God Save Ireland: The Story Of An Old Celtic FC Anthem
God Save Ireland is a patriotic Irish song that has a major place in Celtic's history. This is the story behind the ballad.
Dec 14, 2022•12 min
The Celtic History Podcast
Celtic Author, Liam Kelly, covers stories from the club's history, creates a Celtic audiobook and chats with guests about the annals of the Grand Auld Team.
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Episodes
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 14 - Won By Rangers FC
In 1901, Rangers won the Glasgow Exhibition Cup in very controversial fashion. A year later, Celtic would become champions of Britain and end up keeping a trophy engraved with the words 'Won By Rangers FC'. Here's how! www.amazon.co.uk/TAKE-ME-YOUR-PARADISE-incidents/dp/1700120271/...
Nov 06, 2022•4 min•Ep. 24
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 13 - World Cycling Championships
In the late 1800s, Celtic hosted the World Cycling Championships at Paradise. The decision to do so would have a major impact on the future direction of the club. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TAKE-ME-YOUR-PARADISE-incidents/dp/1700120271/
Nov 06, 2022•7 min•Ep. 23
Johnstone Vigilante Committee
The story of a group of Celtic supporters who took forceful action against agents from English clubs, who kept signing Celtic players in the days before professionalism was introduced to Scottish football.
Apr 14, 2022•2 min•Ep. 22
The Greatest Celtic XI Pre-Lisbon
In 2002 an official greatest Celtic XI was voted for by supporters. However, no players from before the Lisbon Lions era featured in the team. To ensure that the heroes from the first 80 years of Celtic's history are not forgotten, it was decided that a podcast on the Greatest Celtic XI, comprised of players who did not play for the club after 1966, should be arranged. Joining me to discuss this topic were renowned historians David Potter and Matt Corr, while David Faulds took on the role of hos...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 21
Celtic Park Fires: Paradise Twice In Flames
Celtic Park suffered two stadium fires in the first half of the 20th century. The impact is still felt today as some incredibly valuable items were destroyed. This short episode tells the story of those events
Jan 05, 2022•6 min•Ep. 20
Belfast Celtic - Glasgow Celtic's Greatest Friend
Belfast Celtic FC was a legendary Irish football club, which played a key role in the history of Celtic FC in Glasgow. This episode looks at the relationship between the two famous institutions and the role which the Belfast Celts played in shaping the Glasgow club's identity. "When we had nothing, we had Belfast Celtic. Then we had everything!"
Dec 17, 2021•14 min•Ep. 19
A Geordie Bhoy: Alan Thompson - Guest
Former Celtic star Alan Thompson is set to release a biography - A Geordie Bhoy - on 1 December 2021. In this episode, Tommo gives listeners a taste of what to expect in the book, as he talks about his time at Celtic, his wider football career, and shares some personal stories away from the pitch. A Geordie Bhoy is available for Pre-Order NOW (on Amazon and warcrypress.co.uk ). When fully released, it will continue to be available from those same websites, and other retailers - details of which ...
Nov 11, 2021•29 min•Ep. 18
The Political History Of Celtic Football Club
In the modern game, Celtic Football Club can no longer be as politically outspoken as it once was. Governing bodies and sponsors dictate that, but whilst this is the case at boardroom level, many supporters of the club remain vocal in their political views and sympathies. This episode looks at the political history of Celtic Football Club. It sticks to the facts rather than opinion, as it is not for me to say what is right or wrong. Though, I do offer a distinction between politics and humanitar...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 17
Celtic In The Black & White Era - Guest - Steve Finan
Steve Finan is a journalist of 40 years' standing who has made the transition to author. He is a cobwebbed and dusty expert on newspaper and magazine archives and creates football nostalgia books, mainly drawing upon the extensive material in the DC Thomson archive. One of his recent books, Celtic In The Black & White Era , features hundreds of previously unseen classic Celtic photos from the glory days. Even if you know the history... you haven't seen it like this. These photos have lain hi...
Oct 30, 2021•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 16
Harry Hood: Twice As Good - Guest - Matt Corr
Mention the name Harry Hood and it evokes memories of a wonderful footballer in a glorious era, most notably at Celtic, his boyhood club. The chants rang out as he scored vital goals against the giants of European football under those massive lights in Glasgow’s east end, in the intensity of the city’s fierce derbies or major cup finals before six-figure crowds. Moments which created history. Skillful, intelligent and classy, with 125 goals and over 300 games for Celtic in that post-Lisbon era, ...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 15
Guest - Paul McQuade - Celtic Daft: The Johnny Doyle Story
Johnny Doyle came from a Celtic-daft family and had to be persuaded to give up his local supporters club membership to try and become a professional footballer. Under Ally MacLeod's guidance, teenage Doyle went on to win international honours before Celtic spent a record fee to take the flying winger to his spiritual home. He was one of Scottish football's most controversial and memorable characters before his tragic death at the age of 30. In this episode, we discuss Paul's new book about the g...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 14
Guest - David Potter - Alec McNair Celtic's Icicle
Celtic historian and author David Potter has written dozens of books about Celtic Football Club and it's legendary figures. In this episode, David discusses his new book - Alec McNair Celtic's Icicle. Packed full of incredible stories about one of the greatest ever Celts, this episode is not to be missed. You can purchase a copy of the tremendous hardback book by visiting celticstarbooks.com...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 14
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 11 - Floodlight Failure
In the late 1800s, Celtic were among the first teams in Scotland to host night time matches under the aid of electric/gas light. It was a far cry from modern floodlighting and the experiment was doomed to fail.
Apr 28, 2021•5 min•Ep. 12
Michael Davitt - Celtic's Radical Patron
In 1889, Michael Davitt was named Celtic's second Patron. He was also invited to lay the centre sod of turf, imported from Donegal, at the opening of the new Celtic Park in 1892. An IRB man, Land League founder, Politician, International Speaker, GAA enthusiast and Celtic fan - Michael Davitt had an incredible life. In this episode, I explore what his position at Celtic can tell us about the early identity of the club and what parallels can be drawn between his beliefs and those of the Celtic fo...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 11
Celtic's Most Important Founding Fathers
There were over 20 individuals involved in founding Celtic Football Club in late 1887. Sadly, many of these men have been forgotten over the years. In this episode, I list those identified as founding fathers, before exploring the stories of the four most important people in terms of establishing Celtic: John Glass, Brother Dorotheus, John H McLaughlin, Brother Walfrid. To read the stories of all 21 founding members, you can purchase a copy of Walfrid & The Bould Bhoys: Celtic's Founding Fat...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 10
The Celts Who Fell In War
A number of Celtic players and supporters served in WWI & WWII. Some died, two won the Victoria Cross Award and one was awarded the Military Cross. This episode looks at those stories and explores the difference in attitude at the club between both conflicts.
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 9
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 8, 9 & 10 - The Final Protest, Johnstone Vigilante Committee, Singing In The Face Of Landlords
Celtic's chaotic early years on the pitch had already seen protests and confusion in the Scottish Cup. The Glasgow Cup Final of 1889 was no different. From that incident, I move on to the story of how a group of Celtic supporters in the town of Johnstone organised themselves to target English agents who attempted to kidnap the club's players. The final chapter covered in this episode tells the story of Celtic's move from the original Celtic Park to the current site, in 1892. A sports day was hel...
Mar 23, 2021•14 min•Ep. 8
The History of Celtic Supporter's Groups
Throughout Celtic's history, the support has played a major part in shaping the club. Celtic fans have organised themselves and created their own groups since the late 1800s. In this episode, I explore the history of Celtic Brake Clubs, Supporter's Clubs, the Celtic Supporter's Association, Celts For Change, The Celtic Trust and the Green Brigade Ultras.
Mar 17, 2021•55 min•Ep. 7
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 7 - Quillanite Quislings
A split emerged between members of Celtic's committee ahead of the club's first AGM in 1889. As a result of the fallout, James Quillan founded a rival Irish club in Glasgow. Who did he take with him and why? More importantly, what impact did this have on Celtic? www.amazon.co.uk/TAKE-ME-YOUR-PARADISE-incidents/dp/1700120271/ (no background music for this episode)...
Mar 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 6
St. Conval's Cemetery: Graves of McStay, McInally & Dodds
Three legendary Celtic players are buried at St Conval's Cemetery in Barrhead. An ideal site to visit for locals during lockdown. This is the story of the legendary trio. To see more landmarks and sites of Celtic interest, visit the following link, where you can purchase a copy of The Holy Grounds of Glasgow Celtic: A Guide To Celtic Landmarks & Sites of Interest. All proceeds go to Celtic FC Foundation. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liam-Kelly/e/B081T6RN6D/
Mar 16, 2021•16 min•Ep. 5
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 5 and 6 - Cup Chaos & Fortunate Finalists
Celtic reached the Scottish Cup Final in their first full season; a quite remarkable achievement. However, the competition featured some controversial incidents and it was far from plain sailing for the Celts.
Mar 16, 2021•15 min•Ep. 4
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapters 3 and 4 - Glory To The Hibees & Brother Walfrid's Confirmation
Hibernian's Scottish Cup Final victory in 1887 is celebrated at St Mary's Church Hall in Glasgow. A series of speeches plant the seed of Celtic in the minds of those present. Thereafter, Brother Walfrid organises a further charitable football event - The East End Catholic Charity Cup - it's resounding success confirmed that football matches could raise a lot of money for charity. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liam-Kelly/e/B081T6RN6D/...
Mar 12, 2021•7 min•Ep. 3
Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 2 - Football Fundraiser
Brother Walfrid sets up the 'Penny Dinner Scheme' as part of The Poor Children's Dinner & Breakfast Tables. I explore the thinking behind this initiative, which other Marist Brother became involved with the project, and how the pair discovered football as an important fundraising tool. www.amazon.co.uk/Liam-Kelly/e/B081T6RN6D/
Mar 12, 2021•9 min•Ep. 2
Take Me To Your Paradise: Introduction & Pat 'Tailor' Welsh
Pat 'Tailor' Welsh found himself on the run after an Uprising in Ireland. A British soldier captured him but allowed Welsh to escape to Glasgow, where he played a part in founding Celtic Football Club and was responsible for bringing Willie Maley to the club. But what was Maley's connection to Welsh in all of this?
Mar 12, 2021•13 min•Ep. 1
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