Royston, Glasgow

Royston/Roystonhill is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde. It was previously known as Garngad and is still known as such by residents with a familial link to the area. It is notable for its large population of immigrants, mostly of Irish Catholic descent, with an annual St Patrick's Day Festival.

Royston
Houses and tower blocks off Royston Road
Royston Location within Glasgow
OS grid reference	NS604663
Council area	Glasgow City Council
Lieutenancy area	Glasgow
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GLASGOW
Postcode district	G21
Dialling code	0141
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Glasgow North East
Scottish Parliament	Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn

There are few vestiges of the old Roystonhill in evidence these days other than a few street names, some street having succumbed to development. The church steeple has been converted into a tower monument and the church hall carries on its service as a local community centre. The former convent has been relocated in the Robroyston area. The previous stigma of deprivation earned in its slum years, has largely been shed with the recent program of newbuild housing and renovations to social housing.

The local secondary school and football team are both named after Saint Roch.

A former Member of Parliament for the area, Michael Martin, was Speaker of the House of Commons from 2000 to 2009. During his tenure, the UK parliamentary expenses scandal occurred.

Royston Spire (preserved remnant of demolished Townhead-Blochairn Church)

The social club for Catholic community was traditionally known as the 'Hibs Hall'. The Hall was sold by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1969 to St. Roch's RC Parish before being sold to a local private concern and renamed "The Huddle Club". The club was burnt down in a fire in the early 21st century.

Royston was the venue for street parties celebrating Celtic F.C. League wins in 1997/98 and 2000/01. The first street party was a semi-planned, semi-impromptu gathering along the Royston Road which became the inspiration for the second street party. The street party of 2000/01 was much more professionally planned and included a stage with live music as well as murals being painted and a video produced to mark the event. There was controversy surrounding this event as the council has never arranged or permitted any such event for Celtic's rivals, Rangers F.C. from across the River Clyde.[1]