Originally Posted by
DannyInvincible
There's definitely still a sectarian element in Edinburgh in the sense that you mention; Hearts' anti-Irish Catholic tendencies. Isn't Hearts-Celtic often a tense and hostile affair? Neil Lennon was physically attacked by a pitch invader a few seasons back and there was also a bit of controversy relating to political/religious/sectarian chanting from both sets of supporters.
Do Hibs actively play down their Irish heritage? Why not adopt a new crest and name, if so? Isn't it kind of integral to their existence? They have a few Irish players in their squad/youth teams, whereas Hearts don't have any; not that they necessarily have to in order to demonstrate they're an equal-opportunities employer and all that, but maybe it's a sign of enduring cultural biases or influences?
In Dundee, the Irish heritage of United may not be explicitly acknowledged by the club or city-folk any longer, but there's surely a lingering influence of the original socio-cultural identities of the respective communities who originally supported both Dundee clubs to be found within the modern communities who associate themselves with either team. I think you allude to that anyway in your last post in the sense that United are or have been seen as the working class club; for many in Dundee, historically, an Irish experience also happened to be a working class experience and a working class experience happened to be an Irish experience.