It has turned into a witch hunt carried out by the club's hierarchy. Letters have even targeted the singing of The Soldiers Song, with some fans finding it offensive. The club rightly states it is a football club first and foremost.
Nobody argues with that.
They also state they are proud of its Irish-Scots identity. Celtic, however, was also founded to help alleviate the discrimination and poverty suffered by the immigrant Irish community in the East End of Glasgow. There was also a political dimension, with one letter writer pointing to the fact that patriot and Land Leaguer Michael Davitt laid the centre circle with a sod carried over from Ireland. The club also says the singing of Irish republican ballads by a large section of the Celtic following is sectarian. They have every right to sing these songs and express themselves.