Hibs, history and honouring legends

AS HIBERNIAN FC entered the second half of the club’s 150th anniversary season an important landmark took place. January 20, 2026 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Whelehan, who—along with Canon Edward Joseph Hannan—co-founded the club on the August 6, 1875.

Born in Kilglass, County Roscommon in 1854 Michael Whelehan came to Edinburgh with his family when he was just four years old. Research indicates that his father, Patrick Whelehan, had previously travelled to Scotland to work in the Lanarkshire iron mills before returning with his wife and family, choosing to put down roots in the capital where some relatives had already settled.

The Whelehan family initially lived in Conns Close which ran from the Cowgate—the epicentre of that part of Edinburgh’s Old Town known as ‘Little Ireland’—up to the High Street. Demolished in 1899 to make way for what’s now Tron Square, Conns Close was a few hundred yards from St Patrick’s Church and St Mary’s Street Halls—the home of the St Patrick’s branch of the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS). The CYMS had been established by the then Fr Hannan to provide sporting, social and educational outlets to the disenfranchised youth of Little Ireland who faced hostility and discrimination from their indigenous Scottish neighbours and temptation in the form of the numerous shebeens that abounded in the area. Michael Whelehan—along with hundreds of his contemporaries—was an active member of the CYMS and was a keen participant in the emerging sport of football.

In the first volume of the late Alan Lugton's seminal trilogy, The Making of Hibernian, he tells us that in the Spring of 1875 Michael Whelehan and two of his friends from the CYMS Malachy Byrne and Andy Hughes were watching the increasingly popular game being played on Edinburgh’s Meadows. The three had played a couple of games for a street team called White Star but had been banished once it was discovered that they were Irish Catholics. This was the catalyst for Michael taking the proposal to Fr Hannan that St Patrick’s and the CYMS should have its own football team.

The obituary for Michael Whelehan published in The Scotsman newspaper on January 21, 1926—the day following his death—states that he was Hibs’ first captain, playing for the club for a number of years before assuming the position of President—a role he held when they won the Scottish Cup in 1887. It also tells us that he suggested the name Hibernian for the fledgling club, something that Lugton and various other Hibs histories credit him with.

As the obituary was published at a time when many of Michael Whelehan’s Hibernian and Little Ireland contemporaries were still alive, it gives further credence to this. While he had left school at ten years old Michael was the first Catholic to be appointed a foreman and then a manager at the iron foundry in Edinburgh’s Southside where he worked. At a time when job opportunities—let alone workplace promotions —were extremely limited for those of the Catholic faith, it demonstrates that he was a man of substance in his working life, as well as in his playing and presidential roles with Hibernian.

Keeping history alive

The 100th anniversary of Canon Hannan’s death in 1991 had been commemorated by a Mass held in St Patrick’s Church, a moment which saw the club pay tangible, public homage to its founders—a recognition of the Irish diaspora roots many felt had been downplayed by a succession of previous owners from the 1960s through to the end of the 1980s.

A reconnection to those origins that was followed by the mid-1990s publication of the aforementioned The Making of Hibernian trilogy, which charts the club’s early history and the social history surrounding it. This re-emphasis and renewed pride in those origins was cemented by the reintroduction of the Harp to a new club crest in 2000.

To commemorate Michael Whelehan’s anniversary, the St Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Supporters Association (HSA) initiated and organised a graveside gathering on Tuesday January 20 at Mount Vernon Catholic cemetery in Edinburgh.

While they are named after the Church where Hibernian were founded, St Pat’s—as they are known—have no religious affiliations and the branch members come from all and no religions. What makes them unique amongst their fellow Hibs supporters branches is their commitment to commemorating the club’s early history and upholding the charitable ethos of the founding fathers.

The graveside commemoration was the latest in an impressive catalogue of historic events organised by the branch. In their short, 16-year existence they have installed a plaque in St Patrick’s Church to commemorate Hibs foundation, undertaken the refurbishment and rededication of 1902 Scottish Cup winning trainer Dan McMichael’s grave, held a sold-out event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hibernian’s 1991 Skol Cup victory and after the hoodoo breaking 2016 Scottish Cup win, a celebration evening where the cup was proudly displayed and the winning management team of Alan Stubbs and John Doolan took part in a Q and A.

Most recently the branch installed a plaque commemorating Canon Hannan in his home village of Ballingarry, County Limerick. Working in tandem with Ballingarry AFC it was unveiled at the amateur football clubs ground ‘The Paddocks’ on September 24, 2022.

Commemoration

The graveside gathering held to commemorate the 100 years since Michael Whelehan’s passing was equally reverential to that of Canon Hannan’s and reflective of the part he played in the founding of the Scottish football club we all know today. On a cold, damp Tuesday morning nearly 100 people gathered at the cemetery which sits at one of the highest points in the city.

Those present included a number of Michael Whelehan’s direct descendents including his great, great nephew, former Hibs player and manager Pat Stanton. Also in attendance were St Patrick’s parish priest Fr Gerard Hatton, Hibernian FC Director Malcolm McPherson and Hibernian Historical Trust Director Lauren Dunn. The St Patrick’s branch official historian Gordon McCabe and fellow branch member and historian Professor Iain Woods were also in attendance, together with representatives from the Catholic Men’s Society and officials from the Hibernian Supporters Association.

Celebrity Hibs fans, The Proclaimers—who, of course, penned Sunshine on Leith Hibernian’s globally recognised anthem—were unable to attend but sent a message of gratitude for the pivotal role Michael Whelehan played in forming the club they love. Dozens of St Patrick’s branch members were also in attendance, joined by supporters from the wider Hibs community, all coming together to pay their respects.

Following introductions from St Patrick’s branch committee members, Gordon McCabe and Professor Iain Woods gave fascinating insights into Michael Whelehan’s life, the formation of Hibernian FC and the poverty and prejudice which defined the day to day existence of the Little Ireland diaspora.

Hibernian Director Malcolm McPherson spoke about the importance of celebrating that early history, its enduring relevance, how there had been times in the club's history when that hadn’t happened and how current owners, the Gordon family, are committed to honouring the club’s origins and the co-founders legacy.

Club legend Pat Stanton then laid a Harp wreath at the foot of Michael Whelehan's grave. Following a poignant funeral tradition from the club’s early years the Harp included a broken string, the traditional mark of respect that was afforded to players and officials who had died. Other descendants and the Historical Trust also laid flowers and a wreath.

The commemoration concluded with Fr Gerard Hatton from St Patrick’s—the spiritual home of Hibernian FC, leading those present in prayers and blessing the grave.

Many Hibs fans take great pride in referring to their club as ‘The Originals,’ a reference to the fact that Hibernian were the first Irish diaspora team in Scotland, and the first to wear the green. The team who provided the inspiration and the template for Celtic FC in Glasgow and Dundee Hibernian (now United) and a myriad of smaller teams across Scotland’s towns and villages. Teams who—like Hibernian—would give a voice and a sense of belonging to a community who had no voice and who were often made to feel that they didn’t belong in their new home.

Pioneering role

Michael Whelehan should not only be celebrated and commemorated for his role in founding Hibernian, but also for the pioneering role that he and Canon Hannan played in navigating the suspicion, hostility and obstacles put in their way by the establishment, football authorities and some of their fellow citizens. In overcoming these with good grace and dedication, they made it demonstrably easier for the clubs that followed in their footsteps to gain a foothold in the Scottish game.

First and foremost, Michael Whelehan is part of the duo of visionary Irishmen who founded Hibernian and a plaque honouring the Roscommon man will be installed alongside Canon Hannan’s at Ballingarry AFC’s ground on March 28. A further project organised by the St Patrick’s branch in collaboration with Ballingarry AFC will see both Hibernian’s founders commemorated in their homeland, a fitting tribute as the football club moves towards the end of its sesquicentennial season.