Lawwell causes Celtic IRA confusion

JOE O’ROURKE is the zealot leading the Celtic fanatics in their quest to be told what they can and cannot sing at Parkhead and other football grounds.


Now, O’Rourke, who heads the official Celtic Supporters’ Association, has always seemed a bit of a strange old cove to me. But in this particular case I share some of his confusion as to what IRA songs are deemed acceptable by Celtic and what ones are on the banned list.


And the man who is at the centre of this confused state of affairs, and who indeed caused it all, is none other than the official voice of Celtic, chief executive, Peter Lawwell.


Which is no real surprise, for poor Peter seems to be losing his grip these days. Witness his statement about Celtic’s exemplary record, which completely ignored Celtic’s THREE previous convictions with UEFA, before a FOURH one, for IRA singing was added to the shamed Parkhead club’s rap sheet.


That though was merely the latest slip from Lawwell. The first is one which sees him either having to backtrack or hold his previously stated position with regard to the Celtic choir and it’s wide ranging IRA repertoire.


Celtic’s policy, as laid on the line to the club’s supporters by the club’s chief executive, Peter Lawwell, is simple. They must stop songs and chants in praise of the PROVISIONAL IRA. Lawwell’s words, not mine.


Which is where I suspect Joe O’Rourke comes in. No doubt O’Rourke will champion the cause of Celtic supporters being allowed to sing The Boys of the Old Brigade and no doubt he will attempt to justify that by saying this was the IRA before the Provisional wing came into being in the late 1960s.


And that is exactly the get-out Lawwell’s use of the word Provisional has left. It was a strange choice. I would think that anyone not schooled in the schisms of that terrorist organisation would refer to it simply as the IRA.


Apparently that was not the case with Peter Lawwell.


However, the IRA terrorists of the 1920s, celebrated by the song, the Boys of the Old Brigade, were every bit as terrifyingly terrorist as their sons and grandsons of the Provisionals. Their ethnic cleansing pogram, particularly in Cork, has been documented before in this space. And will be again, in even more detail, should Celtic supporters continue in denial about them singing sectarian songs, claiming them to be a free expression of political belief.


Perhaps when they sing another of their favourites, Sean South, they will be pleased to declare what Sean South’s political beliefs were. If they don’t know then let me give them a hint. Sieg Heil!


By mincing his words Lawwell also created another problem. What about that old Celtic fans’ growl of “Up the Ra?” That is believed to have been the very illicit chant which landed Celtic in their latest bit of bother with UEFA.


But which Ra? The Provos? The Boys of the Old Brigade? Sean South?


No wonder poor old Joe O’Rourke is so confused. It’s enough to bemuse Einstein. And Joe sure ain’t in Albert’s league.


However, there is a clear concise and unambiguous path to safety for Celtic. One which I am sure would meet with the approval of the man who owns the club, Irish billionaire, Dermot Desmond.


All his employee, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, has to do is make a statement to Celtic supporters that all expressions of support, songs and chants, for the IRA – be it the Old IRA, the Boys of the Old Brigade IRA, the Hitlerite Sean South IRA, the Provisional IRA, the Real IRA or any other terrorist IRA sect – are banned. End of story.

And then show he is serious by paying for extra police to patrol the stands –home and away- to weed out the terrorist supporters.

That way Lawwell would ensure there is no margin of error or confusion. Except perhaps, in the case of Joe O’Rourke.

 

I've figured out who RebelBhoy is.

Joe O’Rourke

 

David Leggat anyone?

If the old ira are good enough for the queen they're good enough for me

 

Lawwell does not want to upset the fans by demanding songs are banned.

He doesn't want to distance fannies like Rebelbuoy nor does he want to distance other decent fans.

He's lacking the hawmaws to make a decision here so makes vague statements.

 

His Majesty of Salmond won't even tell us what is inappropriate...nor will the police....so why expect more from an accountant

 

1 Salmond is a fat ****.

2 The police don't make the laws.

3 Let's face it - Lawwell's a bit more than an accountant isn't he? He gets paid big bucks to make decisions at your club....which he's not doing. Either he panders to the pro-IRA crowd or he moves the club into the 21st century. Or he could sit on the fence and get splinters, metaphorically speaking.

 

So a whole rant about what Lawwell has said or not said, and yet not a single quote in the full article? There's a shocker eh?

 

Phil McGillivan more like, an IRA sympathiser living in Donegall who wants to be an author.

 

I think you're right