The Glasgow Times has been whining about the cost of a clean-up operation following last year’s title winning celebrations in the city centre by Celtic fans.
It was the third year running that the event happened, it only became a thing after the authorities sat back and witnessed the trashing and vandalism of George Square and the surrounding area, twice during Lockdown.
While law abiding citizens remained indoors, while no more than a dozen people attended family funerals, while no-one attended football matches Police Scotland escorted loyal bears into the city centre where George Square was under siege.
Hours of destruction followed, locals were forced to remain in-doors, businesses were forced to close while Ibrox fans celebrated their team’s first ever title win.
Thousands had also gathered outside of Ibrox for the final match with one fan so carried away by the excitement that he sent a video of daylight masturbating to friends on social media.
During Lockdown Celtic completed 9-in-a-row and winning a Quadruple Treble with barely an incident report, the statues and benches in George Square were completely undamaged.
How much do the orange hate parades cost the city annually?
By the way….. pic.twitter.com/Hi6ITz8rja
— Coupe des clubs champions europeens 67🍀 (@Henkes1967) March 25, 2025
The Glasgow Times reports:
Glasgow City Council revealed they are forking out £73,032 to repair Mercat Cross after 25,000 supporters gathered on May 19, last year to mark Brendan Rodgers’ side lifting the Scottish Premiership trophy.
This architectural gem was built in the 1920s and served as a meeting point and visible reminder of the markets.
Attendees at the unofficial party were also pictured climbing onto buildings, bus shelters, and traffic lights, setting off pyrotechnics and drinking.
After the crowd dispersed, stickers, graffiti, flags and litter were left behind.
The Glasgow Times was told this week that the entire cost of the clean-up is expected to come to £100,402.81.
The biggest chunk of the money is for the structural repairs towards the Mercat building.
On top of that, specialist crews will also be brought in to tidy up the structure and remove graffiti for £1656.96.
Workers will remove debris from various parts of the building and clean it.
Staff time on clear-up, as well as waste disposal, traffic light repairs, emergency road closures and other jobs, set the council back just over £25,000.
A spokesperson also revealed that over seven tonnes of waste was collected from the area, the equivalent of 25 wheelie bins.
For the provision of 25 wheelie bins much of the rubbish could have been avoided but it seems that there are some who didn’t want to prepare then tut-tutted at the fact that litter was created by 25-30,000 people congregating on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
With highly selective coverage like that the natural reaction is over how much it costs for the city to stage hundreds of Orange Order hate marches every year and what do they add to the economy of the city?
There is no question that there is an unsocial element involved in the Celtic celebrations, some incidents are regrettable but anyone in and around Hampden on the evening of a summer concert will witness similar or worse incidents.
The Mercat building appears to have had more spent on it than many others combined across the city.
Any visitor to Glasgow will discover a dirty city from the moment that they step out of Central Station, basic cleaning operations appear to have been abandoned with an accumulation of dirt and rubbish all around.
George Square, outside of the City Chambers appears to be looked after but St Enoch’s Square, Blythswood Square, Glasgow Cross and other landmark areas see virtually no sign of maintenance work.
When it comes to Orange Order Hate parades the City Council comes alive as streets are closed and Police resources diverted to allow tacky bands to march around chapels because it is apparently traditional.
Many traditions from before the Second World War have been outlawed, factories no longer spew out waste, car emissions inside the city centre are monitored but if you want to celebrate your hatred of Catholics time stands still.
Glasgow used to have a thriving newspaper industry, back in the fifties residents could buy the Evening Times, The Citizen or Pictorial, during 2024 print circulation of the Glasgow/Evening Times dropped to an average of 4.905, that figure is down 18% on circulation in 2023.
With more Irish pubs opening in Glasgow City Centre every month there is a strong argument that the Celtic support is the cornerstone of the hospitality economy, perhaps the City Council should be providing help and support to promote that rather than hanging onto the coat-tails of the long discredited Orange Order?
RELATED READING
- Significant sanctions- Ibrox fears over UEFA stadium closure
- Celtic hiding from the elephant in the room
8 minutes, Nicholson
I think, from our perspective the strategy has always been clear. Em, that is to be a world class football club in whatever we do. As Brendan mentioned we want to dominate in Scotland, we want to compete in the Champions League and that has been clearly stated for many many years.
So there is no change in that regard, what we have always done over many years is to continue to improve as a football club, to invest, we’ve got a sustainable model, a self financing model so invest when we can for today, tomorrow and the long term. There is no significant change there and, em, we all want the same thing which is to win.
The damage to a historic Glasgow building…. Ok since when did @GlasgowCC start caring about preserving its historical buildings? There are loads of building of global historical significance in Glasgow and they have done NOTHING to preserve them.
— Paul R (@SilentHitoshura) March 25, 2025
Maybe focus your article on @GlasgowCC &zero provisions (toilets, skips, even an area to celebrate.There was little violence no matter what the laptop loyal at @ScottishSun say.Try to provide a place for celebrations rather than the vilification of football fans. Are you from 🏴?
— Gary (@Gary44238541987) March 25, 2025
Compare that to what Celtic brings to the economy of Glasgow 365 days a year.
— ANDY (@ahndy71) March 25, 2025
Looks like this rag, and the huns that work for it are raging. Title party and treble party incoming. As for the hypocrites at the council, they refuse a fan zone at the green, saying it’s a public park. Funny it’s not a public park when Transmit comes calling
— Ped (@Pedmcc) March 25, 2025
Glasgow should really look to Munich who have a title celebration almost every year. The city works with the team to provide a safe and enjoyable experience right in the town square. The council are to blame for continuing to treat their biggest product’s supporters like scum
— JNC (@NormStaffs) March 25, 2025
Embarrassing “journalism”. F’ck off with it …go find out why we cannot get any facilities to celebrate or area in the city? Why do orange marches get streets closed & policing ??? Go ask this questions you so called “journalist”. @SusaninLangside @GlasgowCC
— Gary (@Gary44238541987) March 25, 2025
Highly dubious that £73,032 was required to repair mercat cross from just that day, sounds like it was maintenance repairs and you’ve just lumped it in to make a nice eye-catching amount for your headline😉
— Frank Costanza (@mikewizz1960) March 25, 2025
That will be from the public money that thousands of Celtic supporters pay via their council tax bills to to cover the costs of these types of events or are you saying that no public celebrations of any kind allowed in Glasgow now , we all need to sit in by the house now
— The GSM (@1clubsince1888) March 25, 2025
