Difference between revisions of "Glasgow"

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[[Image:uk-glasgow.jpg|thumb|right|Glasgow and the River Clyde viewed looking South over Cludgie]]
 
[[Image:uk-glasgow.jpg|thumb|right|Glasgow and the River Clyde viewed looking South over Cludgie]]
'''Glasgow''' is the largest city in [[Scotland]]. Founded by its patron saint Kentigern (or Mungo) around 540 AD it stands on both sides of the River Clyde.  
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'''Glasgow''' is the largest city in [[Scotland]]. Founded by its patron saint [[Kentigern]] (or [[Mungo]]) around 540 AD it stands on both sides of the River Clyde.  
  
 
The official motto of the city is ''Floreat Glasgua'' ("Let Glasgow Flourish"). However the unofficial motto is the [[Scots]] ''Yer Tea's Oot'' ("Your Tea Is Out") - a reference to the city's great tradition of hospitality towards the stranger.
 
The official motto of the city is ''Floreat Glasgua'' ("Let Glasgow Flourish"). However the unofficial motto is the [[Scots]] ''Yer Tea's Oot'' ("Your Tea Is Out") - a reference to the city's great tradition of hospitality towards the stranger.

Revision as of 07:34, May 14, 2007

Glasgow and the River Clyde viewed looking South over Cludgie

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. Founded by its patron saint Kentigern (or Mungo) around 540 AD it stands on both sides of the River Clyde.

The official motto of the city is Floreat Glasgua ("Let Glasgow Flourish"). However the unofficial motto is the Scots Yer Tea's Oot ("Your Tea Is Out") - a reference to the city's great tradition of hospitality towards the stranger.

The population of the city itself has declined from over a million inhabitants in the pre World War II era to around 600,000 today. However the population of the Greater Glasgow conurbation is approximately 2.5 million, roughly half the population of Scotland.

Inhabitants of Glasgow are called Glaswegians but are often referred to by other Scots as "Keelies" or "Weegies". Glaswegians frequently refer to themselves in Scots as Wee Arra Peepul ("Little Arrow People"), a reference to their small stature and historical renown as archers.


Buildings

Glasgow has many fine public buildings, notably Glasgow Cathedral, a large Gothic edifice, the City Chambers, Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, the Great Eastern Hotel, the University at Gilmorehill, the Armadillo designed by Richard Rodgers, the School of Art designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Beresford Hotel, an art deco building on Sauchiehall St.

Despite a long and proud industrial heritage Glasgow is studded with green spaces and recreation grounds (the name Glasgow comes from the Brythonic for Dear Green Place). The finest of these is the much loved Possil Park, opened by Queen Victoria in 1878.

The slums of the industrial era, particularly the Gorbals and the notorious Cludgie district, have now been cleared and regenerated with many fine new dwellings and green spaces.

The poet Sir John Betjeman described Glasgow as the "finest Victorian city in the world". This accolade is still justified today despite the best efforts of the City Council to destroy it in the 1960s and 1970s.

History

The site of the founding of St Mungo's church by the Molendinar Burn, a stream which flows into the River Clyde, is now the site of Glasgow Cathedral. [1]

In the early days Glasgow was subjected to frequent raids by marauding Vikings who sailed up the Clyde in their long ships. One such incursion on Glasgow is recounted in the Norse Saga of Noggin the Nog.

Glasgow is famous for shipbuilding - the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Lusitania are just some of the famous vessels which were "Clyde-built". Other industries include whisky distilling and the manufacture of hats called 'Jimmy bunnets' which are favoured by members of the Tartan Army and soccer fans.

Education

Glasgow has three universities - the University of Glasgow founded in 1451, the University of Strathclyde, the former Royal College, which was raised to university status in 1965 and Glasgow Caledonian University, previously Glasgow College of Technology, which has been a university since 1992.

The People

Glasgow's population consists mainly of Lowland Scots, Gaels from the Highlands and Hebrides and the descendants of immigrants from Ireland. The early twentieth century saw arrivals from Italy, Russia, Lithuania and Poland. Some of these immigrants from Eastern Europe were Jews escaping pogroms but many came to work in the coalmines and steelworks in and around the city. The latter half of the twentieth century saw a new wave of immigration from India and Pakistan. With the recent accession of Poland to the European Union the city has played host to many young Poles seeking work in the city.

Sport and Religion

Football and religion are normally seen as being inseparable in Glasgow. Scottish Football has for decades been dominated by two Glasgow clubs; Glasgow Rangers and Celtic FC (often erroneously called Glasgow Celtic). These are the two clubs with the strongest links to the religious community. Rangers predominantly draw their support, and until the 1980's their players, from members of the Protestant church while Celtic historically draw their support from the Roman Catholic community. Due to the fixture scheduling of the Scottish Premier League to the two teams meet each other at 4 times a year. [2] At these games an inter-denominational service precedes the game at which one set of supporters sings songs to the other. When matches are played at Ibrox Park (the home of Rangers) the service is usually conducted by the Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow, whereas at matches played at Celtic Park services have been led by leading clergy from various Protestant denominations. On March 10th 2007 the service at Celtic Park was led by the Rev Dr Ian Paisley, Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ireland and First Minister of Northern Ireland. These events have helped boost inter-faith relations and help give Glasgow its slogan - The Friendly City.[3]

Politics

Due to its heavy working class culture and tradition of heavy industry Glasgow has always been a hotbed of fervent socialism. All MPs currently returned to the UK Parliament represent the Labour Party. The last Conservative to represent a Parliamentary seat in Glasgow was Teddy (later Sir Teddy) Taylor who represented Glasgow Cathcart from 1964 to 1979 when he lost he seat to John Maxton. This was the only Conservative loss in the 1979 election and fore-shadowed the collapse in support of Conservatism throughout Scotland during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher.

In the Scottish Parliament all 9 of the 10 Constituency MPs represent the Labour Party. The only non-Labour MSP is the Scottish National Party's Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow Govan. The Proportionately Elected Regional List MPs for Glasgow comprise four from the Scottish National Party, one from the Liberal Democrats, one from the Green Party and the Conservative, Bill Aitken.[4]

These elections for the Scottish Parliament were held on 3rd May 2007.

Customs, Leisure and Culture

The city has a number of fine museums and galleries, notably the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, the Burrell Collection in Pollok Park and the Museum of Religious Life which is situated in Provand's Lordship, the oldest house in Glasgow.

A local custom in Glasgow is the traditional greeting of visitors from afar with a 'Glasgow Kiss'. This is not a kiss at all, and is totally non-sexual in nature. It involves the rubbing of foreheads in a vigorous yet friendly manner. Whether or not the action originates from a desired 'meeting of minds' is unclear but its effect is to initiate the stranger into the social group.

The month of July in Glasgow sees a large parade known as the Orange Walk (popularly, "the Walk"). This colourful extravaganza commemorates the first shipment of citrus fruits from South America to arrive in Glasgow at Broomielaw Quay on the Clyde in 1690 and the establishment of the city's first fruit market nearby. The parade is preceded by the disembarkation at Custom House Quay of a group of marchers known as 'Orangemen' who have sailed up the Clyde in a banana boat. It has often been compared with the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Rio de Janeiro Mardi Gras but, fortunately, has never been marred by the trouble and violence which often accompanies those events.

The Theatre Royal in Hope Street is the home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra has its home at the Royal Concert Hall in Buchanan Street. The Henry Wood Hall in Anderston is the base of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Scottish Television and BBC Scotland both have studios on the south bank of the Clyde at Atlantic Quay in the Cludgie district.

Language

The language of Glasgow is formally English but, informally, the natives speak a local variant of Scots. Here are some common everyday phrases which may be useful for the visitor:

  • Hullawrerr - Good morning/afternoon
  • Hoozitgaun? - How are you?
  • Awright - I'm very well
  • Geeza - Please
  • Ta - Thank you
  • Yer bahookey - You're welcome
  • Wherraboozer? - Where can I get something to eat/drink?
  • Fuctifanaw. Ahmno fae here - I'm sorry I don't know. I'm a stranger myself.
  • Jeewant chibbed yabassa - Please leave me alone
  • Aye, right - I agree
  • Yeraffyerheid - I disagree
  • Gerritupye - Good health
  • Ahwislikaat - I was surprised


The ancient Celtic language Gaelic can often be heard in Glasgow, particularly in the West End where there is a sizeable community from the Hebrides.

Famous Glaswegians

  • Billy Connolly (Comedian and Actor)
  • Charles Rennie Mackintosh (Architect)
  • Sir William Burrell (Businessman, Philantropist who donated The Burrell Collection to the City)
  • Gordon Jackson (Actor, The Great Escape, Upstairs Downstairs, The Professionals)
  • Robbie Coltrane (Actor, Hagrid in the Harry Potter films)
  • Billy Boyd (Actor, Pippin in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy)
  • Scrooge McDuck
  • Groundskeeper Willie
  • Jack McLean (journalist, author, bon viveur and urban Voltaire)
  • Gerry McNee (journalist - "The Voice of a Football")
  • Alan Cumming (actor)
  • Ian and Janette Tough aka The Krankies (comedy duo),
  • Johnny Beattie (Shakespearean actor)
  • Chutney Ferret (comedian)
  • Frankie Miller (rock singer)
  • Jim Kerr (rock singer with Simple Minds)
  • Sir Cameron King (shipping magnate)
  • Tommy Toley (comedian)
  • Stanley Baxter (philologist and author of the definitive academic work on the Glasgow dialect)[5]
  • Lobey Dosser (frontiersman)
  • Charlie Sim (uphill gardener)
  • Donald Findlay QC (advocate and ecumenist)
  • Sydney Devine (singer)
  • Matt Black (painter)
  • Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and Waterford (soldier)
  • Chick Young (radio presenter and comedian)
  • Lulu (singer)
  • Ian Brady (moors murderer)
  • Andrew Agnew (Action Film Actor)
  • Jerry Sadowitz (magician, comedian and previous presenter of Songs of Praise)
  • Leo Blair (father of Tony Blair)
  • Mark McManus (actor)
  • Rikki Fulton (Comedian, half of the Francie & Josie comedy duo and creator of Rev I. M. Jolly)
  • Angus Lennie (actor - The Great Escape and Crossroads)
  • John Martyn ( singer/songwriter)

References

  1. http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/AboutGlasgow/History/Earliest+Beginnings.htm
  2. http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FixturesandResults/0,,10002,00.html
  3. http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/AboutGlasgow/Touristattractions/thefriendlycity.htm
  4. http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Elections_Voting/Election_Results/ElectionScotland2007/SPElectionResults.htm
  5. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1874744009?ie=UTF8&tag=globalaffilia-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1874744009