Flights of Fancy…
Flynner’s Flying Column
Hopefully, in the near future, things will get back to normal and travel will be possible again. With this in mind, please read about Flynner’s adventures in Glasgow and we all look forward to happy travel times ahead.
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Glasgow
n March 19th 2010, a good 4 years before I would hit CIT, I landed at Cork Airport. With three good mates – local legends Veggy, Tony and Denis - we decided to hit Glasgow to see Glasgow Celtic F.C. face St. Johnstone. This was deffo going to be a treat for myself, for two years ago from then (2008), I received an all-expenses paid trip to Glasgow to see my childhood soccer team as a gift from these chaps for my 30th birthday, and though I was by then 32, it was not too late for sure! After a few relaxing drinks in Craft Lane Bar, we boarded the flight to Glasgow International and took the train to the city centre, passing Hampden Park and Rangers’ stadium at Ibrox before arriving at Holiday Inn at Stockwell Street, where myself and the boys took the time to unwind before hitting the town for dinner and drinks.
While more people flying from Cork to Scotland choose Edinburgh as their fave destination on account of the Scottish capital having more old world charm and beauty, Glasgow can have its sense of fun as well. It is Scotland’s largest city, is also it’s main shipbuilding and industrial centre and it is renowned for the fierce soccer rivalry between Celtic - which identifies itself as Catholic, pro-Irish and Independent Scotland – and Rangers – identifying as Protestant, Unionist and representing the United Kingdom . This rivalry can allso-often get ugly, especially in Northern Ireland, and the ‘Old Firm’ Derby rivalry days are when it is at its most intense, but as long as one is sensible, you will be grand. Glasgow also has a thriving music scene. Native acts include Simple Minds, Primal Scream, Texas, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, Paulo Nutini, Glasvegas and Calvin Harris. It took some searching for a good venue for a tasty meal at first but eventually we found the local Wetherspoons (they had
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a higher status back them somewhat) where I tucked into a massive meal of chops and chips to sort the hunger there! Then we went to Baird’s Bar, a legendary Celtic pub where I started on the Tennants Lager. Afterwards we went to King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, the city centre niteclub famous for Glaswegian music mogul Alan McGee (a Rangers fan) giving a certain pub band called Oasis a 6-record contract with Sony in May 1993 that would make the Gallagher brothers (both Celtic fans) global superstars 2 years later. The next morning it was down to business. A tasty breakfast was had, then it was time for shopping in the Celtic superstore at Buchanan Street, where I picked up a beer pitcher, a DVD, a retro-jersey, a pennant and a Hoops scarf (it came in handy in Euro 2016). Then after a lunch at Wetherspoons, we hit the black cab to Paradise/Parkhead/Celtic Park (the choice of name is all yours). But first, it was the pre-match drinks at a lovely bar called The Vogue. Tony decided to experiment with drinking a pint of lager with a straw and Veggy challenged me to eat the Scottish National Dish: Haggis. I promised him that the following day. And Denis was simply taking the moment in, like all of us. But suddenly we had to hit the stadium. And 3pm kickoff! ‘Hail-Hail-TheCelts-Are-Here’ opened the two teams coming on the pitch and Celtic won 3-0, including a penalty taken by Republic of Ireland legend Robbie Keane (then on loan from Tottenham Hotspur). Half time saw me take in the mural paying tribute to the Lisbon Lions, the team of Jock Stein which saw them win all their domestic competitions and become the first team in Britain to win the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1967, and remain the only team to win 5 trophies in a single season. The interior of the stadium was simply breath-taking. Match over, it was back to The Vogue for the Six Nations Rugby between Ireland and Scotland. It was pretty surreal to see two sets of Celtic fans, one set shouting for Ireland, the other for Scotland! Ireland
won the match in the end. Then back to the hotel to change (for your own safety, DO NOT show your team colours in the weekend scene after the match, for Glasgow can get violent) before we headed out for dinner. I was not yet ready for my haggis, so in the Clutha and Victoria Bar and Grill, it was for some fine dining over beer, burgers, fries and dessert and a few relaxing ones to wind down the weekend before hitting the hotel bar for a nightcap. Sunday morning and time to get ready to go home. But after checking out and leaving baggage at reclaim, we headed for a walk along the River Clyde. The bridges were very impressive – some modern and some Industrial Revolution-era – with plenty of colour. Then off to Wetherspoons for our final meal where I fulfilled the bet for the boys and had my meal of Haggis… and it was very tasty! All while a few hundred Rangers fans were packing the bar before the Scottish League Cup Final against Motherwell kicked off that day! Nervous? Nah! Too busy relishing my meal! Then it was the black cab to the airport and had the Bhoys- I mean boys, howling with my impersonations of Simpsons character Troy McClure before, at the airport bar, we had a last drink prior to boarding the plane back to Ireland. Back home to Macroom and a few scoops of Guinness with my Celtic goodies on show and I can honestly say that it was a well worth trip! Glasgow, I certainly will be back someday! And I will never forget these boys I was with for the birthday gift, and the banter to go!! Fly from Cork with Aer Lingus Regional: www.corkairport.com www.aerlingus.com www.holidayinns.com Celtic FC: www.celticfc.com, On Facebook, Twitter & Instagram King Tuts Wah Wah Hut: On Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
