Neil Lennon speaks out for the heart of Celtic

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I spoke to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, a man who wears his Republican heritage on his sleeve, about the hostile reaction to his comments on modernising the Celtic songbook a few months back.  Phil found himself to be an easy target for conspiracy theorists who turned on him for issuing a request to an end of political chanting.  I’m sure Neil Lennon will not find anything like the same reaction to his comments in the Sun today, but it remains to be seen if anyone listens.

Neil said, “It’s important that we put a general message out that these chants have no place around our club. To be honest, we are better than that as a club and we always have been, we just don’t need it.

“We are and always have been a club open to all and we do not have issues around sectarianism. We have our own values and traditions but they do not include these chants. We don’t want them at matches and they must stop.”

This is not the first time Neil has given the same message this year.  After his earlier comments I actually heard, “Who is Neil Lennon to tell me what I can and can’t sing?  I’ve been going to Celtic Park a lot longer than he has.”

We are in a classic social paradox.  The reputational damage of political singing is not felt by those who sing, and the risk of personal consequences arising for any individual singer is probably around 1%.  And let’s be honest here, for all the supportive flags, banners and “I’m Neil Lennon” proclamations, is Neil respected enough to be listened to, or has he become a modern Che Guevara-poster boy?

Whatever you think of Neil, or his rights to say what you can or cannot sing, he has the best interests of our club in mind whenever he speaks on this subject.

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  1. .

     

     

    Come on guys…………………….. Grow up a wee bit, all this 1st thingy is getting OTT

     

     

    *–*

     

     

    BigJoewhoisSPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWINGlike

  2. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    Well all the headlines are a direct result of lawwell statement, the door is now wide open for Celtic support to be accused of anything and everything, SHAME

     

    This board have now sold the soul of Celtic

  3. Paul67

     

     

    Phil?????? still not sure.

     

     

    Wee Lenny???????? I am a little less wary of.

     

     

    Trustnoonec.s.c

  4. No matter who he has talked to. His message is clear.

     

     

    “WE’RE BETTER THAN THAT.”

     

     

    Well said Neil.

  5. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Paul67

     

     

    Well thankfully I don’t.have to look anymore at a picture of what looks like two brothers cuddling inside an old wooden lodge tanked up on moonshine,I thought you had turned cqn into an advertising space for the film ‘Deliverance’.

  6. I think (and I’m sure others have mentioned it too) there’s two distinct arguments here:

     

     

    1) Whether a song is appropriate to be sung in and around Celtic Park; and

     

    2) Whether a song is illegal and fans should be censured for singing it.

     

     

    It’s important to remember that a song can be inappropriate without being illegal and while it might be desirable for fans not to sing it, they should not be getting arrested or ejected for doing so.

  7. The Green Brigade have been accused by most in the media and even the police as being those responsible for the chants. Celtic will no doubt be asked what they have done to try to eradicate the chants. there is a lot they can say they have done, it will then be said, “well, that’s not enough”

     

     

    The next thing the club can do is to remove tickets from the Green brigade and not accomodate them in their own section. It’s a worst case senario but something I’m sure is being considered.

     

     

    Mort

  8. .

     

     

    Ceaser67 says:

     

    17 November, 2011 at 13:07

     

    B J

     

    Xbar J B!! ……………………………

     

     

    Thanks……………………….. I think

     

     

    BigJoecannyfigureThat1oooooooooooot

  9. Paul67

     

     

    No better place than Inverness away to measure a change in song choice.

     

     

    Be careful out there Bhoys.

  10. Ok, if that’s what they request, then fair enough. People now just need a list of what they can and can’t sing. I’ve a feeling that this argument will go on forever and, as many posters have pointed out, what is the next thing to offend them? the green shirts? the ginger hair?

     

     

    A line needs to be drawn somewhere.

  11. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    The Celtic hiearchy is now lock in step with their sectarian racist masters

  12. Lurgan 53 says:

     

    17 November, 2011 at 13:09

     

    No matter who he has talked to. His message is clear.

     

     

    “WE’RE BETTER THAN THAT.”

     

     

     

     

    And the media outlet chosen to deliver this message is The Sun?

     

     

    Is the irony intentional?

  13. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    hamiltontim,

     

    I have, but have no intentio of shareing with a bum barer

  14. coorslad

     

     

    Spot on!! Hope that little sh*t leckie wisnae involved?? Widnae wipe my rear wae that rag!!!

  15. See if Celtic supporters stop singing The Celtic symphony, will all this negative publicity cease, will the polis refrain from treating us as second class citizens and will rangers be targetted with the same vitriol that the Celtic support have been subject too? I couldn’t care less if I never heard that particular ditty at Celtic Park again, but I know this is not where it ends. We’re on the run, it’s as simple as that and once you’ve started it’s harder too turn back.

  16. Big Joe! Good to hear from you, as always, but I’ve deleted your comment as your continuous line caused havoc with page width.

     

     

    Voguepunter, this is the problem – and my big concern. If we can’t trust Neil we are in trouble. Amazingly, for some, he is now part of the problem.

     

     

    Lennon n Mc….Mjallby, aye, sorry for that.

     

     

    Hamiltontim, Inverness has traditionally been scene of some hearty singing…

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