Celtic’s Political History: The Undeniable Facts

The latest spike in extreme violence in Palestine has caused a great furore at Celtic Park. Many feel the Green Brigade have been banned because of their unequivocal support for the Palestinian struggle for independence, though the wider fan base have been equally supportive if the scenes at Paradise against Atletico Madrid, or in the away end at Tynecastle are anything to go by.

Politics and football have often mixed and are made to mix by the authorities when it is convenient for them do so. However, some have claimed that Celtic Football Club specifically, has no political connection. Whether one likes to admit it or not, the following historical events tell a very different story.

Dr John Conway, founding father, speaking at St Mary’s Church Hall after Hibernian won the Scottish Cup in 1887, addressed the audience with the following words:

“Glasgow Irishmen,we can emulate the Hibernians example not only in social but in political matters as well,so that the goal of every Irishman’s ambition-legislative independence of his country – will soon be attained.”

Wanted Fenian on the run (after the 1867 Fenian Uprising), Pat Welsh, became a Celtic founding father and was responsible for the club signing the Maleys.

Convicted Irish Republican (gun running for IRB) and Nationalist politician Michael Davitt was named Club Patron by the founding committee and was invited to lay the centre sod of shamrock smothered turf at the opening of Celtic Park. God Save Ireland, a rebel song about a then recent event (Manchester Martyrs), was performed at the same ceremony.

Founding father William McKillop was an Irish Parliamentary Party MP for North Sligo and South Armagh, despite being born in Scotland and living in Glasgow.

Michael Davitt fiercely opposed landlordism and the club played matches to raise funds for evicted tenants in Ireland.

Celtic sent an official delegation to Dublin for the Irish Race Convention of 1896. The event was designed to plot a route towards Irish Home Rule.

Celtic introduced the boycott to football, a political tactic adopted by Club Patron Michael Davitt in Ireland.

The issue of the Anglo Boer war caused a fall out among the board, with most directors opposing British involvement, but many also supporting British soldiers simultaneously. (Below extract taken from Walfrid and the Bould Bhoys book, published by Celtic Star books and available on Amazon Kindle, as the hardback version has completely sold out)…

In WW1 Celtic hosted exhibitions of trench warfare and other military events to support recruitment for the war effort.

Brake clubs carried trade union, Irish patriot banners and sung nationalist songs. Founder Dan Molloy played the fiddle at Celtic gatherings after matches, whilst founder John H McLaughlin would play the piano, and the legendary Neil McCallum would sing political Irish songs.

In 1968 Celtic refused to play against Ferencvaros in the European Cup due to the soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Bob Kelly said “there are things for Celtic more important than money.”