Celtic support getting in the neck for pro IRA songs

The same Jock Stein who made specific requests to play rebel songs (Sean South of Garryowen) over the tannoy before big games because he knew it would get the support right up for it ?

I care immensely about Celtic which is why I follow them up and down the country every week.

 

I voted yes, simply because I don't think football and politics should mix.

 

They'll get themselves in trouble. There have already been convictions for people singing Boys of the Old Brigade.

Like it or not, if the authorities draw up a list of songs that will not be tolerated at football matches anymore then at least a couple of ours are going to be on that list. I guarantee that Boys of the Old Brigade will be one of them.

 

Huns have always sang songs about killing cafflicks. They're not gonna stop because the SFA told them its naughty.

Anyway, did you ever see a song kill anyone? Or send a bomb?

I never did.

But some on here seem to think that taking away the songs will somehow mystically make the problem disappear.

Excuse me, but that tickles me somewhat.

Excuse me while i "grow up"

 

I take your point Marky but the authorities aren't exactly on top of judging what should be deemed offensive or sectarian.

I've heard them arrest someone for having a scarf saying 'No Huns in Europe' A phrase UEFA say is inoffensive and not sectarian.

BOTOB isn't top of my song list but I kind of agree with ArturBoruc#1 that it's similar to Flower Of Scotland.

 

I go to every Celtic game, I used to sing IRA/PIRA songs when I was about sixteen (in the jungle) or drunk, which whether you choose to believe it or not is the same demographic that does it now. We talk about our Irish heritage and about the troubles but very few of us have first hand experience of either. I'm not saying our songs are 'wrong' but they have no place inside a sports stadium, what they do is give our enemies/establishment/haters a perceived justification to attack us - why give them ammunition - '* 'em all' isn't the answer. Be better at supporting our team than they are is the only answer. The highlight of my season was doing the huddle/JCGE during the Glasgow Derby (3-0) I defy anyone to say their highlight involved singing an IRA song.

 

Trying to stop us singing rebels songs is just another way to shut us up..

I dont smoke but it was a disgrace when they stopped people smoking indoors.. ive stopped drinking but its still a disgrace that someone cant sit in the park on a nice day & have a can..slowly but surely we will soon not be allowed to do * all.... anyway thats another point....keep up the singing bhoys...sing LOUD & sing PROUD

 

Actually as far as I'm aware the Chef Constable was lying about that. there havent been any convictions for singing the BOTOB.
I dont think they can ban that song because The IRA are not a proscribed terrorist organistaion. The PIRA/RIRA/CIRA are illegal but the IRA are not.

 

Isn't it possible that he's reasoned that singing such songs brings harm to the club. Think whatever you want, believe whatever you want, and vote however you want, but leave it out of the Park. Bringing politics into to Celtic Park and into away stadiums is only lending credence to the "They're both a bunch of idiots" media members. It makes Scotland look bad, makes Celtic look bad, and makes Irish fans look like the same backwater bigots that they claim to despise.

For the record, I'm half Irish, half Scots, and all American. The politics matters little to me except when it harms Celtic. I hear it from people all the way over here in Texas when I wear my hoops. I want nothing to do with anything other than Celtic and what it means to support our great club.

 

Another guy who condemns it because their scared what the media might say about us.

 

Yeah I understand that point too. There is definitely going to be a '* for tat' element to any list of songs that gets drawn up though. We'd be living in cloud cuckoo land if we think the Police/SFA/Government are going to draw up a list of banned songs and it's just going to be Rangers songs on the list. Boys of the Old Brigade is clearly one of the songs that we sing that has been singled out for attention.

That's assuming such a list ever does get drawn up of course.

Really? That's * * poor if that's true.

 

how many of you are there?

 

Well i for one arent ever gonna hide my politics to keep anyone else happy... why this big obsession to make Celtic look good to others anyway..the folk that think we are all mad bloodlust thugs are always gonna think that so * them...its not our fault that other people are so uneducated about the songs we sing. Its them that need educated not us!

 

they have nothing to do with football, if you want to sing about politics fine but do not do it at football matches.

 

was just about to pick up on tha.

 

IRA songs have been sung for years and as long as Rangers and Hearts stick with their sectarian songs they will keep going on, some might stop if it wasn't for the crap from these two, having said that though we have Irish roots and are singing in support of an army fighting for a United Ireland so it does have some heritage in our club but it is no coincidence the songs are at their loudest at Tynecastle and Ibrox when Rangers & Hearts are spouting all their sectarian bile and British songs like Rule Britannia. Also our manager was attacked by a Hearts (Loyalist club) fan last night right in the middle of a continuing campaign of sectarian hatred, against him and others related to our club, including parcel bombs etc. so the songs were obviously in response to that and the sectarian * the Hearts fans were singing such as the Billy Boys.

 

I think the songs need stamping out for good. Anyone who wishes to join in with such songs are part of the problem. Too many people join in to fit and and feel part of the crowd that seem to think they are the real supporters. Any decent person wouldn't be caught singing about the IRA in my opinion.

I mentioned it last night and today that i lost family members as a result of the ira's actions. Both of which were life long Celtic supporters and devout Catholic for what it's worth. Please keep in mind the ira were responsible for the deaths of many innocent people so singing songs of support for them is deeply offensive to a lot of people.

I personally don't care what the media think of the club as they have already made up their minds but when i see and hear people belting out songs about the ira i really do have to wonder how we can claim to be any better than other teams fans. Forget all this "but it's no sectarian" pish. Maybe not sectarian but it's highly offensive and wrong. Doing it as retaliation isn't an excuse either.That's childish.

Should any of the ira supporters here lose a family member due to the actions of a certain group of people then my heart would go out to any of you. You wouldn't catch me for a minute singing songs glorifying the deaths and showing my support for those that did it.

I sit here an atheist and really have to wonder how some people have the cheek to call themselves christian. The majority of my family are catholic and are decent people with no agenda, just a faith and love of *. If any of you find yourself chanting ira songs then stop and think for a minute will you. It's easy to get caught up in it and feel like you are fitting in but all that makes you is one of the people. I know another club that likes to have their special "people" and think they are some sort of uber supporter because of it.

Having said all that there was a time when the ira were brave men fighting for a genuine cause. But to be blunt that's not what the singing is about. It's just daft point scoring by people that should know better.

 

Don't join in then.

 

I would get into all the logical reasons that this is a fallacious argument, but I'll just say this: you're wrong.