Hibs’ 150th anniversary is forever set in stone

AS PUBLICISED in our last edition, the end of Hibernian’s 150th year was celebrated in August by a couple of significant events.

First, there was the unveiling of a plaque on the main pillar of the gates to St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate, preceded by a Mass offered by the church for all Hibernians, past and present. There was as many as 200 people in the church to listen to Fr Ninian Doohan’s fantastic sermon. He spoke of the church needing support, not least because of the extensive maintenance programme which needs undertaken, with costs in the region of £500,000 as a minimum. It was clear that he also understands the close ties that existed in the past between club and church, fans, ‘Little Ireland’ and the Irish connection in general. He asked why those ties have loosened over time and joked why his Sunday and weekday Masses don’t attract the same numbers!

On the steps of the church—with the numbers having now swelled to around 350—Dougie McLeod of St Pat’s Branch of the Hibernian Supporters Association acted as MC, introducing a number of short speeches by Gordon McCabe and Gary Milne of the branch, Hibs legend, Pat Stanton and Hibs Director, and former chairman Malcolm McPherson.

Pat spoke of his relationship with his father with his underwhelming praise for his son’s exploits and also his Celtic-supporting son, saying mischievously that even though you might like to, you can’t give your kids back! Malcolm spoke of the commitment the Gordon family feel towards the club and its fans after the outpouring of grief when patriarch Ron died; and recommended all Hibs fans buy and read Canon Hannan’s biography, Edinburgh’s First Hibernian to get a true appreciation of what it was like living—sometimes just existing—in those early days. Author Mike Hennessy pointed out that if you can’t afford to buy the book, you can read the appendices online on the Thirsty Books website: www.thirstybooks.com/edinburghs-first-hibernian. You can also visit the Central Library which has at least a couple of copies of the book though they are normally out on loan. Mike himself was the main speaker and his abridged speech has been reproduced in full online.

The group then moved to the gates on the Cowgate, where Pat unveiled a magnificent plaque—donated by the St Pat’s Branch—which was blessed by the priests and the formal procedures were concluded by Fr Ninian (above), resplendent in his Erin go Bragh T-shirt, with a Canon Hannan one draped over the lectern. Once again he hit the spot with tone and content.

Everyone was invited back into the porch where light refreshments were available, books were on sale, and old friends were able to reacquaint themselves.

“The attendees were largely from the older generations who remember ‘Turnbull’s Tornadoes,’ some even the Famous Five,” Mike Hennessy said. “Young people in general maybe haven’t the time or the interest, which is a shame. Or maybe you only get interested in your family and related history when you reach your 40s and in time the next generation will become like their elders.

“As far as I could see, Malcolm was the sole representative of the club, at least of those who sit in the director’s box at home games. The players were invited, but unfortunately they were training at that time, it being the day before the trip to Ibrox, so an excellent reason, but I have it on good authority that Jamie McGrath's girlfriend attended at least the unveiling. So, some of the players will have been briefed regarding what they missed.”

Two weeks later—coincidentally on August 22, the 104th anniversary of the assassination of another great Irish leader, Michael Collins—the St Pat’s Branch had organised a walking tour of the South Side places of significance in Hibs history. The church itself, St Mary’s Street Hall in the former Catholic Institute at 16-28 St Marys Street—now the Edinburgh Training Centre—James Connolly’s plaque in the Cowgate, the original St Patrick’s Church on Lothian Street, the East Meadows where Hibs and other local teams played their early matches, the Grange Cemetery where Canon Hannan and many of his contemporaries are buried, and many more sites were visited by a group of passionate fans.

In addition, when the mayor of Limerick John Moran presented a scroll in posthumous recognition of Canon Hannan’s life and achievements to John Cronin of Ballingarry Football Club during the Hibs women’s team’s civic reception in July, the idea formed to host a replica of the scroll at St Patrick’s Church. The mayor was delighted to oblige and hence just before the walking tour, Irish Consul General, Jerry O’Donovan, presented the replica to Fr Ninian. It is on display beneath the marble memorial in the church porch.

“There are a number of other Hibs milestones to come this year, notably Hibs first competitive game under the auspices of the Edinburgh Football Association in October and the tragic death of a less well known founder Andy Hughes, murdered in a street brawl in November 1876,” Mike added. “How they will be marked is yet to be decided.”