WHAT is your own personal story about Celtic? Not just a game you were at where Henrik chipped Klos or Tony Watt showed Barcelona what Gallus means in Glasgow. More than that. Celtic form part of our lives and there are always wonderful stories, sometimes sad, or uplifting or just hilarious and we’d like to hear your own personal Celtic story and share it with the support.
We’re going to start on a solemn note, with Martin Gordon a Celtic man living in Cork and born in Govan who organised a tribute mass in his adopted city for Billy McNeill earlier this year. Martin’s story is below – if you would like to send us your own personal Celtic story please email it over to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and enclose one or two photographs if you can, Hail Hail.
Billy McNeill Tribute Mass in Cork
My name is Martin Gordon and I was born at 5 Harmony Row, Govan, on the 15 April, 1931 – opposite St Anthony’s school and chapel, am now live in Cork.
On 16 May 2019, I organised a ‘Tribute Mass’ for Billy McNeill at the African Missions church, Wilton, on the West side of the city.
Naturally, there was a big crowd of Celtic supporters in the congregation, along with Billy’s teammates Bobby Lennox and John Clark. The deputy Lord Mayor of Cork sat alongside the Lisbon Lions. The club’s jersey and scarf were much in evidence.
Prior to the mass, a string Trio from the Cork School of Music played appropriate music, and Welsh-born tenor Ryan Morgan sang Abide With Me, The Lord is my Shepherd, Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus during the mass. Afterwards, he led the supporters in singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
At the offertory, Fr.Michael O’Leary SMA invited ‘The Lads’ as he called the Celtic players, to bring up to the sanctuary the large photograph of Billy and his jersey, both of which Celtic had sent to me by courier.
Fr. Michael then, flanked by the Lisbon Lions, turned the items around to be seen by the congregation, who applauded loudly and at length.
God Bless,
Martin
