YNWA and Champions League joy for Celtic fans in Santa Ponsa

Five Champions League goals late into the night were celebrated by thousands of Celtic supporters in the Mallorcan holiday resort of Santa Ponsa.

After a day in the sun anticipation was high as holidaymakers turned into supporters as they headed for their favourite bars hoping that the new format and early season optimism would bring a change in fortunes after too many nights of pain and frustration in UEFA’s elite competition.

A 9pm kick off is ideal for the pubs and bars, in the early evening the colours start to come out in force with Celts Well at The Square close to capacity with 500 fans enjoying the mild evening, a pint or two, Sangria and cocktails waiting for the action to get underway.n.

On matchday the Celts Well at The Square is the number one venue with 500 fans seated in front of Harry’s Big Telly which has rapidly became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mallorca. Indoors about 80 fans can watch with screens at every possible angle.

Brennan’s Sports Bar and The Dubliner are fantastic alternatives if you prefer to watch the action in the shade or indoors. The management and staff at those venues know their customers well with every effort put in to provide a home from home.

After the high drama of winning last season’s double there is more relaxed feel to Celtic this term highlighted by Liam Scales heading the opener against Slovan, that night in Darvel is getting pushed further and further into the background with the goalscoring Irishman picking up UEFA Man of the Match awards in successive fixtures.

Like everywhere there was a strange mood at half time, confidence and pleasure at the team playing so well but frustrations at the missed chances that are often punished at this elite level.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored with a body part soon after the restart then the phones were out to record Arne Engels doing Arne Engels things to give Celtic a rare three goal lead in the Champions League.

Sure there was some concern when Sloven pulled a goal back but Reo Hatate set up Daizen Maeda for a Champions League goal before substitute James Forrest set Adam Idah for his first Champions League goal, hopefully the first of many.

Arne time as Engels puts Celtic 3-0 up on Slovan Bratislava

Since August 2022 the installation of the huge outdoor screen at The Square has taken the matchday experience to a new level with fans making their way in plenty of time to get seated as the extra matchday staff deliver table service.

Indoors there are a few good screens to watch the match with Harry, Marina and Katie keeping the thirsty fans well hydrated.

Walking into The Square, which is actually circular, for the first time is a special experience, the screen dominates with a variety of outdoor acts on through the summer while Karl Byrne provides Celtic tunes and more way into the morning.

On stage you often winder if Karl really needs his guitar, he has jokes and stories for every town in Scotland and Ireland and inevitably finds a ‘victim’ in the audience for some special rapport.

Brilliantly no one laughs louder at the jokes in their direction than the ‘victim’, two complaints in 15 years suggests that Karl knows his audience.

Recently one guy that was singing about five seconds behind the main man was asked at the end of the song what his name was. The reply was Stephen with Karl quickly suggesting it should be Firestick since he was five seconds behind everyone else!

Pre-match at Celts Well, YNWA before the bhoys rack up their record Champions League victory.

About half a mile away from The Square, along the Carter de Ramon de Montcalm is The Dubliner which provides six hours of live music every night from the start of April until well in to October.

Indoors there are no shortage of screens, outdoors on the terrace you can enjoy the match with a smoke in the ultimate Celtic minded atmosphere.

With Sonia, Sofia and Ciaran calling the shots only the very best musicians make it on stage with the brilliant Mairtin O’Huigin putting in 10 out of 10 performances every night of the week throughout the season. Abley assisted by Darrin Cahill with Cammy dropping in from Sydney to Santa Ponsa while permitted.

Keen to stay out in front, other top musicians appear in fortnightly shifts with Chris from Erin Go Bragh booked in for some extended shifts through the peak months. Fran Alonso is certainly a fan, enjoying a few visits in June 2023 while high powered discussions went on across the bay at Brendan’s gaff.

On October 18, 19 and 20 Gary Og will be cramming in the fans to The Dubliner.

Between The Dubliner and Celts Well there are plenty of options for supporters to watch the match or enjoy their night out with the area east of the small roundabout at Daniels Corner known as The Strip.

Brennan’s is in action before St Patrick’s Day with Michelle putting in Maeda type performances morning, noon and night. No one on the island works harder or enjoys their job as much as Michelle as she pours drinks, catches up on the gossip and keeps the tables spotless to ensure a brilliantly relaxed yet lively atmosphere.

Outdoors there are different acts on from 9-11.30pm every night then indoors JJ McBrearty, known locally as Jesus is the usual late night act, keeping the tunes going well into the morning.

There is off course much more to Santa Ponsa than Celtic friendly pubs and bars, it is a very cosmpolitan resort, completely different to Magaluf which is a 10 euro taxi fare away where you’ll struggle to escape from a ‘diet’ of pizzas, burgers, chips, kebabs and overweight gammons.

Central to the appeal of Santa Ponsa is the white sanded beach which never seems to get overcrowded.

The bay of Santa Ponsa provides a very sheltered beach, the waves are never fierce and from June onwards the chill is removed from the water.

Running parallel to the beach is Gran via Puig de Galatzo which has a Burger King and McDonalds for those needing a taste of home comforts.

At the bottom of Gran via Puig de Galatzo is the big roundabout, take a left and it opens up a very Spanish main road with a massive selection of restaurants with something for those that enjoy their steaks and tapas alongside Sangria.

You can eat out well every night, with or without your Celtic top on and get an authentic taste of the Spanish lifestyle that makes Mallorca the most in-demand resort in Europe. Scots, Irish, some English and Welsh love it with a few German bars while Spaniards on the mainland love to pop over all year round.

On the other side of the big roundabout you have what is known as the quiet side of the bay, an area with more German themed hotels and restaurants. Before you reach that area you have to stop and get a picture on Carrer de Lisboa which is likely to have a few Celtic stickers around.

Following the coastline round takes you to the exclusive Country Club area with properties belonging to Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp, Robert Lewandowski, Rafa Nadal and others.

Last June that area was the centre of attention for Celtic fans, after Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay indulged in some sweet talking Callum McGregor and Odin Thiago Holm were among Brendan’s other guests before he decided to pick up where he had signed off.

Whatever the age range Santa Ponsa has an incredible pull, few visitors can resist the magic of the place with many guests returning two or three times each year, and never disappointed.

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