Football lovers: Rosses CSC, Fergus McCann and the grass of paradise

Founded in 1988, the exact date of its founding is known and will be contested by mutual agreement, whether on the ferry to Scotland, at Sharkey’s in Annagry, or anywhere else where intelligent post-match debates take root.

Hughie Pat Sharkey of Calhame and Brian Boyle of Ballymanus, both deceased, have been pestering some venues for years to set up a CSC where they can meet and arrange trips to Celtic matches. Both men were committed Celtic men and were well aware that although many of them were commuting to and from matches by car, with Feda, Anthony Dora or the Doherty bus service, or by plane with Loganair, nothing was organised as it deserved. .

Brian and Hughie were wonderful characters in their own way, and their calls to found a club were eventually fulfilled. The first convention was held at Bonner’s Bar in Mullaghduff. A long discussion took place and the general agreement was that they would form a club and play about six games a year.

A committee was elected with Hughie Pat Sharkey as chair, Timmy Boyle as vice chair, George Boyle and Brian Boyle as chairmen, Owen J. Coyle as treasurer, Charlie Boyle as secretary, and Conal O’Dubhaidh as PRO.

Among the approximately 20 people who attended the first meeting were James Barney, Owen Joseph Coyle, George Doalty, Danny Doogan, the painter, and young Daniel, his son, John the Thatch, Hughie Tim, Josie Joe, Paddy Bhrini, Daniel. , John G. Gorman, Patrick McGinley and Tony Bonner of Dungloe.

Although the Bonners Bar was the meeting place for this convention, subsequent assemblies were moved to Rosses for several years before returning to Bonners around 1994.

The highlight of those early years was, as usual, trips to Glasgow as a club. In Glasgow, they would stay in the hotels of Queen’s Park or Dunkeld. On the many early trips, they were rarely organized enough to stay all together, as was the case. before the explosion of mobile phones.

The Gorbals’ Sharkey’s Bar earned many phone calls asking where this or that character had disappeared. Sharkey’s Bar was their best drop-off point, and entertainment and sports began there when they came into town on a Friday night. Isa, Peter, Fiona, Isobel and the staff greeted them as if they were from Alaska, even though they never showed it.

Sharkey’s Bar, a pub in West Donegal located in Glasgow’s Gorbals. In 1990, before Packie Bonner and Chris Morris left for the World Cup in Italy, they were brought back after a Celtic attack on Sharkey and given a presentation. After the World Cup, they hosted a dinner dance at Ostan na Rosann for over 350 fans with Packie and Anton Rogan as honorary visitors.

When they became a little more organized, they attended more meetings and therefore wanted to attend more games. The number assigned to matches ranged from four coaches, who flew in to provide Paul McStay with a golf club, and six coaches in charge of Packie. Bonner’s testimonial coincidence, with RTE cameras with them.

Fergus McCann, director of Celtic, MD, styling the new East Stand at Celtic Park

Josie Joe was a cornerstone of the club at the time. Always a little reluctant to take on a role, he was present at matches, meetings and receptions. A wonderful character who helped and cared about the club and its travels. The Celtic history of turf has been told many times, and it goes on to say that this was certainly its highlight. They agreed as a club to write and offer to donate a turf, and when Fergus McCann spoke personally on the phone, they thought it was a local settlement, but they were not willing to accept the threat of not listening to their request for turf from The Rosses CSC for the new Celtic Park.

Josie Joe Boyle, Rosses CSC with turf in condition to be transported to Paradise in 1995 after receiving a phone call from Fergus McCann

This link between Celtic and CSC Rosses is now written into history and, over the years and history, remains a big part of the club’s history.

An excerpt from Football Without Fans: The History of Celtic Supporters’ Clubs through David McIntyre (Celtic Bars). Football Without Fans: The History of Celtic Supporters’ Clubs is now available in print and Kindle versions HERE.

More about Football Without Fans on The Celtic Star, the Celtic fans’ website. Will your CSC be the one to stand out?

Just before Christmas, David McIntyre of Celtic Bars was interviewed via Celtic TV about his e-book Football Without Fans. Here’s the video on Celtic TV’s YouTube channel. You can order a hard copy or Kindle on Amazon, no matter where you are in the world. . Order your copy HERE

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Football lovers: Rosses CSC, Fergus McCann and the grass of paradise | football

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