The Special relationship between Ireland and Scotland

Article by Anna Murray

There are many links between Ireland and Scotland and the two countries have developed a close relationship. In this article I’m going to explore the historical and cultural links that lie at it’s heart.

From earliest times the two countries, formed a single cultural, religious, linguistic and economic zone. The early Scots who came to Scotland from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries established the foundations for Irish – Scottish migrations, which continue to this day. Two of the largest migrations were:

under the influence of the english who were keen to shore up their foothold in Ireland, over 200,000 scots emigrated to Ireland. In the second half of the nineteenth century there was a mass exodus from Ireland to England and Scotland as a result of poverty and famine. Irish labour helped Scottish industrialisation to take root rapidly. In major cultural achievements, too, each country affected the other profoundly. The Scottish Enlightenment, began in Ireland in the work of the philosopher Francis Hutcheson, who later moved to Glasgow and greatly influenced the work of David Hume and Adam Smith.

One of the key links between the two counties in the large Diaspora of each. Tens of millions of citizens with Scottish and Irish ancestry can be found across the globe in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are keen to engage on their Diasporas. For example during the 2009 homecoming the Scottish government encouraged Scots to return to Scotland.

In Scotland today people of Irish decent are the single largest minority ethnic group, and there are a large number of Scots living in Ireland. The english’issue’brought both countries together – the need to preserve their identity in the shadow of a powerful neighbouring culture. I will now take a look at some of the shared aspects of culture – celti cmusic, dress and sporting activities.

A commonality between the culture if the two countries in clearly shown in the wearing of the kilt – a clear link between the two nations is. Irish kilts are traditionally plain in either saffron of green, with Irish county tartans a more recent variation.

Sport is another areas that has links, interestingly the Irish-Scots were instrumental in the formation of Celtic Football Clubs Hibernian and Dundee United. Indeed, these teams were originally formed to provide recreational facilities for Irish immigrants.

Celtic music has a strong historical traditional in Scotland and Ireland with both using fiddles, bagpipes, whistles and bodhrans. Often, the term Celtic music is applied to the music of Ireland and Scotland however, it is notable that Irish and Scottish traditional musicians tend to point out the differences between the too.

Today the relationships between Ireland and Scotland continues to be shaped by the changes to the political dynamic brought about by devolution in Scotland, the Peace Process in Northern Ireland as well as the deeper integration into the European Union, which is and will remain Scotland and Ireland’s most significant economic relationship.

About the Author

Anna Murray is Head of Marketing at The Scotland Kilt Company – a family run business based in Edinburgh. For more information about Scottish and Irish Kilts including measuring yourself for a kilt and choosing your tartan visithttp://www.thescotlandkiltcompany.co.uk/email info@thescotlandkiltcompany.co.ukOr call 0131 225 3555

Football – Why it’s enough to make a grown man cry!

Article by Duncan Rice

Why is it that the biggest, the strongest, the stone hearted male of the human race can be reduced to tears by defeat of their football team?

As many fans fear their wonderful game is being taken over by the pursuit of wealth in the elite teams, especially here in Europe, we still feel the deepest of passions for the sport we love. The ecstacy of victory and the despair of a defeat – relegation is just too much to stand. But why are these feelings so strong?

Football can often become an all consuming passion which can occupy our minds for most of the waking day, not to mention the nightly dreams of trophy success. It becomes the thing above all else which we crave, not just the winning but the sport itself.

We want to talk about football, watch it on the TV, go to the ground at the weekend. We want to discuss it, read about it, hear about it. We want the shirts, the poster, the mug. Football becomes a way of life that, in many of the towns and cities, defines a whole region. Liverpool, Manchester, Rome and Milan – These are red and blue cities, divided (or united) by the support of one team over the other local rival. Real Madrid and Barcelona are enough to divide every non-Spaniard over the question of ‘the best team in Spain’.

Some divisions are more deep rooted than just picking the side you like the best. In Glasgow, Scotland the choice of Celtic or Rangers is not a footballing one to make, here you choose your religion first – the football team comes as standard. Other great teams have been created to rival each other on the basis of class or belief, the former clubs of eastern europe are full of ex-army teams.

The fact is we choose our team, for what ever reason, and we stick with them through thick and thin. Football becomes a part of your life, a member of your family and you love it. It makes you glad and it makes you sad and you still want more of it.

About the Author

Duncan Rice is the creator of the football results website latestfootballscores.co.uk and a passionate football fan. The desire to create football articles came from the need every football fan has – putting across an opinion on the greatest game on earth.

Football in Glasgow

Article by Paul scottyn

The city of Glasgow is infamous for the football fanaticism embedded in the city’s culture and visitors may find themselves inextricably drawn towards this phenomenon during their stay.

Glasgow is dominated by the two clubs of Celtic and Rangers which in turn dominate the Scottish league. Together they make up one of international football’s most heated rivalries, known as ‘the Old Firm’.

Celtic

Celtic were the first team from the British Isles to win the European Cup in 1967 (today’s Champions League) and succeeded in etching their name into the annals of football history with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan.

The club’s home is Celtic Park, a 60,000-capcity ground known for its raucous atmosphere on European nights and Old Firm derbies against Rangers. There are also 60-minute tours offered and a museum on the site for fans to explore.

Situated in the Parkhead area of the city, travelers staying at one of the Glasgow Hostels will find the stadium is easy to reach via public transport.

Rangers

Rangers have enjoyed a similarly successful career in national and international football and reached the final of the UEFA Cup just last May, although they eventually lost 2-0 to the impressive Zenit St Petersburg team.

They play at Ibrox Stadium which lies five kilometers to the west of the city center and is again easily accessible from most Glasgow hostels thanks to the subway system.

The Rivalry Continues

Old Firm games are not for the faint-hearted, however – packed with boisterous singing and chanting, the tension between the two sides makes for one seriously intense sporting event!

Travelers should also be advised that tickets for these infamous games sell out quickly and must be pre-booked well in advance.

But football in Glasgow is not just limited to the derbies and Celtic and Rangers both regularly play other games as part of the Scottish Premier League. These clashes are usually more cordial affairs, although equally entertaining, and provide a rather more sedate sample of the city’s football culture.

About the Author

Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for Hostelbookers.Paul Scottyn did a backpacking tour of England, he checked out a variety of the country’s budget accommodation, including a number of most Glasgow Hostels.

A Short Guide to Exploring Glasgow

Article by Harry Young

Glasgow is the perfect place for a short break, holiday or a day out exploring. It is home to internationally famous attractions all of which are close together and easily reached. Lying right in the centre of Scotland, Glasgow has superb transport links not only within the city itself, but also to and from the outskirts and countryside. From museums and art galleries to the best shopping outside of London, Glasgow has something for everybody.

Culture

Glasgow has a long association with the arts and its superb art galleries and museums reflect this. The Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park should be at the top of your to do list. Sir William Burrell gathered thousands of pieces and gifted them all to the city of Glasgow in 1944. 9000 are on display. Since then, people from all over the world have flocked to see important works of European art by figures such as Degas and Rembrandt, artifacts from ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, tapestries, sculptures and architectural features such as medieval arches that have been incorporated into the building’s structure.

Also a must is House for an Art Lover. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and lying in beautiful Bellahouston Park next to Victorian walled gardens, it remains a unique and exciting venue. Each room contains design, furniture and colour schemes from Mackintosh’s original portfolio, which gives a detailed insight into every aspect of his work.

No visit to Glasgow would be complete without a trip to the Kelvingrove Museum & Art Galleries. It is one of Europe’s most important museums and underwent a three year refurbishment. Opening again in 2006, many new features were added to the huge collection, such as the History Discovery Centre and multimedia cinema. The most famous exhibit is Salvador Dali’s s Christ of Saint John of the Cross.

Shopping

Glasgow is one of the UK’s favourite shopping destinations, and only London offers a larger range of high street options. Shopping in Glasgow is easy as the main city centre shopping district is largely pedestrianised. The three main shopping streets of Buchanan Street, Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street contain not only the familiar High Street shops, but also centres and arcades full of niche market shops such as the Argyll Arcade, which has been a focus for jewellery shops for nearly 200 years. Glasgow is also home to one of the UK’s biggest city centre ventures – Buchanan Galleries. It has 80 shops ranging from retail giants such as Next and Habitat to smaller boutiques and specialist shops. With another huge shopping centre – at St Enoch’s – and antique, second-hand and unique bookshops at Merchant City all within a square mile of each other it’s easy to see why Glasgow is the UK’s second most popular shopping destination.

Eating Out

As Glasgow is a very cosmopolitan city, its places to eat and types of food are varied. Although the city centre has most restaurants and pubs, a ten minute trip the southside will yield some dining delights. One of the more unusual venues is the Battlefield Rest. A former tram station built in 1915 it is now a thriving Italian restaurant with a high reputation for authentic dishes and friendly service. Across the road is the very popular Tinto Tapas Bar. Its menu may be short but its blackboard seasonal specials such as crisp-skinned fillet of sea bass on a bed of creamed leeks and chorizo and red wine stew bring diners back again and again. Freshness of ingredients, friendly waiting staff and fair prices makes are what gives Tinto its good reputation. Glasgow is famous for its curries and has a wide range of “curry houses” from spacious to intimate. One little hidden gem is Shimla Pinks at the corner of Queen’s Park on Pollokshaws Road. Its traditional Indian food is popular with both locals and visitors alike and is known not only for its full flavour authentic meals but also for its stunning decor. As all these venues are close to Hampden Park, they are ideal for a pre concert or match meal.

Sport and Leisure

The sports fan and outdoor lover can find a range of exciting and relaxing pursuits. Golfers have a few parkland courses to choose from such as Haggs Castle, East Renfrewshire and Williamwood, all of which are well-maintained, challenging, quick, and easy to get to from the city centre. The municipal courses at Torrance House and Deacon’s Bank offer affordable golfing and welcome visitors and parties alike.

Football lovers always have a special treat when they come to Glasgow. Two of the world’s most famous clubs, Rangers and Celtic, lie at opposite side of the city and both offer well priced stadium tours. Match tickets can be hard to come by, so it’s a good idea to find match day packages (including a ticket) offered by a local hotel. Hampden Park houses the Scottish Football Museum, which is ten minutes from the city centre. There are more than 2000 items on display charting the history of Scottish football from the 1800s to the present, cups and trophies, football art and memorabilia.

For those who prefer their day to be more relaxed, Glasgow has a number of parks in which to enjoy a relaxing stroll. Queen’s Park in the city’s south side has a range of features such as boating and nature ponds, a viewpoint from which to see the across the city and on to the mountains, a glasshouse which displays a wide range of flora and fauna, a Zen garden, exotic birds, fish and reptiles.

Public Transport

Glasgow’s excellent public transport network enables visitors to travel around the city with ease. Buses are regular and plentiful, and the subway system, known as the “clockwork orange”, is fast, frequent and stretches from the west end to the east end. For those who plan to travel a lot in and around the city, a Zonecard gives unlimited travel on trains, subway, most buses and some ferries. They are available at staffed train stations and transport centres.

About the Author

Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of Dunkeld Hotel and No 10 Queens Drive. Offering unbeatable deals on football packages including match ticket, room and transport. Also, shopping packages, for a central base from which to go shopping in Glasgow. Specialists in luxury weddings.

Was Kanny Dalglish Liverpool’s Best Ever?

Kenny Dalglish was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 4 March 1951. He signed professionally with Celtic in May 1967, making his first team competitive debut in September 1968 against Hamilton Academical. It took him three years to establish a regular team place but when he did he became a firm favourite of the Celtic faithful. He was made captain of the club in the 1975/76 season. He had made his Scotland senior debut in 1971 in a match against Belgium, and went on to help them qualify for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. On 10 August 1977, after 269 appearances and 167 goals, Dalglish was signed by Bob Paisley for Liverpool for a record £440,000 transfer fee as a replacement for Kevin Keegan who had signed for Hamburg. At the end of his first season, Dalglish had scored 31 goals in 62 appearances including the winning goal in the 1978 European Cup Final against Belgian side Bruges. He went on to become one of the most influential players in the club’s history, helping them to win eight First Division titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and three European Cups. He also played a record 102 times for Scotland scoring a record 30 goals, playing in three world cups for them. He became player-manager of Liverpool after the resignation of Joe Fagan, helping them secure the club’s first ever ‘double’ in his first season in charge. He played his final game for Liverpool at the age of 38 against Derby County on 1 May 1990. He returned to management in 1991 with Blackburn Rovers, he got them promoted from the Second Division and went on to win the First Division in 1995.

Developing a Career in Sports in the UK

In 2ዊ research was published showing that growth of the sports sector in England had outstripped the UK economy and that the number of people with sports related jobs had reached 441,000, nearly 1.8% of all employment in England. Sport and fitness covers a large sector of employment comprising professional, commercial and voluntary sports clubs, leisure centres, swimming pools, gyms and fitness clubs and Stadia. These are run by a variety of Local Authority services, Trusts, private operators and voluntary or community organisations.
The great news for people considering developing a career in this industry is that the workforce has a high proportion of young people working within it – some 24% are in the age range of 16-24.

Golden Decade of Sport
There’s never been a better time to consider entering the sports industry. Over the next 10 years we have lots of big events happening in the UK which the government hopes will help establish sport and fitness as a much bigger part of our daily lives and encourage younger people to be more active. Here’s a few examples of the main events happening over the next 10 years:

2010
Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales
World Lacrosse Championships, Manchester
Women’s Rugby World Cup, London
ATP Tennis World Tour finals, The O2, London

2011
World Short-Track Speed Skating Champs, Sheffield
Football Champions’ League final, Wembley, London
ATP Tennis World Tour finals, The O2, London

2012
Olympic & Paralympic Games, London

2013
Rugby League World Cup

2014
Commonwealth Games, Glasgow

2015
Rugby Union World Cup

2019
Cricket World Cup

Bidding for:

Super Bowl (2015 or 2017 rumoured)
Football World Cup 2018
Commonwealth Games 2018 (Cardiff, Sheffield or Liverpool).

What Can You Expect?
The average salary after training is between 20k andಣk in the sport and fitness industry. You can expect to have to work shift patterns and weekends in a lot of cases. Working in the industry can offer international opportunities as sport transcends boundaries typically there in other industries. The sports industry is expected to continue to grow at a much faster rate than the rest of the UK economy so domestic opportunities should increase.

Which Sector or Specialisation
There are far more opportunities in the leisure industry than in sports in roughly an 80/20 split. Everyone has heard of the big names in the industry but most clubs and organisations are actually quite small in terms of numbers of employees. This means that you can feel like you’re contributing much more than with a small organisation but also that it may be harder to find work initially.

Planning Your Career
An absolute priority has to be to plan your career. Investigate what routes are open to you and think about what is realistic but challenging. You can change your plan as often as you like but you should always have a career plan.

Summary
There’s never been a better time to develop a career in the sports industry. With some detailed research and career planning you should be able to carve out your ideal career with the very real possibilities of international travel and working for big brand names.

The Special Relationship Between Ireland And Scotland

What are the origins of the ties that exist between Ireland and Scotland, and how has this relationship evolved into it’s current state? these are just two of the questions I will attempt to answer.

From earliest times the two countries, formed a single cultural, religious, linguistic and economic zone. The early Scots who came to Scotland from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries established the foundations for Irish – Scottish migrations, which continue to this day. Two of the largest migrations were:

under the influence of the english who were keen to shore up their foothold in Ireland, over 200,000 scots emigrated to Ireland. Poverty and famine in Ireland during the 19th century led to a maass movement of the Irish to Scotland. The availibility of cheap labour from Ireland was key in ensuring the. In major cultural achievements, too, each country affected the other profoundly. The Scottish Enlightenment, began in Ireland in the work of the philosopher Francis Hutcheson, who later moved to Glasgow and greatly influenced the work of David Hume and Adam Smith.

One of the key links between the two counties in the large Diaspora of each. Tens of millions of citizens with Scottish and Irish ancestry can be found across the globe in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are keen to engage on their Diasporas. This recently happened in Scotland, with the Scottish Tourist board calling on Scots living abroad to come home.

In Scotland today people of Irish decent are the single largest minority ethnic group, and there are a large number of Scots living in Ireland. The english’issue’brought both countries together – the need to preserve their identity in the shadow of a powerful neighbouring culture. I will now take a look at some of the shared aspects of culture – traditional clothing, music and sport.

A commonality between the culture if the two countries in clearly shown in the wearing of the kilt – a clear link between the two nations is. Irish kilts are traditionally plain in either saffron of green, with Irish county tartans a more recent variation.

Sport is another areas that has links, interestingly the Irish-Scots were instrumental in the formation of Celtic Football Clubs Hibernian and Dundee United. Indeed, these teams were originally formed to provide recreational facilities for Irish immigrants.

Celtic music has a strong historical traditional in Scotland and Ireland with both using fiddles, bagpipes, whistles and bodhrans. Often, the term Celtic music is applied to the music of Ireland and Scotland however, it is notable that Irish and Scottish traditional musicians tend to point out the differences between the too.

Today the relationships between Ireland and Scotland continues to be shaped by the changes to the political dynamic brought about by devolution in Scotland, the Peace Process in Northern Ireland as well as the deeper integration into the European Union, which is and will remain Scotland and Ireland’s most significant economic relationship.

Glasgow: A City at the Heart of World Culture

Article by Adam Singleton

Glasgow comes with high recommendations. Winner of the European city of Culture in 1990, Glasgow is at the epicentre of Scottish and world culture. From noble beginnings in the medieval period to a world centre for shipbuilding and trade in the industrial period, the city of Glasgow has gone from strength to strength, today sitting proud on the Clyde as one of Europe’s most popular cities. If you visit Glasgow today, expect to find a successful cosmopolitan city, with a proud Scottish heritage and fiery Celtic culture. As one of Europe’s top 20 financial centres, and Scotland’s largest city, the city of Glasgow is a major player in Scottish politics and commerce, and a very important European city.With much of Glasgow’s growth rooted in the Victorian era, it comes as no surprise that there are a number of beautiful Victorian buildings dotted throughout the city. So when visiting Glasgow, some of the most attractive buildings that are worth taking a look at include the Glasgow City Chambers, the main building of the University of Glasgow and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, which all date from the Victorian period. Although much of the architecture is Victorian, Glasgow has also been at the forefront of the Art Nouveau movement in the UK. Leading this movement was Glaswegian designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh who today is mostly famed for his contemporary jewellery designs. Designer of the Glasgow School of Art and the Queen’s Cross Church, Mackintosh’s designs had a very large impact on the city of Glasgow, with his buildings playing a huge part in Glasgow winning the City of Architecture and Design award in 1999. But if there’s one thing that Glasgow is known for it’s football. The city has three professional football clubs, the most famous being Celtic and Rangers. Football has a strong history within the city, the two sides famous for their rivalries and die-hard fans. After football, Glasgow is known for having a thriving music scene. Throughout the city, a large number of Scotland’s most famous live music pubs, clubs and venues can be found. Some of the most popular venues include the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the SECC and the King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, which is famed for being the venue where British pop sensations Oasis were discovered. Thanks to the growth of the internet, flights to Glasgow have become more affordable within the last few years and this has attracted a large number of tourists from around the world. But, this is perhaps not too surprising; with a unique and colourful history to discover, Glasgow has a character unlike any other British city. And as one of Europe’s main cities, you will find that there’s always plenty to see and do. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

About the Author

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Sport and Leisure in Glasgow

Article by Harry Young

Glasgow has always had a strong sports profile. There is an exciting range of sport and leisure activities to take part in during a stay in Scotland’s largest city – Glasgow. For golfers there are numerous courses nearby to choose from or if it’s a more leisurely stroll you’re after, there is a range of local parks within a close proximity. Here are some of the highlights of sport in Glasgow.

Football

Whether you want to go and watch a big game or have a kick about with friends, Glasgow is a football Mecca. Two of the world’s most famous clubs – Rangers and Celtic – reside here, and the electric matchday atmosphere in the city is second to none. Tickets can be hard to come by sometimes, especially for Old Firm games, but some hotels offer matchday packages including tickets and accommodation.

For the amateur player, there is an impressive network of football centres and facilities. These range from coaching resources to indoor and outdoor five-a-side pitches. Operated by Glasgow City Council, bookings are available at the Glasgow Green Football Centre, where pitches can be booked up to seven days in advance.

Golf

Glasgow has the highest concentration of golfers in Scotland. There are eleven private clubs and five public courses, each offering a different golfing experience with varied prices and facilities.

Although a round at some private clubs must be booked well in advance, Culture and Sport Glasgow’s public courses – three 18-hole and two 9-hole – are play per play at very affordable rates, and have no restrictions on who can play.

Snow Sports

Glasgow has answered the call by growing numbers of skiers and snowboarders by offering superb indoor and outdoor snow sports facilities.

The Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre in Bellahouston Park is an outdoor centre with a floodlit dry slope. It has excellent instructional facilities, comprehensive hire and equipment servicing, and organised ski schools for skiers and boarders of all ages.

Just outside Glasgow at Braehead is SNO!zone. This massive venue is the only indoor ski centre in Scotland with real snow. It caters for skiers, snowboarders and tobogganists, and with two slopes of differing lengths and gradients, suits all skill levels. The smaller slope is dedicated to novices, but the main slope is often modified with varied layouts including freestyle, gnarly lines and rails.

Leisure Centres

Fitness fans are spoiled for choice in Glasgow as there is a wide range of leisure centres with many standard and exciting options. Two celebrated centres are Bellahouston Leisure Centre and Xscape.

Bellahouston Leisure Centre lies in beautiful Bellahouston Park and offers a complete package. It has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a 10 court sports hall for badminton, five-a-side, volleyball, two squash courts, and to unwind after all that exercise there are saunas, a spa, and steam room.

In Xscape at Braehead, Glasgow has a state-of-the-art sports and leisure facility. Its outstanding feature is the Skypark. This 60m long aerial adventure course is 15m off the ground. Harness up, and, after scaling the climbing wall, traverse swinging rungs and platforms, a cargo net, rope ladders and zip wire, all under the watchful eye of trained instructors.

Xscape also offers fun activities such as ten pin bowling, a snowslope, mini golf, laser tag arena, and soccer circus. And with a variety of restaurants and cinema, it’s a perfect day out for a group of friends or the whole family.

About the Author

Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of Noಊ. Queens Drive. A 4 Star Boutique hotel, No. 10 Queens Drive is the ideal base for Glasgow sports and leisure, shopping, and business alike.

Visiting the Birthplace of Football

London: It is hard to talk about UK football cities without mention London and the surrounding area. Home to powerhouses such as Chelsea, Fulham, Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham, the London area has an abundance of quality football for your England Vacation. Be sure to visit during Premiere League play to guarantee yourself the opportunity to see some top notch matches.

Glasgow: While much of the focus of UK football is on England, Scotland also has a rich history of great football. Glasgow is home to a particularly significant rivalry between it’s most notable teams, Rangers FC and Celtic FC. Collectively, the teams are known as the Old Firm. Once marked by notorious fan violence, the rivalry has taken on a friendlier tone in recent years, thanks to efforts by both clubs.

Due to the UK’s history and tradition of football, it can be difficult to choose the best football cities to visit. However, you generally can expect to find quality football where there are intense rivalries, as these generally date back many decades. Of course, this list is not comprehensive, but rather a selection of some of the best football cities the UK has to offer. If you’re looking to visit any of these famous footballing cities, and need a hotel to stay in, check out hotels in Manchester and across the UK.

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