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A life sized bronze statue in honour of Celtic Football Club's first Manager, Willie Maley is to be unveiled in Newry on Saturday 15 April and all are welcome to attend. Maley was born in 1868 at the Newry Military Barracks roughly where Mourneview Park now is. Planning permission was passed for the two metre high statue at Monaghan Row in the city in August 2022.
Maley managed Celtic from 1897 to 1940 and won 30 trophies for Celtic. His father Thomas Maley was a Sergeant in the British Army and was stationed at the Barracks at the time along with his mother Mary Montgomery.
The sporting and heritage project is being progressed by the Newry Willie Maley Memorial Group, a community group which has campaigned to ensure a fitting memorial to the sporting legend is delivered. The initiative involves the Celtic family and the wider community and close to £80,000 has been raised.
The application is "for the erection of a life sized bronze statue (1.95m high) on a black granite plinth (3m x 1m) in memory of a renowned native sporting manager and player. New granite silver flag paving is also proposed as part of the scheme, to be arranged in the area surrounding the proposed statue and plinth, with surrounding existing planters and garden to remain in situ."
A spokesperson for the group said "As pointed out previously this project was funded by you and only you with no financial backing from any Party or official office and that's something to be proud of, for in the years ahead we can look back and say without contradiction that Statue is owned by the supporters."
The group has thanked Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for their support and advice with the site for the statue.
The Statue Unveiling Schedule
Saturday 15 April
3pm: Linenhall Square/ Mourneview Park Plaque unveiling
3.30pm: Parade from Mourneview Park to Statue site at Monaghan Row accompanied by 3 flute bands.
5pm: Statue unveiling with Tommy Sheridan and three former Celtic players, Joe Miller, Jackie Mc Namara and Tommy Johnson.
