed out that Rangers were the towards the current Irish Gov- have to take the courageous step es is a real boost for us and, indeed, the greater west of Ireland partition. only senior club in Britain to ernment. I have submitted Dáil and act against clubs. region.” “Everybody expected him to have had no Republic of Ireland Questions to Micheál Martin “I think that the Irish Govern- The service will originate in Gatwick with a 6.50am departure come back with no partition, players in their first-team squad who has the Foreign Affairs Port- ment should have been relaying and an 8.15am arrival time at Shannon. The return leg from but I don’t think he was ever since the Republic was estab- folio. All I received was an unsat- their concerns about these mat- Shannon will depart at 9am, arriving in Gatwick at 10.25am. going to get that. I don’t think lished as a FIFA-recognised enti- isfactory written answer ters long ago but again I would the British Government was ty. Shortly after this Rangers prepared by civil servants who welcome their input as long as it ever going to allow that.”. appointed a scout for Ireland and could not even characterise the is comprehensive and sustainable. In a revealing interview on last year signed Cork-born goal- ‘Famine Song’ as racist. I “The Scottish legal authorities RTÉ radio last week, Ferguson keeper Alan Smith to their U19 received a standard reply about have made clear that singing the also spoke of his distaste for team from Crumlin United. “sectarianism”. song known as the ‘Famine Song’ greedy football agents, citing In June 2009 Lord Justice Car- “This ‘Famine Song’ is racism is illegal for racist and sectarian examples of outrageous loway in the High Court of Justi- against all Irish people and reasons. Indeed there have been demands that have been made ciary in Edinburgh ruled on the against the Irish community in successful prosecutions which on behalf of some of his play- ‘Famine Song’ in a case involving Scotland in particular. Many of demonstrate that fact. MB MULCAHY – INSURANCE ers. a Rangers fan called William my constituents here in Donegal “Rangers FC and the SPL have The Old Church, Quicks Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 1EX “It’s a hard job to deal with Walls. The judge said of the have relatives in Glasgow so this both expressed their wish that Tel: 020 8545 8820 or 020 8545 8822 agents, although I don’t deal lyrics: “They are racist, calling issue is a local one for me. I will the song should not be sung by Fax: 020 8545 8825 directly with them myself, but upon people native to Scotland to be in contact with Mr Martin to spectators attending SPL match- Email: [email protected] I remember one agent wanted leave the country because of see what direct communications es and have drawn spectators’ a striker to be paid for all the their racial origins.” the Irish Government has had attention to the fact that such goals he scored. I said, ‘Could McHugh said last week: “I am with the Scottish Executive since singing has been confirmed as INDEPENDENT INSURANCE BROKERS you please remind him we’re dismayed and angered to hear I brought this matter to his atten- being illegal. The SPL supports Transacting all classes of insurance since 1982 buying him because he’s a that this odious hateful song, tion in 2008. I expect answers!” Rangers FC in communicating goalscorer.’ despite being categorised as ille- Kieron Brady, who is an ex- this view to its fans. It is the ➲ Public Liability Cover (IRL & UK). “Another agent once asked gal by the High Court in Scot- Sunderland and ex-Republic of police who have the responsibili- ➲ Plant Cover. me to buy a block of flats for a land, is still heard in Scottish Ireland international footballer, ty for dealing with illegal activity ➲ Mini Cab Cover. player. soccer stadia. I know the people is now an equality and anti-racist in Scotland and the SPL support “That’s what you’ve got to that sing the ‘Famine Song’ are expert with Celebrate Identity them fully in this regard, ➲ Car & Comm. Vehicle Cover. deal with today. It’s unbeliev- not representative of Scottish Challenge Intolerance (CICI). He whether at and around its games ➲ Motor Trade. able.” society or of Scottish people in echoed the sentiments of Joe or elsewhere.” ➲ Vacant and Let Property Cover. ➲ Pubs, Offices, Shops. New website celebrates successful Irish Need short period cover on a car or van? — A NEW website called peers via free discussion every field they have chosen same farm since the mid We can now arrange separate cover for 1 day or www.eireofsuccess.com has forums and with the addition they have been successful — 1850s.
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