Oh, to be Irish in Paradise

By Bernard Thompson

Published in the Irish Times new media edition

 When Celtic lifted the Scottish Cup, to secure the domestic treble, a huge step was taken towards the restoration of the club's reputation. In these days of football clubs being described in terms of their brand identity, Celtic's association with failure and defeat was damaging to more than the morale of the supporters.

For that, Martin O'Neill will have the eternal gratitude of the marketing executives who attempt to promote Celtic worldwide. However, an even more profound change took place over the last twelve months and that was the resurrection of a sense of Irishness at Celtic Park.

It is no secret that the Irish in Britain were not always exactly welcomed. It is unsurprising, then, that the Irish in Glasgow and beyond should cling to a club that was founded to assist the poorest of their number. For generations, Scots-born Protestants, like Jock Stein, seemed comfortable with the profile of a club that was open to all but proud of its links across the Irish Sea.

That began to change in the Fergus McCann era. With the "Bhoys Against Bigotry" campaign, McCann made genuine, well-intentioned efforts to distance Celtic from sectarianism but, at times, the political correctness seemed to resemble a symbolic cleansing of Celtic's image. In a country in which singing The Soldier's Song is regarded as bigoted behaviour, there was a suspicion that Celtic were trying to eradicate all mention of Ireland.

But McCann's departure enabled the first of three extremely influential Irishmen to come to prominence. Dermot Desmond became the club's major shareholder and the most powerful man at Celtic. In terms of popular perception, little changed. Desmond always suffered by false comparisons with David Murray at Rangers. The Scottish press have tended to expect Desmond to match the spending - and high-risk strategy - of Murray, despite sound legal and structural impediments on his doing so.

Still, it is easier to convey, to the general public, the simpler message: "If Rangers can do it, why can't we?" With Desmond's reluctance to embark on any personal PR campaigns, there was little fresh enthusiasm for Ireland amongst the support, a substantial part of which complied with the "denial of roots" culture.

That has changed since the appointment of Martin O'Neill. No breast-thumping patriot, O'Neill is an unlikely leader of a reawakening of ethnic consciousness. Nevertheless, he is unafraid to be seen for who and what he is. In many ways, his expression of Irishness that is neither apologetic nor ostentatious is precisely what Celtic should have been aspiring to in the reinvention of the club.

There is also more to his importance in this matter than his success. The quiet, dignified but strong personality that O'Neill transmits to the supporters contributes to making him the first manager since Billy McNeill, to fulfil the role of icon, which Celtic fans crave.

Part of O'Neill's success has been his ability to appear to be a father-figure to the entire Celtic community. In that atmosphere, it is unthinkable that the Irishness of Celtic could be undermined.

The next link in the chain came with the purchase of Neil Lennon. There are Celtic players who are more talented than Lennon but few who are more effective and he has no peers in terms of commitment. The fact that he rejected a higher salary to articulate his passion for Celtic began a process of endearment that could see Lennon accede to legendary status.

The taunts and threats that the move brought on him only strengthened a level of support that was already bordering on hero-worship. If ever a player looked to be a likely captain of any club, it is Neil Lennon with Celtic.

But could he yet have one more rival? Roy Keane's avowed desire to play for Celtic presents another intriguing prospect. There is a (perhaps misplaced) general presumption that Keane's undoubted ability equates to Martin O'Neill's desire to sign him. But, if Keane should become a Celtic player, while still at his peak, the level of Celtic hysteria might threaten to overwhelm even the captain of Ireland.

Let there be no doubt that Celtic is a Scottish club. At the same time, there are lessons to be learned from a recent academic study, which compared the experiences of Irish Scots with those of American blacks. It also found that anti-Irish hostility engendered a hesitancy in acknowledging Irish heritage. Perhaps, then, people at Celtic could be forgiven for paraphrasing James Brown: "Say it loud - Irish and proud."

On hold for the bleak midwinter

 By Bernard Thompson

Tartan Special

Published in the Irish Times new media edition

At this happy time of year, all of the things that the Scots are famous for come together. Kilts, shortbread, whisky without an "e" and getting screaming drunk find harmony in the traditional festivities. Scotland is the only nation on earth that has a New Year, apparently, and everyone goes out on "Hogmanay" just waiting for the accordion thrill that signals the time to salivate on the cheeks of complete strangers. Then they play football.

Sadly, the collective headache of a people has put an end to the New Year's Day fixture list but the appetite is merely stronger on the following day. However, no team has rejoiced in the changing of the calendar more than Dundee United. Only days ago, all connected with the club were seething loudly at the unsportsmanlike behaviour of Hibernian players.

Apparently, some Hibees thought that the injury that felled Jim Lauchlan, as the game wound up, was a little too convenient. With the match at 0-0, there were suggestions that Lauchlan had nothing that could not be cured by hearing the final whistle. So, rather than return the ball to a United player, it was sent upfield where a corner and then a penalty ensued.

The result was a last gasp winner for Hibs to leave angry Dundonians asking where the referee found the extra three minutes of play. All this is very frustrating of course, unless you happen to be a neutral  - when it is little short of hilarious. Not so funny was the reaction of United's goalkeeper Alan Combe, who is alleged to have attempted to headbutt the fourth official.

Still, you can now dust off your "auspicious sign" clichés, for the first match of 2001 brought unheard of joy to Tannadice. Their distress against Hibernian was forgotten about with a home win over Motherwell. It took Utd nearly ten months to win at their own ground in 2000 so there is at least some room for optimism in the City of Discovery.

It was a less happy start for Kilmarnock. With his famed eloquence, their manager Bobby Williamson, described his team's 6-0 defeat against Celtic as "the worst experience I've experienced" in football. From Killie, it was as shoddy an exhibition as has been seen since Paul McCartney displayed his paintings and when Williamson heaved Ally McCoist on at 5-0, the merciless home crowd's day was complete.

Larsson scored four as he continues to search for his best form. Sutton scored another couple to make the Celts' fans feel like world-beaters. That they are not but Scot-thumpers they most certainly are.

As far as the Celts go, though, the big story of the week has been the undignified exit of Allan MacDonald. MacDonald was supposed to be Celtic's answer to David Murray. There were, though, a few differences.

For instance, Murray owns most of Rangers whereas MacDonald was merely a boardroom figurehead. However, MacDonald left with generous parting shots at almost all of the people who supported him throughout his period of tenure.

He claimed that Celtic had already planned to sell Henrik Larsson, before his arrival, and that only MacDonald's intervention secured the future of the superstar who notched his 100th goal for the club on Tuesday. This has angered the shakers and movers at Celtic, not least Dermot Desmond who is singled out for special criticism.

MacDonald also claimed that Desmond preferred Joe Kinnear to Martin O'Neill as the Celtic manager. However, one figure from Celtic Park (the legendary "insider") disclosed to me that the allegations relating to Henrik Larsson were hotly disputed.

He responded that "Joe Kinnear was much closer to getting the Celtic job than even he probably realises" but that "Desmond was never against O'Neill". In relation to Henrik Larsson, he went on, "as far as the board were concerned, it was Allan who seemed to think that selling Henrik was a good idea because it would bolster the accounts from the start. The board felt compelled to back him in anything he did as he was a new appointment, but they also supported him when he was persuaded that the fans would not tolerate selling Henrik."

He went on that Desmond and the board view MacDonald's recent comments as "a betrayal as they feel that they supported Allan to the final full stop." If that is so, they have moved swiftly to deliver a "Not welcome" message to the former Chief Executive. "The word went out that Allan is effectively persona non grata at Celtic Park."

"They know that they can't really bar him but they want to make him aware that he is unwelcome." To that end, "MacDonald's Executive Club status is now void" and even his entry to the car park at the ground was to be "subject to negotiation." Of course, this is fairly standard fare when a major figure leaves Celtic.

MacDonald, for all his accusations, was a failure at Celtic and he seems to be unable to accept that as he attempts to maintain a reputation that will assure his continued success in the business world. Regardless of his jibes against Desmond, it does seem that it was the former Chief Executive who made many of the bad decisions at Celtic Park.

Now, the club even refuses to credit MacDonald with the appointment of Martin O'Neill, which they say was instigated by a "non-executive Director" which suggests that MacDonald was even less successful than his record suggests. When that record includes appointing John Barnes, you have a fair bit of explaining to do.

Anyway, enough of Celtic. The other Glasgow team defeated St Mirren, partly thanks to two goals from £12m Wonder-Norse, Tore Andre Flo. The 3-1 victory came as something of a relief to Dick Advocaat but St Mirren were in no condition to give the Ibrox club any pre-winter break blues.

Yes, the action now ceases so that the players can recharge their batteries, in preparation for the final push for glory. In other words, the Scots male must now revert to accordion-playing until the footy returns. It will sound awful for a few weeks but the result at New Year is magnificent.