650 of Glasgow's Italian community gathered to be feted by the City of Glasgow for the contribution of the Scots-Italians to Glasgow and to toast the bond between Scotland and Italy.

Calls were being made for a yearly national Scots-Italian 'La Festa' rotating around Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and other locations, hopefully to include
a charity football match, Italy vs Scotland, fund-raising dinners, and a carnival procession.

The Glasgow Evening Times
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Lorna Caitens
Wed, Nov 3, 2004

AROUND 650 members of Glasgow's Italian community have gathered to celebrate their contribution to the city.

The event represented the largest gathering of the Scots Italian community in the city for more than a generation.

Lord Provost Liz Cameron and Mario Conti, the Archbishop of Glasgow, co-hosted the event last night starting with a celebratory Mass at St Andrew's Cathedral, in Clyde Street.

Archbishop Conti said: "I felt it would be appropriate to hold a mass for the Italian community."

Following Mass, a glitzy civic reception at the city chambers toasted the bond between Scotland and Italy.

Lord Provost, Mrs Cameron said: "I love Italy, the language, the food and most importantly the people.

"However, the bond the Italian community has with Glasgow is much stronger and stretches over many years.

"The real testament of their integration into the Glasgow family is the fact that this huge gathering of Scots-Italians is the largest for more than a generation.

"Archbishop Conti, whose grandparents came from Barga in Tuscany, added: "I am delighted the city will honour the Scots-Italians' contribution with a Civic Reception and I am grateful to the Lord Provost and the city council for their support in organising this initiative."

Distinguished guests at last night's bash included Dr Andrea Macchioni, the Consul General of Italy, MSP Linda Fabiani, and Solicitor General for Scotland, Elish Angiolini QC.

Members from the Italian Cultural Institute were also in attendance.

The event fell on the day when calls were made for a national Scots-Italian festival to be set up.

Representatives from the community, are eager to set up a yearly event rotating around various locations.

Initially named 'La Festa', organisers plan to hold a charity football match, Italy vs Scotland, fund-raising dinners, and a carnival procession.

Glasgow has been tipped as the first location to hold the event, which would be the first of its kind for Scotland.

Civic reception honour for Italians - Evening Times
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5032120.html

The Scotsman
Edinburgh Scotland
Wed, Nov 3, 2004
 

THE enduring contribution of the Italian community to life in Glasgow was celebrated last night at one of the biggest civic receptions ever held in the city.

In what is believed to have been the largest gathering of Scots-Italians for more than a generation, over 650 guests assembled in the grand surroundings of Glasgow’s City Chambers for a reception hosted by the city’s Lord Provost, Liz Cameron.

Mrs Cameron said the close bond with Glasgow stretched back many years and has seen the city become home to Britain’s third-largest Italian community.

Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Glasgow - City hails the Scots-Italians
http://news.scotsman.com/
glasgow.cfm?id=1267852004