A Proud Irishman, and Celtic Legend. Still time to book for Toronto.

[Joe O'Rourke]

I had the honour and privilege last Friday of attending the Requiem Mass for former Celtic Director and Honorary Chairman John Keane in St Patrick’s Church, Cowgate Edinburgh. It was a fitting venue for a proud Irishman like Big John, St Patrick’s has the reputation of being the Church that served the incoming Irish men and women who had to leave their home country to make a better life for themselves and their families. It was also here in Edinburgh where John met his lovely wife Kathleen, and where his son Mark was born.

St Patrick’s is where John and his family practiced their faith every week, he was very much a part of the Church and the community. St Patrick’s is an old Church, it was originally built in the late eighteen hundreds. Cowgate is also the birthplace of James Connolly, the founder of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, the plaque to James Connolly is quite close to St Patrick’s.

Before mass in the Church the organist entertained us was some soothing music, and just before the start of Mass, one piece of music brought a smile to my face, and that was “The Foggy Dew” that tells you a lot about John and his Family. During the Mass as well, we Had the beautiful hymn “Our Lady of Knock” and the recession completed the service with “Hail Glorious Saint Patrick.” In addition, during his eulogy, John’s young Brother Seamus told of the many times at Family gatherings, or while over inn America, John would belt out his favourite song “Boulavoge,” and always with a clenched fist raised in the air. It was very clear that, we had just lost a “Proud Irish Rebel.”

It was also fitting that John is recognised and remembered for his love of Glasgow Celtic, without the intervention of John we might not have a Glasgow Celtic today, for that alone every Celtic Supporter should be eternally grateful, John’s action when needed most will never be forgotten, when some jockeyed for a position of power and influence, Big John just asked what was needed, and did it, banking a cheque for £1,000,000, a very substantial sum of money, with not guarantee of getting it back, that’s commitment, his love of Glasgow Celtic was clear for all to see.
Requiescat in aeternum pace John. They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind.
The website is about to be updated, there are some things that we cannot do just now. It may take a few weeks, but the work has begun, and hopefully it will be a lot better for us all.
There is still time to book you trip to Toronto for the Celtic Weekend of Celebrations, all the details below. We will also be updating Stewart Travels offers for the North American Convention in Las Vegas in 2025, they have dropped the price of packages, will hopefully have the information very soon.

WELCOME TO CANADA
KANO FOUNDATION JULY 25TH 2024 - JULY 28TH

July 25th Thursday
All clubs hosting welcome to Canada,
Toronto Celtic Supporters Club, 2220 Midland Ave, Unit 27 Scarborough M1P 3E6
Downtown Celtic Club McVeigh's, 124 Church St, Toronto, ON M5C 2G8
Bramalea Celtic Club, 30 Peel Centre Dr, Brampton, On L6T 4G8
Durham Celtic Club Whitby, 110 Ash St, Whitby, ON L1N 4A9

Toronto Celtic Supporters Club
2220 Midland Ave, Unit 27
Scarborough, On

Hosting
July 25th Thursday night 7.00pm Question & Answer with Glasgow Celtic Legend Players
John Fallon, Bobby Peta, Joe Miller, Tommy Johnson, Mc shall be none other than Mr Hugo Straney

July 26th Friday
Golf Tournament at Upper Unionville Golf Club, 11207 Kennedy Road, Markham On L6C1P2
Sponsorship $50.00 per hole, Closest to the pin $10.00 (prize)
$135.00 incl Golf, Cart, Dinner back at Toronto #1 Celtic Club (2220 Midland Ave, Unit 27 with Entertainment Antonio Rea
$25.00 Dinner Only

July 27th Saturday
All Clubs shall be showing the Celtic game against Chelsea from Notre Dame, USA . Time shall be released soon

Toronto Celtic Supporters Club
2220 Midland Ave, Unit 27
Scarborough, On
Shall be showing the game with BBQ Tickets $10.00

Entertainment Saturday Night July 27th 2024

Bramalea Celtic Club, 30 Peel Centre Dr, Brampton, On
The evening shall be with a great night of Entertainment Mr Hugo Straney

Downtown Toronto Celtic Club, 124 Church St, Toronto, ON M5C 2G8
Entertainment is Straight over from Scotland , Kieran Davenport, Shaun Philbin and Antonio Rea. Tickets $20.00

July 28th Sunday All Clubs
Toronto Island Party 120 Centre Island Dock, Toronto 12.00 pm onwards

This is a great location to finish off the Party
Entertainment is Straight over from Scotland , Kieran Davenport, Shaun Philbin and Antonio Rea.
Tickets $40.00 incl food & beverage.
You can get the ferry over to the Island (Jack Leyton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay West, Toron