The Debate Around Rebel Songs At Celtic Park, A Former Republican Prisoner & Celtic Fan Has His Say

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The Debate Around Rebel Songs At Celtic Park, A Former Republican Prisoner & Celtic Fan Has His Say

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The Debate Around Rebel Songs At Celtic Park, A Former Republican Prisoner & Celtic Fan Has His Say | The Celtic Star

Paddy McMenamin is a Celtic fan from Belfast. A former IRA prisoner, who served six years in Long Kesh, he is no stranger to Irish Rebel music or the songs that have been sung on terraces of Celtic Pa
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Scottish and other Rebels Songs, British Soldier go on home...

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Scottish and other Rebels Songs, British Soldier go on home | The Celtic Star

I read with interest the entertaining and informative article by Paddy McMenamin concerning Irish Rebel Songs sung at Celtic Park. Before I go any further, I must confess to your readers a dark secret
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A song is classed as a rebel song, when it goes against the status quo? the establishment?
A song is classed as a protest song, when it goes against the status quo?the establishment?
for example, 'Biko'?, Kevin Barry?
however,the status quo and the establishment,for decades have turned a blind eye? or given tacit support,therefore encouragement for a section of society to joyfully sing about being up to their knees in Fenian blood?
interesting debate bhoys and ghirls HH ☘ 🍺🥳
 
David Potter's article is interesting insofar as while "The Star Spangled Banner" can be considered anti-British (I suppose, since it was written during the War of 1812 against, um, the British), it really is, as Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, gibberish sprinkled with question marks. As you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of it as a national anthem.

I heard "The Boys of the Old Brigade" for the first time while watching a Celtic game with the San Francisco CSC. A couple of the older guys started singing it, and a few others joined in. I didn't know it, but I looked it up when I got home.
 
When gigging around Ireland, one of my incarnations was a duet called Celtic mist,twee, ah know,the lassie who sang was big time Cumann na mBan , she sang songs like Grace,She moved through the fair,Foggy dew, Óró ‘Sé do bheatha ‘bhaile, she had a great voice, but during the break,the landlord came up to us and said,'ye sound great,but can ye cut out the rebel stuff, the (engerlish)tourists are complaining, no second booking! ☘ 🍺🥳
 
lcafiero said:
David Potter's article is interesting insofar as while "The Star Spangled Banner" can be considered anti-British (I suppose, since it was written during the War of 1812 against, um, the British), it really is, as Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, gibberish sprinkled with question marks. As you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of it as a national anthem.

I heard "The Boys of the Old Brigade" for the first time while watching a Celtic game with the San Francisco CSC. A couple of the older guys started singing it, and a few others joined in. I didn't know it, but I looked it up when I got home.
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Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner wiznae too shabby Larry✌🍺🥳
 
I love the Rebs. I'm prone to listening to them of an evening when the ale has been dropped. I'm prone to singing them in the company of like-minded folk who have a similar background. I'm prone to indulging them in establishments where said like-minded folk congregate and no St Paddy's Day is complete without a few cheering rousing choruses.

I'm not entirely convinced that they have a place within Celtic Park though?

Whilst I feel that Celtic have made a genuine effort to assimilate and accept others throughout it's history, I feel the Rebs are not entirely inclusive and might not be reflective of the experiences of an ever-expanding portion of our support. That's not to say that those of us who are not far removed from Erin cannot bathe in our heritage, but perhaps it is more appropriate on these occasions when we celebrate Ireland and the heroes of her liberation, her resistance and the defence of her land.

As an entity separate from Ireland, Celtic has woven it's own magical tapestry over the last 130-odd years. Celtic have made our own legends, created our own myths and imprinted our own mark on the sporting and social landscape.

We will never forget the origin and roots of Our Great Club, but they were borne out of a different struggle and out of a necessity to feed, clothe and shelter a desperate youth. The principles of these struggles may both be forged by oppression, but now the balance has tilted and we have to embrace a broader and more diverse congregation that worship in Paradise.

Not a million miles away from Parkhead, there is another institution which has inserted itself into the late 17th century and it has become so deeply imbedded there, that there is no possible way it can ever be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st. They would rather (and did) die trying to preserve a dated superiority complex which existed only in their own minds. They lacked foresight and imagination and then died of pride and ignorance.

It was always Celtic's willingness to accept change and embrace others which set us apart.

As individuals and smaller groups, I encourage all of us to celebrate and remember our heritage and the heroes who fought in the field of battle. As a collective though, it's perhaps more appropriate to celebrate the hundreds of heroes we have seen and who fought on the field of play.

Still love the Rebs though!!!
 
I’ve always loved Folk music The Corries
The pogues , Chieftains, Christy Moore Luke Kelly to the recent find of Bella Ciao everyone on this list is a rebel of some sort.
But agree with TV they don’t lift the players.
Although when you hear Grace at Celtic Park
Fuck me the hairs on ma neck are dancing away with pride and joy.
Love what the GB bring but some of the Rebs
Just bring Whatabooterey calls Fi the SMSM
But will it stop the songs probably at Celtic Park but at the Hundome and the mini’s definitely Not. When your stuck in 1690
It’s a long time till 2020.

HH 🍀
 
The Spherical one has nailed it once again, love these songs, my Father, like many others on this forum, had life changing experiences due to the Brits, he was a solid socialist republican from the North West of Ireland, he handed me my politics, that are still with me today (thanks Da).
For a long time now, maybe 20 years or so, I've been thinking maybe we should stop singing the songs that most people without a dog in the fight would think inappropriate for a team playing In Scotland, I wouldn't ask anyone to change their politics, or stop their yearning for knowledge of the conflict, be loud and proud when you're in your CSC or on the bus to Paradise, but surely the time has come to tone it down on the provo song sheet, It doesn't mean we forget about the tragic losses Ireland suffered at the hands of the empire, I will be singing about Bobby, Frankie Hughes and Connolly till the day I die, but not at Celtic Park, they are my football team, we have more than enough Reb tunes as an away support, we are a football club first, we have a wonderful proud Irish history, but there's more to Ireland than 1969-1998.
Just an opinion troops👍💚🍀
 
Benignus said:
The Spherical one has nailed it once again, love these songs, my Father, like many others on this forum, had life changing experiences due to the Brits, he was a solid socialist republican from the North West of Ireland, he handed me my politics, that are still with me today (thanks Da).
For a long time now, maybe 20 years or so, I've been thinking maybe we should stop singing the songs that most people without a dog in the fight would think inappropriate for a team playing In Scotland, I wouldn't ask anyone to change their politics, or stop their yearning for knowledge of the conflict, be loud and proud when you're in your CSC or on the bus to Paradise, but surely the time has come to tone it down on the provo song sheet, It doesn't mean we forget about the tragic losses Ireland suffered at the hands of the empire, I will be singing about Bobby, Frankie Hughes and Connolly till the day I die, but not at Celtic Park, they are my football team, we have more than enough Reb tunes as an away support, we are a football club first, we have a wonderful proud Irish history, but there's more to Ireland than 1969-1998.
Just an opinion troops👍💚🍀
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👏👏👏
 
Richybhoy said:
Dundee FC play The Bonnets o Bonnie Dundee at kick aff time.
Bonnie Dundee led the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715
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Cool.
Spherical Planet said:
As individuals and smaller groups, I encourage all of us to celebrate and remember our heritage and the heroes who fought in the field of battle. As a collective though, it's perhaps more appropriate to celebrate the hundreds of heroes we have seen and who fought on the field of play.
Click to expand...
Excellent point, SP.
 
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