Football Without Fans – Cork No1 CSC

Cork No1 CSC…

Celtic has always been popular in Cork, and during the 1980s, a number of supporters travelled frequently to Glasgow. Forming a CSC was often mentioned during these trips, and eventually, after the 1988 Scottish Cup Final, a number of the Bhoys decided to set up the Cork No.1 CSC.

They still have founding members involved today. As they entered the tough times of being a Celtic supporter for much of the early to mid-90s, they didn’t find a lot of newcomers trying to beat down their door to become members.

The financial struggles of Celtic, coinciding with the emergence of the bumper-packed Carling Premiership in England, didn’t make for good reading for Cork-based Celtic fans. The new Sky TV deal, which left the Scottish game behind, influenced a lot of this. It became a wilderness for Irish Celtic supporters.

Predominantly, Liverpool, Manchester United, or Leeds United were the most followed clubs in the Republic of Ireland, and to this day they still are. Celtic was always considered to be the general public’s second team in these parts. Even though there were Celts in the area, you’d have to look for them. It was only the hardcore of Cork Celtic supporters who were genuinely concerned with the ongoing issues at Parkhead during those dark times.

It wasn’t until the Martin O’Neill era that things really started to pick up, and the same went for the CSC. Their numbers were growing considerably. With Celtic in ascendency on the pitch, there was significant demand for the CSC to purchase extra season tickets as a result.

For the first time as a club, they were starting to make a lot of noise in the Celtic community. Local Celtic fans would begin to familiarise themselves with the CSC by recognising their club flags, scarves, and tops, along with other banners and merchandise. They’d constantly be spotted in popular haunts such as the old Baird’s Bar, Toolbooth Bar, or the Saracen Head.

It was the same in Ireland. They were now up there, brushing shoulders with the biggest CSCs in Ireland. The club had expanded all over the county of Cork. In those days, they could afford to arrange and divide the club into a system they called ‘branches’. Each area was divided up, with each branch delegating a nominated representative for each branch of the Cork No. 1 CSC. They had:

Courtney/McKenzie, Passage West Branch
MacCurtain/MacSwiney, Cork City Branch
Tomàs Ceannt, Fermoy Branch
Youghal Branch
Cloyne Branch
Mallow Branch

They have had some fantastic trips across Europe and further afield. From the largest football amphitheatres that Europe has to offer, Camp Nou, San Siro, or Allianz Arena, to the tropical Krestovsky Stadium, home of Zenit St. Petersburg, one member, Neil Reilly Jr., travelled to the Astana Arena in Kazakhstan.

There were other off-field Celtic events attended by the CSC through the years. The NAFCSC Convention in Las Vegas and the LOSCSF Convention in Phuket, Thailand The Cork No. 1 CSC has always sought after the traditions of the Celtic Charities such as Ronald McDonald House, Feed Cork, and Headway Ireland were all beneficiaries.

Over €10,000 was raised for Our Ladies Children’s Hospital in Crumlin by means of a Q&A session with local Cork sporting personalities, including Olympian Rob Heffernan and former Cork City Manager John Caulfield. They were represented at the sleepout that was held in London for the Celtic Foundation. Raffles would also have been held at their base, The Ferry Arms.

Billy McNeill, Tommy Gemmell, and Bertie Auld paid them a visit during a fundraiser for motor neuron disease in the early noughties. The audience was even lucky enough to receive a phone call from Jimmy Johnstone on the night. Stevie Chalmers was their guest on the night of their 10th anniversary dinner back in 1998. Other past players such as Davie Hay, Charlie Gallagher, Paul Wilson, John Fallon, Danny Crainie, John Hartson, Mick Conroy, Tommy Coyne, Peter Grant, and Rab Douglas all attended events that were hosted by them.

A special mention goes to the Burke brothers, Christy and Finbarr. Two honorary members of the Cork No.1 CSC. The boys have been involved since the beginning. Christy, owner of the infamous Ferry Arms Bar, has created an environment that the club can call home. His bar is so famous that even Cork musician John Spillane has a song written about the place.

Then you have Finbarr, or ‘Finners,” as he is better known. The man was the driving force of the CSC for many years. Sadly, during his tenure as chairman, Finbarr became unwell, and his health took a gradual decline. He endured breathing difficulties and was informed by health experts that a double lung transplant would be required; otherwise, his condition could very easily deteriorate. After years on a waiting list and after getting through a dreaded COVID period, they can gladly say that Finners has since had his double lung transplant and has responded very well to the surgery.

They have very good working relationships with the other CSCs in Cork: Leeside CSC, Bertie Auld CSC, Cork City CSC, and Corcaigh 1888. They are in a thriving position as a CSC with over 160 members, their biggest record to date.

They meet regularly in the Ferry Arms to watch all Celtic matches.

An extract from Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs by David McIntyre (Celtic Bars). Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs is out now and available in print and kindle versions HERE.

More to follow from Football Without Fans on The Celtic Star, the Celtic supporters website. Will it be your CSC that’s featured?

You can order a copy in print or kindle from Amazon where ever you are in the world. Order your copy HERE