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Exploring Ireland's connection with Celtic Football Club
Thursday, 14 May 2009
enlargeCeltic Football Club has a massive support in Ireland north and south, with many fans regularly making the trek to watch their team in Glasgow, but what is the team's connection to the island?
Written by Brian McGuirk, a life-long Celtic supporter with a deep passion for Irish history and Celtic Football Club, Celtic FC – The Ireland Connection explores the deep-rooted links between Celtic Football Club, Ireland and the 90 million supporters of Irish descent throughout the world.
These links include: the club’s founder Brother Walfrid from Sligo; the first sod of turf on Celtic Park in 1892 from Donegal; why the Irish flag flies over the stadium; Celtic’s first manager, Willie Maley from Newry; emigration from Ireland to Scotland; and the many Irish players and those of Irish descent and staff who have played, or managed, at Celtic.
Mr McGuirk said, “Celtic will remain forever conscious and proud of its Irish roots, but for the supporters of this great club, this book has been written to state unequivocally ‘this is why we support Celtic’. Much has been written about Celtic over the years, but nothing has been written that clearly sets out why Irish people and the Diaspora worldwide support Celtic. There is one reason why we all do, ‘we know our history’.
Celtic FC – The Ireland Connection brings together a range of material to emphasise the Irish connection and identity of Celtic and its worldwide support.
Said Mr McGuirk, “Celtic is a club that we Irish and our Diaspora can proudly call our own. Celtic is our legacy, left to us by the courage and vision of Irish men like Brother Walfrid, John Glass and Pat Welsh. Many of the ‘great men’ involved in Celtic’s formation were immigrants into Glasgow from their native Ireland, a country crippled by famine and political unrest.
“We didn’t just happen to support Celtic; Celtic is a part of us. Celtic for us is so much more than a football club. Celtic is an institution, an identity and a celebration of being Irish or being of Ireland. Celtic is a legacy passed from generation to generation. Celtic is a way of life.”
Brian McGuirk comes from Dundalk in the County of Louth in the Republic of Ireland. A former chairman of Dun Dealgan Celtic Supporters Club in Dundalk and a former Leinster Representative of The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters’ Clubs, he has written a number of articles for various Celtic magazines.
A fascinating, must-read book for supporters of Celtic Football Club in Ireland, Scotland and around the world, Celtic FC – The Ireland Connection is published next week by Edinburgh-based Black & White Publishing in paperback at £9.99.
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If you want to go back in time then it seems to me that Constantine's deathbed conversion to Christianity was a pivotal moment in the formation of Celtic, also.
No conversion=no Roman approval of Christianity=no Roman Catholic church=no Brother Walfrid=no Celtic.
Celtic obviously haven't considered this. If they had, they would have milked the Italians every bit as much as they have milked the Irish.
By the way, Brother Walfrid was a 'Marist' priest, not a 'martyr'. Get it right, lads!
Posted by paul | 17.06.09, 21:54 GMT
The Irish being in the east end of Glasgow were there mostly because of the famine - that much is true! To say that the famine was pivotal in the formation of Celtic is not true. They were formed with the 'intention' of helping the Irish who were in Glasgow. John Glass and co intended something else entirely. Their intention was to help themselves. The Irish in Glasgow have seen precious little in the way of help from Celtic football club. Brother Walfrid was ashamed of this. Fact!!
Posted by paul | 17.06.09, 20:55 GMT
It's really quite simple!
Do you honestly think Celtic football club would have originated as it did without a substantial Irish community in the east end of Glasgow? Do you think the Irish were simply in Glasgow for some weekend shopping before hopping back on the ferry but decided to stay and form a football club?
no famine=no mass exodus=no community to support=no need for Celtic football club.
Simplified but obvious.
Posted by chris | 17.06.09, 03:26 GMT
Mark, please cut and paste my alledged sectarianism in my latest post.
Cue silence.
(I've worked out that the best way to hush you up is to ask you this very question!)
Posted by mi-ck-ey | 16.06.09, 13:03 GMT
Mickey
In order to not come across as bitter and sectarian you really try and disguise your hateful posts with some sort of charm
Posted by mark | 16.06.09, 11:22 GMT
One only has to be present on the Larne Stranraer Ferry crossing to see and hear what it means to be a celtic supporter. Sickening shouting of sectarian abuse at 9 year old girls, one of whom evidently was the daughter of a man who wore a Rangers cap.
But was we all know, it works both ways.
Posted by mi-ck-ey | 15.06.09, 23:13 GMT
The Irish famine was pivotal in the formation of Celtic - since when?? Celtic were formed 40 or so years after the famine. Hibernians were formed in order to help Irishmen in 'Little Ireland' in the Cowgate in Edinburgh, and later in other areas of Scotland, who were living in mostly squalid conditions. Celtic were formed to do the same in Glasgow until Glass and co hijacked it for their own commercial gain. The famine had nothing to do with Celtic being formed. Yet another Celtic fantasy.
Posted by paul | 15.06.09, 17:20 GMT
You know your history, do you? Then you will know that John Glass and co, had an eye for the money that could be made from Celtic football club and went completely against Brother Walfrids original, and well intentioned plans to help his fellow countrymen in the east end of Glasgow. They also shafted their fellow Irishmen in Edinburgh who had set up the first Scots-Irish team, called Hibernians.
With a history like that, no wonder you all keep quiet about it!
Posted by paul | 15.06.09, 03:15 GMT
how many celtic football games were you at over your 20 YEARS supporting celtic and are you a present season ticket holder and how many old firm games were you at
Posted by paul | 31.05.09, 22:08 GMT
As far as support for Celtic or Rangers in Ireland is concerned, there is only one reason why people support these clubs & thats religion, not football. Take note Sean & Weez!
Rangers and Celtic should be ashamed of themselves. They helped fuel the flames of hatred on this island for decades and we have not heard an apology from even their most lowly employees for their inaction and/or silence.
PS. It's strange that so many staunch republicans support a British team before a home grown Irish one
Posted by Slayer | 22.05.09, 14:01 GMT
Ah Sean, the old republican trick of confusing geography with Nationality, the island may be called Ireland, but there is more than one Nationality here, just like Haiti and the Dominican Republic, never heard of the Belfast?Good Friday Agreement?
Parity of esteem a one way street in the fascist world of Irish Republican politics, and sport of course.
Posted by Veritas | 22.05.09, 12:41 GMT
Weev say what you like but to the Brits and the rest of the world you are Irish.
Posted by sean | 21.05.09, 19:16 GMT
Stephen, what's your point? Celtic did not object to the singing of that song because they thought the famine was insignificant. They objected to the xenophobic lyrics the song contains!
There's nothing strange in commemorating an event which proved pivotal in the club's formation.I don't know why you'd think otherwise!
Posted by Chris | 21.05.09, 03:46 GMT
Glasgow Celtic FC condemned Rangers fans for singing the "famine song" as it had nothing to do with scottish football, yet they wore commerative badges on their football shirts on sunday marking the anniversary of the famine - strange.
Posted by Stephen | 19.05.09, 10:06 GMT
Sean, wouldnt want to be a so called 'Irishman'. Im happy to be an Ulsterman, Northern Irish, British, etc.
Posted by weev | 18.05.09, 13:58 GMT
The Republicans in the North of Ireland are not too keen on the Northern Irish of Scots and English decent, partly because they stay attached to the old countries, fly Union flags and St Andrews Flags, etc. Hypocrisy maybe.
Posted by Craig | 17.05.09, 22:29 GMT
90 million supporters world wide that is some support. supporting celtic is like he says a way of life faithful true and true, unlike the so called Irishmen who support that other lot!
Posted by sean | 15.05.09, 09:13 GMT