Founded by an Irishman over a century ago and built around a sod of turf that came all the way from Donegal, Celtic Park and the club that calls it home has always been a beacon of hope and serious crowd noise for the Irish diaspora wherever they happen to be around the world.
They are far from unique in this regard, with the likes of the London Irish rugby team and fellow SPL team Hibernian also flying green colours on a weekly basis.
However, across the pond in America is perhaps where fervour for Irish founded sports teams and franchises is most pronounced.
In this article we look at the teams in the US that wear their Irish heritage with pride and also win some serious silverware along the way.
Boston Celtics – Turning the Rest of the NBA Green with Envy
When Irish immigrants fled their native land in search of a better life, or at least a full belly, in the United States of America, the first place that many of them docked and stayed was Boston on the US’ eastern seaboard.
Along with many other traditions such as folk music, literature, and poetry, the Irish settlers also took with them a hearty love for sport.
Walter A. Brown was the entrepreneur who saw the potential for a basketball team in Boston and instantly made sure the club adhered to inclusive Celtic ideals by being the first to ever draft a black player to their roster, as he bet on NBA games becoming the national pastime they are today.
This sense of club belonging was only bolstered by the franchise’s Lucky the Leprechaun mascot and has since seen green merchandise of all varieties sold outside the stadium prior to a game tipping off, with NBA betting tips being doled out both online and by everyone from local bus drivers to buskers.
Although the atmosphere at TD Garden will never quite live up to that of Celtic Park, the Boston matchday buzz is not to be missed.
Notre Dame (The Fighting Irish) – NCAA Football
Unlike anywhere else in the world college sports are a huge deal in the US, with many fans being fiercely loyal to teams who are not about to be swept from under them by greedy NFL team bosses and owners.
One such team with a mammoth following are the so-called Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University based in Indiana.
In a country more famous for its lack of history, Notre Dame’s American football team stands out as one that is more established than many European football sides, with them being founded in 1887.
It is thought that a long line of Irish head coaches, such as Knute Rockne, is what led to the team earning its nickname.
Today the jerseys players wear are somewhat devoid of green, unless that is they play in their alternative third choice kit, replete with green jersey and socks.
Native American Lacrosse Teams
There is no doubt that over the years the spiritual connections that bound teams to their Celtic roots have been somewhat forgotten, with the bond more likely to be used an excuse to sell more merchandise on gameday rather than to highlight lessons of the past.
Thankfully, in that regard, there is one sport where the values that bind all athletes are respected, with Irish lacrosse teams often lending a hand to Native American lacrosse teams, out of respect for the way Indian tribes aided stricken Irish immigrants back in the day.
This was on show when an Irish team recently pulled out of a lacrosse tournament so a Native American team could take their place. This means that although Iroquois Nationals are very much a team ran by and for Native Americans, they do so with the blessing of Celtic fans everywhere.
