THEY'RE THE ALL AMERICAN BHOYS; From Dublin to Dresden to Dallas, it

Sunday Herald, The, May 13, 2001 by Michael Grant

THE pub had been packed with jubilant Celtic supporters and Guinness had been taken. After almost two hours watching their team's 3-0 defeat of Rangers on television some fans allowed their exuberance to carry them out of the bar to the streets outside. At first there were 50 but another couple of hundred quickly joined the throng.

The mood was but quickly soured when a female police officer denied the crowd access to an adjoining street. Buoyed by drink, fans danced out on to the road anyway, stopping traffic. Abuse was shouted at passers-by and the rear window of an unmarked police car was smashed. Reinforcements were called and soon 40 officers were involved in a running battle. It took almost an hour to restore order, and at the end of it 29 Celtic fans had been arrested.

What was notable about the incident, a fortnight ago today, was that it did not take place in Glasgow, nor even in the same country as the game itself. The trouble occurred among Celtic supporters in Dublin. "200 Miles From The Game - Is This The Stupidest Riot Ever?" asked the city's Evening Herald the following night. The Gardai referred to the disturbance as having involved "the Irish version of Celtic supporters".

The incident brought unfortunate publicity, but it also served as a reminder - if one were needed - of the scale of Celtic's overseas support. At the moment the club is resurgent. Its supporters seem to be everywhere. The club is encouraging followers to wear the traditional strip for a "Hoops Day" at the Tennent's Scottish Cup final, but already the colours are conspicuous to anyone who walks through any town centre in Scotland or the Republic of Ireland.

Just as it has become cool to be Irish, it has become similarly fashionable to support Martin O'Neill's new, successful Celtic. On the back of what could become a treble-winning season the club also has recognised an unprecedented opportunity to capitalise on its unique appeal.

Even that O'Neill himself is an Irish Catholic helps reinforce Celtic's position as a sporting institution of huge social significance within Scotland and Ireland, and one which is attractive to millions of north Americans of Scottish or Irish descent.

Exploiting the club's global following via multi-media - Celtic is said to be the fifth-best supported club in the world, behind Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester United - was one of former chief executive Allan MacDonald's aspirations, and is now being pursued by his successor, Ian McLeod, and David McNally, the club's brand director.

For third, fourth or even fifth generation Irish-Americans - around 40 million people - their perception of Irishness often amounts to a vague, romanticised blend of Catholicism, Guinness, a party on St Patrick's Day, good music, good craic, and supporting Celtic.

There are 66 Celtic supporters' clubs in North America.

Add in Celtic's self-styled reputation as Scotland's anti- establishment club and the appeal broadens further. Why else would it seem so natural for Noel Gallagher (English, but of Irish descent), Bono or Roy Keane to profess to be Celtic supporters? Why else would 50 Westminster MPs have formed a Celtic Supporters' Club?

"The Irish are sexy," said author Frank McCourt recently. "There are dozens of Irish pubs in Rome and 50 in Paris." The theme bars present a common veneer of modern Irish culture: live fiddle music or U2 on the jukebox, Guinness, and a Republic of Ireland shirt on the wall, with a Celtic one nearby. Whenever possible, Celtic games are shown live.

In New York around 3000 supporters attend various Irish bars around the city, to watch matches. Since O'Neill's arrival the numbers have increased.

There is a massive Henrik Larsson mural in Rocky Sullivan's bar, in Manhattan, but on match days it is difficult to see because the place is packed with supporters. But Celtic make no commercial gain from fans going to a pub to drink pints with friends. Far from being mere social occasions, however, there has been a conscious attempt to echo the charitable roots of the club.

Manhattan Celtic Supporters' Club vice-president Tony Quinn explained: "This year on Cup Final day, all Celtic supporters clubs in North America are collecting for the Cancer Unit at the Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.

"Anthony Martin a 10-year- old Celtic fan from Derry died of leukemia the day Celtic won the league, and we thought it would mark the tremendous year we have had by donating some money in his name to the Hospital."

Such laudable endeavours merely illustrate the depth of feeling among such far-flung Celtic fans. It is that sentimental attachment that McLeod will attempt to capitalise on.

"The Celtic diaspora is natural territory," said Peter Carr of shareholders' organisation The Celtic Trust. "There is a great potential for Celtic to grow. If the plc board is wise, they will tap into this unique appeal - one in four Americans claim Irish descent, for instance."

Bill Murray, author of three books on the Old Firm, believes an awareness and promotion of its Irish dimension, and of being a cavalier, romantic name in football, often makes Celtic especially attractive to supporters outwith Scotland. "It seems to be that Celtic people are only too happy to advertise their 'Celticness'," he said. "It also seems to me that Celtic have a much bigger support among non-Scots or Irish. I know of no - or very few - Rangers supporters who are not Scottish or Irish. Many of the Celtic-top- wearing people I speak to [Murray lives in Melbourne] were of no Scottish lineage, but liked the rebel-Irish, liberal image they think Celtic represents."