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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THEBOULDB’HOYS 1915
Good to see you back!
About time you threw your weight behind the embattled,mind…..
\O/
The latest information from the Scottish Government which will be published tomorrow would appear to suggest that the majority of sectarian offences in Scotland happen at a particular football stadium; and that stadium would be Celtic Park.
Apparently this report will again support the Scottish Governments drive towards the new legislation for offensive behaviour at football matches, and will infer that we are the reason for the need for the new legislation.
This seems rather strange, in terms of the request for information regarding sectarian offences from 2003; I am informed that the statistics for the period covering 2003 to 2010 were destroyed by the Crown Office; these statistics pointed to the fact that the majority of sectarian offences were against Roman Catholics; and they happened around Orange parades.
So we have to ask ourselves; who is responsible for deleting the previous information? And who is responsible for amassing the new information?
We, as part of the FAC group were asked to attend a meeting tomorrow morning with Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan; but following his comments in the Daily Record; the groups representing the Celtic Supporters felt it was inappropriate for us to attend the meeting.
Mr Corrigan was reported to be summoning us for a slap on the wrist, well he obviously doesn’t know who he is dealing with; it was us who asked for a meeting with the Police over their heavy handed policing of the Green brigade in the match against Hibs on October 29th.
This occurred after a well-attended and well behaved Demonstration in George Square, we were then subjected to behaviour by the Police which might have been more appropriate for China or North Korea.
Let us say this, we have always been happy in the past to have dialogue with the Police; but we will not be criminalised for doing nothing more than supporting our team, we will not be bulied by the Goverment, the Police, or anyone else.
Vmhan♣ who Supports Neil Lennon says:
17 November, 2011 at 19:21
The more the huns and they’re quizling servants, attack the Celtic support through the Green Brigade, the more I want to support the GB…….
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Mo Chara – NAIL HEAD Exactly, our own are under attack yet many on here can’t seem to grasp the fact and would rather concentrate on blaming the GB for causing this.
MadMitch
Would you have said these things 15 years ago…?
If so,….Whats changed ?
From Joe o Rourke at the CSA
“New stats from the Crown Office will condemn us, who is to blame for that?”
The latest information from the Scottish Government which will be published tomorrow would appear to suggest that the majority of sectarian offences in Scotland happen at a particular football stadium; and that stadium would be Celtic Park.
Apparently this report will again support the Scottish Governments drive towards the new legislation for offensive behaviour at football matches, and will infer that we are the reason for the need for the new legislation.
This seems rather strange, in terms of the request for information regarding sectarian offences from 2003; I am informed that the statistics for the period covering 2003 to 2010 were destroyed by the Crown Office; these statistics pointed to the fact that the majority of sectarian offences were against Roman Catholics; and they happened around Orange parades.
So we have to ask ourselves; who is responsible for deleting the previous information? And who is responsible for amassing the new information?
We, as part of the FAC group were asked to attend a meeting tomorrow morning with Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan; but following his comments in the Daily Record; the groups representing the Celtic Supporters felt it was inappropriate for us to attend the meeting.
Mr Corrigan was reported to be summoning us for a slap on the wrist, well he obviously doesn’t know who he is dealing with; it was us who asked for a meeting with the Police over their heavy handed policing of the Green brigade in the match against Hibs on October 29th.
This occurred after a well-attended and well behaved Demonstration in George Square, we were then subjected to behaviour by the Police which might have been more appropriate for China or North Korea.
Let us say this, we have always been happy in the past to have dialogue with the Police; but we will not be criminalised for doing nothing more than supporting our team, we will not be bulied by the Goverment, the Police, or anyone else.
Are we still talking about songs?
We are less than 48 hours away from the most important 90 minutes of the season.
That is all I’m concerned about.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon says:
17 November, 2011 at 19:09
The singing of IRA songs appears to be being treated as the sole preserve of the Green Brigade. Does no one else in the stadium sing these songs/ chants/ add ons?
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Exactly! To clarify – I posted yesterday that I hoped the GB would stop any IRA addons. I really should have added “if indeed it is them who are singing them.”
The interview on CU with Chris – I think – from the Green Brigade – should be a must listen to everyone getting their knickers in a twist over this.
Gives some food for thought.
HH
Watching the ‘Just cant get enough’ video there, The Green Brigade’s positivity is what got the utter failure of a board through their third year of utter failure.
If it wasnt for the Green Brigade last year It would have been a waste of time.
Lawwell and his spin Doctors span last year out to be some kind of buckin success, it wasnt, it wasnt even near a success but fat chops will sit at the AGM feeling proud blinding folk about some non Celtic related issue, other insignificant teams debt an that. The utter swine, the utter utter swine that he is.
Aye
At the beginning of this week I thought “no another CQN songs debate”, but what has transpired is probably the best ever CQN songs debate !
As someone reminded us earlier, Sir Bob Kelly stood his ground when the tri-colour became ‘offensive’. (If he hadn’t then I suspect that some fifty years later, possession of a tri-colour would by now probably be akin to possession of a shotgun (unless you have you have a tri-colour license and are deemed of fit and reasonable mind))
There are a considerable majority of people in scotland who will always find something about us ‘offensive’ – to varying degrees. Whether it’s flags, songs, schools, churches etc. is not important.
What is important is that our board are playing a long game with this one, and that any compromise we may be making is outweighed by the benefits we get back. Heart says ‘aye’ but heid says ‘naw’.
Surprisemeboard.CSC
P.s on the story of the EDL guy charged today, nice to see it reported to the court told how he was warned about his behaviour before they waded in. Pragmatic policing is the way forward.
Chris graham has been doing his homework just read his blog and seems to be putting 2 and 2 together and getting 1690. Can somebody please tell me who he is? And just to pick.a whole in his blog lenny said keep them away from the club doesn’t mean he can’t be there in his free time does it chris? Ya wa**er
HH
BSR
They always have been, it’s just worse because the team they love has finally been found out.
We’ve held a huge mirror upto the Rednecks and allowed the world to see the ugly reflection.
The Bully Boy has been confronted and the Cheat exposed.
They hate us and thought they’d always be able to get away with it.
This is now no longer about winning or losing tho’, it’s about making the best of the drek that is being thrown at us. We need to be much, much smarter than them in how we deal with this now. They hold more cards I think.
HH
hen1rik says:
17 November, 2011 at 19:25
The latest information from the Scottish Government which will be published tomorrow would appear to suggest that the majority of sectarian offences in Scotland happen at a particular football stadium; and that stadium would be Celtic Park.
—————————————————
Confused and shocked have any Celtic fans been convicted of sectarian related offenses commited whilst in CP? Surely this is a wind up. But if true the board need to get into gear quickly and refute this nonsense, oh wait this is the Celtic PLC we are fecked and on our own – Lies, damned lies, and statistics.
Hmmm.
Seems there are stats available which suggest-or even PROVE,in some eyes-that we Celtic fans are the most sectarian in the land.
Oh dear,there I was thinking that they suggest our supporters are more likely to be singled out by the agenda-ridden police.
Funny things,statistics…..
Watching YouTubes of Celtic Hunping them in that 3-0 going on 8-0 game.
That should have been a real score, not messing about, they are owed a hunping.
BMCUWP
Hi mate,…
Yes,…Ive been really busy with work and also Ive refrained from posting lately through fear of what I might say getting me either banned or jailed.
The nonsense thats went on these last few weeks is enough to test the patience of a saint……..which I am far from.
Hope yer keepin weeell bud.
Hail Hail
Paul 67
Is there any chance we can start an Idiot Quick News for the poor lost souls who seem to be stuck in the past and don´t know when something is damaging their club please?
Sick of all this.
What does the club have to do to get them to listen?
Estadio Nacional
Long overdue mate.
Hope things are goin well over in ArabLand.
HailHail
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
17 November, 2011 at 19:33
Hmmm.
Seems there are stats available which suggest-or even PROVE,in some eyes-that we Celtic fans are the most sectarian in the land.
Oh dear,there I was thinking that they suggest our supporters are more likely to be singled out by the agenda-ridden police.
———————————–
LOL well said
THEBOULDB’HOYS 1936
Keeping fine,bud. Trust me,there’s little you could say on here that I didnae say in Kilwinning recently when I was home,though next time I probably WILL get lifted,haha!
Glad to hear yer working so hard,btw-I feel better now about being off to my cot due to nightshift.
Keep adding your weight to the argument,sense is at a premium…
Electro
Its damaging the club because those who are against us choose to redifine words like sectarian and label our club with it. Then they spend almost a week re-iterating the claim through their media network.
Our songs are not sectarian.
Our songs are not sectarian.
Some of our fans have an affinity with Irish Replucanism….So freakin whit ?
The bould b’hoys 19:37
The 3-0 game last year was an Absolute Hunping, I sat in the North Stand upper and loved every minute of it, we didnt play that well but utterly humilliated the utter gash that was layed before CELTIC.
CELTIC
CELTIC
CELTIC
g
*re-define
This is not a Songs Debate.
Its a Sinister Political Farce, with the media compliant servants to the only market they know.
Only one thing for it….
The Time has come to Dance to An Appropriate Song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYPecZI_AI
RIP Alistair
OGLACH UFB 1939
Cheers,mate.
That,I believe,is EXACTLY what those stats prove,and it’s what the support and the club SHOULD be working on.
It won’t happen though,and that’s a disgrace.
Can any poster link THE PROVISIONAL IRA to CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB I would be interested to see the evidence
Lads please we need to do something we can’t sit and take this they have been attacking us since thus UEFA announcement and now Joe orourke publishing this.
We have a lot of clever guys on here we must do something now or I fear we will be criminalised in this sad shit hole of a country.
This article from Joe is got te be the last resort.
rileyskeepingthefaith says:
17th October, 2011 at 19:32
Is Chris Graham not the same person as Mark Dingwall who runs followfollow? I’m sure I read that they are one and the same person.
PJBhoynyc
Where do you find these gems?
Hope all’s well with your goodself and family.
Hope you enjoyed the recent snowfall:o)
BMCUWP
Ha ….I can imagine. Kilwinning of all places too. :o)
Aye well,.. was out of work for a spell there so taking all the hours God sends.
Thanks for the kind comments, I’ll try to keep it sensible :O)
Hail Hail ma man
bankiebhoy1
I really, really hope that the motive for the new open attempted demonisation of Celtic is fuelled by their impending administration, and not just retaliation because they at long last stand convicted of a more serious charge, of sectarianism.
The offensive behaviour bill won’t fold if and when, Celtic fans stop Add Ons, and as myself and many have posted before it will not be the end of spurious charges against Celtic fans for being just that – Celtic fans.
I am personally sickened by the whole issue, especially the deliberate repetitive use of the word sectarian in the bent media,
I recognise the difficulty faced by the Board and understand the frustration of those, who are waiting on support for the supporter, our leadership does not have a good public personna with the rank and file, over the last four increasingly difficult years.
hen1rik
I think the deleted COPFS data is actually from 05-09/10.
The only detailed breakdown into religious aggravated offences was 2006, and covered Section 74 reports from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. This study showed you were five times as likely to be a victim of a sectarian attack if you were Catholic.
voguepunter
Did they just take statistics of offences committed around a Celtic home game and then come to their conclusion? “Look its those pesky Fenians that are the problem.” This is hunbelievable.
If anyone hasn’t written to their MSP regarding the deleted COPFS data;
http://www.celtictrust.net/?func=d_home_article&id=323
EN
It was magic winnit ?
A Mass Huddle that even saw folk put their prawn sandwiches aside to join in with.
The conception of the Broony
And the bestest version of JCGE you’ll ever see…..
And a 3-0 demolition intae the bargain….What a day!
Almost makes it worthwhile havin the beggars aboot !! :o)
ICT at home
W2
D2
L3
F8
A10
Celtic Away
W4
D1
L2
F12
A10
They’ll think they can have a right go at us looking at the figures. Not a place for Ki,imho, if I were Lennie, I’d keep Hooper off again, wanyama, kaya on , Paddy to start. Don’t know state of the injuries though
Taggart
Keep up….What has Irish politics got to do with football ?
Is that what you’re asking …………..?
taggart nobody move says:
17 November, 2011 at 19:45
Can any poster link THE PROVISIONAL IRA to CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB I would be interested to see the evidence
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
No but we have strong links with Irish Nationalism despite the boards and Uncle Tims attempts at sanitising our support of all things Irish, the 1st song sang at CP God Save Ireland, the singer invited by Brother Walfred incidently, was then the equivalent of the GB singing a song in Memory Robert Sands. Obviously you will know this being a Celtic fan.
High upon the gallows tree swung the noble hearted three
By the vengeful tyrant stricken in their bloom
But they met him face to face with the courage of their race
And they went with souls undaunted to their doom
God save Ireland, said the heroes
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Erin dear we fall
Climbed they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer
Then with England’s fatal cord around them cast
Close beside the gallows tree kissed like brothers lovingly
True to home and faith and freedom to the last
hen1rik @19:48
A Legal defence Fund has been set up;
http://www.celtictrust.net/?func=d_home_article&id=328
I cringed last season sitting beside the Green Brigade in upper 112 (Only option at the time) when they sang non Footbal pish, non Football pish they continue to sing despite the best wishes of the Club, wee dicks trying to be ‘Ultra’ well done the wee dicks. You have made a name for yer selves, well done the wee dicks.
Aye ye colaberate and make atmosphere, good and thanks but fur funK sake you are not the voice of CELTIC.
TBB
I´m with you on that.
We are not a sectarian organisation.
We are not the OO or alsorangers.
Our songs are not sectarian.
Their´s are.
The government, police and SFA are only moving the goalposts to get at us cos they won´t do the right thing and challange the real bad guys. Cos its their bad guys. Being protected to the hilt.
But I am an Irishman. A republican. Love the rebel songs.
But not at my clubs grounds.
Not at our away games.
My club is an Irish founded club in Scotland.
I love it and want it to stay that way.
I don´t want to hear IRA chants at our games.
What has my club got to do with the IRA? NOTHING.
The rangers sing their songs of hate, intolerance and racism because that´s what they are all about.
Their club is steeped in it.
We are only in this situation because we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
Let´s be whiter than white, a good aul family club, have the brilliant Green Brigade as role models for our kids and not be covering their ears from unsavoury chants.
It´s in our hands.
We are better then “them”. Let´s prove it on the park and in the stands.
Rant over.