DAM

, have to admit we are a "sing when we're winning" crowd at home, and because that hasnt been happening lately we havn't been singing lol there's ****-all to sing about. the "football" is attrocious.

It may be interesting to see how this goes down at Celtic Park on Saturday, given the strong Irish links of a large slice of the Celtic support. Antipathy towards the British military establishment on the part of those of an Irish persuasion is, fortunately, receding but has deep historical roots. For instance it was the British Army which put down the 1916 Easter rising with considerable force and which played a large part in its aftermath which in turn led to the War of Independence in the early 20s. The Black and Tans etc from that period were also recruited from ex British World War 1 soldiers. Responsible for, among other things, the Croke Park Massacre, they were hated by the Irish. Indeed the Gaelic Athletic Association (hurling, Gaelic football etc) for decades discouraged its clubs from competing against representatives of the British forces or police and the GAA also for a time banned "British" activities such as rugby. (Now thankfully the Irish play rugby internationals at Croke Park while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.) In World War 2 the Irish Free State maintained complete neutrality and rebuffed an attempt by Winston Churchill to get them involved. Then, of course, there was the role of the British Army in post 1969 Northern Ireland with Bloody Sunday etc. It therefore wouldn't surprise me if at least some people with a (non unionist) Irish background didn't have a great deal of sympathy for anything relating to the British Military, irrespective of how fundamentally worthwhile it is. I read this evening that the Irish celtic supporters association are not too happy with the poppy on the celtic shirts and have released a statment saying so, they were saying a lot of their members have negative views of the british army's operations in Ireland and some lost family or friends as a result It may be interesting to see how this goes down at Celtic Park on Saturday, given the strong Irish links of a large slice of the Celtic support. Antipathy towards the British military establishment on the part of those of an Irish persuasion is, fortunately, receding but has deep historical roots. For instance it was the British Army which put down the 1916 Easter rising with considerable force and which played a large part in its aftermath which in turn led to the War of Independence in the early 20s. The Black and Tans etc from that period were also recruited from ex British World War 1 soldiers. Responsible for, among other things, the Croke Park Massacre, they were hated by the Irish. Indeed the Gaelic Athletic Association (hurling, Gaelic football etc) for decades discouraged its clubs from competing against representatives of the British forces or police and the GAA also for a time banned "British" activities such as rugby. (Now thankfully the Irish play rugby internationals at Croke Park while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.) In World War 2 the Irish Free State maintained complete neutrality and rebuffed an attempt by Winston Churchill to get them involved. Then, of course, there was the role of the British Army in post 1969 Northern Ireland with Bloody Sunday etc. It therefore wouldn't surprise me if at least some people with a (non unionist) Irish background didn't have a great deal of sympathy for anything relating to the British Military, irrespective of how fundamentally worthwhile it is. I read this evening that the Irish celtic supporters association are not too happy with the poppy on the celtic shirts and have released a statment saying so, they were saying a lot of their members have negative views of the british army's operations in Ireland and some lost family or friends as a result It was all one-sided in Ireland then? The British didn't lose servicemen, family and friends? Wear the poppy with pride.

Why not? Thousands who followed Celtic made the ultimate sacrifice.

Point 1. My comment wasn't directed at you. It was directed (with a whistley) at the person who doesn't want to spend so much on away games. Point 2. I have a 220 mile round trip and spend a damn sight more than ?60 to watch us lose at home. But then I'm a supporter regardless. Maybe so Alex, but not everyone are on Offshore salary.