SCOTLAND'S leading historian has slated the handling of plans for a memorial to victims of the Irish Famine, accusing its council backers of "amateurism".

 

Professor Sir Tom Devine compared Glasgow City Council's work to date on the memorial to the Irish who emigrated to the city during "An Gorta Mor" with the 2013 fiasco over the abandoned refurbishment of the city's main civic square.

Pointing out there are already 142 memorials across the globe to those who fled from Ireland during the 1840s and describing its impact as one of the most significant events in Scottish history, Professor Devine appealed to the council to engage more with public over any proposed tribute.

He also appealed to those advancing the plans to ensure it could not be construed as being dedicated to the Catholic Irish like the existing memorial at Carfin in Lanarkshire, insisting it should not be "tribal".

The acclaimed historian was speaking at a public event organised to discuss the plan, which won cross-party support at the council two-and-a-half years ago.

Organised by the Irish Heritage Foundation and attended by the Orange Order, Scottish Refugee Council and Ulster-Scots Society amongst others, Professor Devine gave a lecture on the historic context of the Famine and its impact on early Victorian Glasgow.

Around 100,000 fled to the city to escape starvation in Ireland in the 1840s, changing the complexion of the city and the west of Scotland.

Around a million died and a further million emigrated during the famine, caused by the Europe-wide potato blight. The planned memorial would also commemorate those who came to the city from the Highlands and Islands for the same reason.

Following a question and answer session, where the councillor heading the group looking at the plans, Matt Kerr, said a pathway had been considered, Professor Devine launched a broadside at the authority's handling of the memorial to date.

Professor Devine said: "This can't be tribal. That's the problem with Carfin. Protestant Irish died too, even if not as many. The approach has been amateurish by Glasgow City Council. Despite relentless questioning here tonight they have been unable to give one idea.

"Their record is not that good. Look at George Square. This all needs to be transparent. They have a website. Why is there nothing on the website?

"Someone mentioned New York. There are 142 memorials worldwide. Has the council looked at any of them?

"What is the expertise and the make-up of the group and do they have a target date for their finish? I'm certain that up until now this has been stop and go. It needs to have more opinions, more meetings like this. This was an important event not just for the Irish in Scotland but for Scotland itself."

Mr Kerr said that detailed proposals would be taken around the city for feedback when they were available.

He added: "This would not have happened 30 years ago and I don't want to be up here talking about still in another 30 years.

"We need to start moving on this."

He also acknowledged concerns about previous consultations held by the council but that all those within the working group remained open minded about form any finalised memorial would take.

He added: "When we have something to take out to the public we will take it anywhere they want us to go.

"We also don;t want to be in a state of affairs where we can't talk about this because we are afraid of upsetting some people."

Isabelle Gray, of the Irish Heritage Foundation, said: "Nothing has happened at the meetings. They (the working group) should have consulted with the community from the start. We spoke about a portal on the council's website and that hasn't happened.

"But we have talked about this and had fantastic ideas. The next thing we should do is have a proper consultation."