But Mr. Roy's constituents were so outraged at being depicted as senseless religious bigots by their own MP that he felt obliged to resign his unpaid government post as parliamentary private secretary to the Scottish secretary. And the men and women of Carfin would seem to have been vindicated by events. There were only 16 arrests in the ground after the match, but none in Carfin, where disappointed Rangers fans drowned their sorrows perfectly amicably side by side with Celtic fans celebrating their team's 1-0 win.
Maybe Mr. Roy should have got out and about a bit more. Then he would have realised how times have changed. Historically, religious sectarianism has certainly been rife in Lanarkshire, and Ireland's marching season of parades by northern Orangemen and southern Hibernian orders are still paralleled in the county today. But the economic and social inequalities which gave this division a vicious edge (Orange-dominated trade unionism kept Catholics out of better- paid skilled jobs) have long gone, together with the mining and steel industries that sustained them.
These days there are more Muslims in and around Carfin, a predominantly Catholic village, than there are Protestants. The Church of Scotland sold its Kirk in the village a decade ago: it is now a mosque. The Protestant congregation has lacked a minister for nearly two years and is down to about 70 souls, easily out-numbered by the 400-500 Muslims who attend prayers in Carfin every Friday. For it is Islam that is the big growth religion in Lanarkshire just now. The county's Muslims have outgrown the Carfin mosque and have raised 2m for a new one. They have set up mosques in two other towns and are looking for a site in a third.
31. Why did the Irish taoiseach cancel a Carfin visit?
A Beause he was stopped by the stubborn secretary.