Celtic Discussion

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Originally posted by Jam


Liverpool also sing the fields of Athenry now so I'd day their links are all but gone.

I have to say I'm genuinely surprised at the support some have here for essentially foreign teams just cos of a link to Ireland be it the flag or religion or whatever. If some English team flew the Saltire I widnae gie a phuck. In fact it might even annoy me a bit - wave yer ain flag kind of thing.

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Liverpool sing "The Fields of Anfield Road" a version of the "The Fields of Athenry" and so do Rangers. The Rangers version is called "Hands Across the Sea". I think there still is a little bit of an affinity between Ulster Loyalists and Liverpool. I saw on television the night of the Lennon inicident, some young Northern Ireland fans wearing Liverpool tops and carrying NI "Red Hand of Ulster flags".

Also on a documentary on Carlisle's Irish manager last night saw a Shrewsbury fan waving a saltire. Must have been to wind up Carlisle fans becase they are a border team or maybe there's some Scottish connection.

Millwall were founded by the Scottish workers in a jam factory in the East End. Wore the Scottish lion rampant as a badge. Don't know if thy fly the Scottish flag though. Don't think there is a mad rush from Scotland to support to them.

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Originally posted by Jam
If you want to find Irish clubs I suggest you look no further than Ireland. They might not be that great but they are your clubs. I support Dunfermline Athletic - they are crap too - disnae make me support Celtic or Rangers though.

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Nice one Jam, hit the nail on the head!

By the way, how are Gary Dempsey and Noel Hunt, two old Blues, doing for you this season so far? As far as I know, their presence at Dunfermline means that you have the highest number of Irish players in the squad of a Scottish premier team right now (do correct me if I'm wrong, I know someone will want to!), and seeing as they are old eL players, the answer to the question of who we should follow in Scotland is obviously Dunfermline Athletic :D :D

hunt has been injured start of this season but has shown that he has to be an Ireland prospect - quick, skilful and up for it - shame he was out on the first day of the season would have been a thorn in the side of the Tims. Last season the Huns kicked him off the park as he took the pish ootae them - to our delight. Dempsey is decent as always.

Of course you shid support 'The Pars'. It's the natural choice fur all Irish people. ;)

Ritchie Byrne also gone to the Pars now too.

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Originally posted by Jam

I have to say I'm genuinely surprised at the support some have here for essentially foreign teams just cos of a link to Ireland be it the flag or religion or whatever. If some English team flew the Saltire I widnae gie a phuck. In fact it might even annoy me a bit - wave yer ain flag kind of thing.

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Born in England to Irish parents who had to leave because of the lack of work and poverty I feel a great affinity with Celtic fc and see it in some respects as a monument to the millions of Irish who had to leave their homeland for various reasons of the centuries!

While there is a history of immagration in Scotland, some of it forced eg clearing of the Highlands and islands I dont think you can say it has had as big an impact on the mentality of the Scottish people as immagration has had on the Irish and would say its not fair to compare the Scottish image of what constitutes a "foreign team" to that of the Irish people!

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Originally posted by Paddy Ramone
A club called Hibernian which means 'Irish' is hardly disassociated from its Irish origins.

Also the "Roy of the Rovers" badge as you called it, was in the traditional Irish colours of green, gold and silver ( the modern colours are green, white and orange ). The old flag of Ireland was a green flag with a golden harp with silver strings.

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Of these facts Im sure your right!

But are you saying that my previous post about Hibs clear attempts to disassociate itself from its Irish roots are not true?

Irish Protestants left too. No-one supports them. Fair enough you can support who you like but I think the support Celtic (and for Rangers amongst Irish Protestants in part) has at least part of its motivation in sectarianism or imaginary football shirted political struggles.

I do accept your point about foreigness given the large Irish diaspora aornud the globe.

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Originally posted by Jam
Hibs aren't really associated with Irishness at all. Very few tricolores at easter road - only to wind up huns and jambos. Celtic are much more associated with it but it's a kind of ridiculous Irishness IMO practices by those with tenuous links to Ireland (plastic paddies central IMO).

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As someone who was not born in Ireland but considers myself Irish Im wondering if I would be considered a 'plastic paddy'?
Like many who go regularly to Parkhead its a way of connection with my "Irishness", there are many other ways, but thats one of the ones I have choosen as in my families case imagration has been a major factor and I see Celtic as a symbol of Irish imagration and the fact that those who move to foreign lands can prosper while retaining cultural links.

To be honest the reason I ask this because this "plastic paddy" term bothers me!
Are people who go to carnival in London to celebrate their afro caribbean links, even though some probably couldnt point it out
on a map at this, stage lumped in the same boat as the plastic paddies? or what about those within the asian communities within Britain, who still consider themselves to be Indians or Pakistanies, are they deluding themselves also?

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Originally posted by Jam
Irish Protestants left too. No-one supports them. Fair enough you can support who you like but I think the support Celtic (and for Rangers amongst Irish Protestants in part) has at least part of its motivation in sectarianism or imaginary football shirted political struggles.

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For some I know it does, I know some of them personally!

But is that justification enough to tar everybody with the same brush?

Well being from Scotland - you should also understand that it's a phuqin national embarrassment to have our 2 major clubs embroiled in sectarianism which of course many Scots indulge in (they'd feel my wrath too). But some Irish do too and it stinks