Write a comment
Following the placing of a plaque on the Linenhall Square arch commemorating Willie Maley's birthplace on Saturday, 15 April, a massive colourful parade proceeded from Mourne View Park via Trevor Hill and Monaghan Street, with music provided by Éire Nua Flute Band from West Belfast as it made its way towards the bottom of Camlough Road where a Willie Maley statue was unveiled. Celtic's green and white was to the fore of course with visitors from as far away as Cork and of course Scotland making the journey to Newry for the historic occasion.
Willie Maley was born in The Barrack's in Newry 25 April 1868 and was Glasgow Celtic's first manager. He broke many records which still stand to this day.
The Newry Willie Maley Memorial Group in a few years collected over £80,000 from the public and the wider Celtic community for the statue, a fixture that will outlast us all in its home at the junction of Monaghan Street and Camlough Road in the city. Sculpted by Tyrone man Barry O'Neill the statue is a majorly impressive addition to the landscape and indeed culture of Newry.
Chairman of the group Pat McLoughlin explained how the idea got going "It started after the Lazio game, we beat Lazio 2-1 and I went to do the tour next day and I got speaking to a man Matt Corr who's an author as well and we got talking about how there wasn't a statue of Willie Maley, it was a bit of a travesty so we started a campaign from then. I approached Gavin, I approached Brian Hyland from the Reporter and it all just started from that and grew and grew and then Covid knocked us out a bit, we were a bit disappointed with that but we got back at it as the Celtic support always do and we raised the funds, Tommy Sherridan had a fantastic night at Celtic Park and that really got the ball over the line. Three years of hard work but well worth it now. I'd especially like to thank Mark McEvoy for all his help, he done a fantastic job along with me to get it done along with all the groups as well. Celtic support, best supporters in the world and this is the outcome of it today. Hail Hail ..."
Councillor Michael Savage, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down Council was just one of the local Councillors who turned up in awe of the group. Cllr Savage congratulated the fundraising team. "A truly historic day in Newry with the unveiling of the magnificent statue to honour Newry's 'Mr Celtic' Willie Maley. A huge turnout and a huge achievement for Pat McLoughlin, Mark McEvoy and the Newry Willie Maley Memorial Group who raised a staggering £80,000 to erect the beautiful statue in the city. This was a grassroots initiative delivered by the fans and each and every fan involved should be extremely proud of what you've achieved. You have done your city and the club you love proud. Hail Hail!"
Newry Councillor Gavin Malone spoke of his delight at such a massive turnout and congratulated Pat McLoughlin. "I remember our first meeting in 2019, there were six of us there who started the ball rolling, Pat branched it out then to the key Celtic supporters. I remember going to a meeting after about 3 weeks and seeing the clientelle, Mark McEvoy, Larry Griffin, Danny McDonald, Pat McLoughlin, Lee McGovern, Ian McCormick, Pat Quinn and I said to myself, this is going to be successful."
Guest Speaker at the event Tommy Sheridan really didn't need amplification such was his enthusiasm but with the help of it, the Celtic message was heard loud and clear in every part of Newry. Sheridan spoke of the link between Newry and Glasgow Celtic "Willie became the Manager who had a vision for Celtic. A vision of a club that didn't have to buy players, but a club that would have home grown players, a club that would adopt a philosophy of Attack - Attack-Attack and for 43 years Willie Maley built, not one, not two, but three Celtic Football teams that conqured the football scene in Scotland and became record breakers. He's still the record breaking manager in the whole of the UK having won more trophies than any other manager, thirty major trophies over his 43 years in charge. The first guy to win a league and cup double, the first guy to win six in a row and it stayed a record until the seventies. The first guy to go 62 games unbeaten. It was only beaten a couple of years ago under Brendan Rodgers and even that record is going to get beat soon under Ange Postecoglou.
"Brothers and sisters, what a tradition, what a tradition you've got here and that we are honouring here today. It was said earlier he was born 155 years ago, apparently Pat was still there! It's taken a long time to get here but you know what, it's been done by honest fans working hard together, united as one and showing the strength of working class unity within the Celtic family. That's what's brought us here today."
Paying tribute to former Celtic player Frank McGarvey who passed away in January, Sheridan said "There was a Celtic legend who was at the dinner that we had over in Parkhead, some of you managed to make it. A fantastic event. It raised over £40,000 and one of the players that was there was a guy called Frank McGarvey, a good friend of mine. Frank and I discussed this campaign in a podcast. Frank was blown away, blown away by the contribution of ordinary Celtic fans to this cause. He says to me that night Tommy I don't care what else is going on I'm going to be in Newry for the unveiling of that statue.
"Sadly brothers and sisters the horrible cancer has taken Frank away from us but we said we would remember him. We told the family we would remember him and therefore in memory of the 67 Football fans who disgracefully died in Hillsborough and where then the victims of a disgraceful cover up by the police and the Tory Government. We are going to let off these balloons here and have a minute's applause in memory of Frank and in memory of the 67"
Following the applause the statue was unveiled by special guests former Celtic players Tommy Johnston, Joe Millar and Jackie McNamara as well as Tommy Sheridan. The day will long be remembered by Newry Celtic fans.
Check out our photographs below.
