Celtic have been popular in Cork and, during the 1980s, several supporters visited Glasgow frequently. The formation of a CSC was occasionally discussed on those trips and finally, after the 1988 Scottish Cup final, a number of Bhoys made the decision to shape CSC No. 1 Cork.
They still have concerned founding members today. While they were going through a difficult time as a Celtic supporter for much of the early and mid-’90s, they did not locate many newcomers who wanted to knock on their doors to receive members.
Celtic’s money woes, which coincide with the emergence of the Carling Premiership in England, have not been a smart read for Cork-based Celtic fans. This was greatly influenced by the new agreement with Sky TV, which left Scottish football aside. It has a desert for Irish Celtic fans.
Liverpool, Manchester United or Leeds United were most often the most followed clubs in the Republic of Ireland, and still are to this day. Celtic has been considered the second team for the general public in those regions. Even if there were Celts in the region, we would have to search for them. Only Cork Celtic fans were really concerned about the persistent unrest at Parkhead during those dark times.
It wasn’t until the time of Martin O’Neill that things started to improve, and the same was true for CSC. Their numbers increased considerably. With Celtic’s rise on the pitch, there was a significant call for CSC to buy more season tickets.
For the first time as a club, they were starting to make a lot of noise within the Celtic community. Local Celtic fans would begin to familiarize themselves with the CSC by recognizing their club’s flags, scarves and shirts, as well as other banners. and merchandise. They were spotted at popular venues such as the old Baird’s Bar, the Toolbooth Bar and the Saracen Head.
The same thing happened in Ireland. Now they were there, along with the largest CSCs in Ireland. The club has expanded throughout County Cork. At the time, they may have simply organized and divided the club into a formula they called “branches. “”Each domain was divided, and each branch delegated a designated representative to each branch of Cork No. 1 SCC. Had:
Courtney/McKenzie, Passage West MacCurtain/MacSwiney Branch, Cork City Tomàs Ceannt Branch, Fermoy Branch, Youghal Branch, Cloyne Branch, Mallow Branch
They made trips through Europe and beyond. From the largest football amphitheaters in Europe, the Camp Nou, San Siro or the Allianz Arena, to the Krestovsky Tropical Stadium, home of Zenit Saint Petersburg, one of the members, Neil Reilly Jr. , traveled to the Astana Arena in Kazakhstan.
The CSC has attended other Celtic occasions off the field over the years. The NAFCSC Convention in Las Vegas and the LOSCSF Convention in Phuket, Thailand. CSC Cork No. 1 has sought out the traditions of Celtic charities such as Ronald McDonald House, Feed Cork and Headway Ireland, who have benefited from this.
More than €10,000 was raised for Our Ladies Children’s Hospital in Crumlin through a Q&A consultation with local Cork sports figures including Olympian Rob Heffernan and former Cork city manager John Caulfield. They were represented at the pajama party organized in London for the Celta Foundation. Raffles was also said to have positioned himself at his base, The Ferry Arms.
Billy McNeill, Tommy Gemmell and Bertie Auld visited them at a fundraiser for motor neurone disease in the early 2000s. The audience was even lucky enough to receive a phone call from Jimmy Johnstone that night. Stevie Chalmers, his guest at the night of his 10th anniversary dinner in 1998. Other former players such as Davie Hay, Charlie Gallagher, Paul Wilson, John Fallon, Danny Crainie, John Hartson, Mick Conroy, Tommy Coyne, Peter Grant and Rab Douglas attended to the occasions he organized.
A special mention goes to the Burke siblings, Christy and Finbarr, two honorary members of Cork No. 1 CSC. The boys have been worried from the beginning. Christy, owner of the famous Ferry Arms Bar, has created an environment that the club can call home. Its bar is so well-known that even Cork musician John Spillane wrote a song about the place.
Then there’s Finbarr, or “Finners” as he’s better known. Man was the driving force behind CSC for many years. Unfortunately, during his tenure as president, Finbarr became ill and his physical condition gradually deteriorated. She suffered from breathing difficulties and was told by fitness experts that a double lung transplant would be necessary; otherwise, its condition could deteriorate without problems. After years on a waiting list and after going through a dreaded COVID period, thankfully they can say that Finners underwent his double lung transplant and has responded very well to surgery.
They have a very clever relationship with Cork’s other CSCs: Leeside CSC, Bertie Auld CSC, Cork City CSC and Corcaigh 1888. They have a thriving position as a CSC with over 160 members, their record to date.
They gather at the Ferry Arms to watch all Celtic games.
An excerpt from Football without fans: the history of Celtic’s supporters’ clubs through David McIntyre (Celtic Bars). Football without fans: the history of Celtic supporters’ clubs is now available and can be obtained in print and Kindle versions HERE.
More to follow from Football Without Fans on The Celtic Star, the Celtic supporters website. Will it be your CSC that’s featured?
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