The media once again whipped up a storm this week with regard to the singing of Irish songs at Celtic matches. The noxious Nicky Campbell hijacked a Radio 5 interview with Dr Jeannette Findlay, who leads the Celtic Trust supporters' group campaigning against ex-home secretary John Reid's appointment as Celtic chairman. Rather than dealing with the substance of her arguments against Reid, Campbell invited Dr Findlay to condemn Celtic fans who sing "terrorist" songs. Findlay refuted this label, and gave a calm and measured reply.

That was sufficent for the usual suspects of the English and Scottish media to pile into Dr Findlay, the allegation as ever being that songs from the War of Independence such as "The Boys of the Old Brigade" are sectarian. Sadly the Irish media were no better, while the foreign minister Dermot Ahern offered up this nugget: "Any singing of those type of songs I wouldn't encourage at all. In fact in the Eircom League they are leading a massive campaign called Sport Against Racism. In fact, I am launching it next week".

So apparently singing such songs is not only sectarian, it's racist as well? Perhaps Mr Ahern should check the definition of 'sectarian' and 'racist', or maybe he should refrain from singing his own national anthem (one of the 'terrorist' songs in question).

At the heart of this is the fact that many in Scottish society (and perhaps some within the club's own hierarchy) find Celtic's proud Irish heritage a source of immense irritation: they are desperate to neuter it and turn Celtic in just another profit-driven club. Happily, it appears that the more they try, the more resistance they get.

You can hear the Radio 5 interview by clicking here. It's worth noting that the Celtic Trust supporters' group subsequently issued a statement confirming their outright opposition to sectarianism and bigotry, and their support for the "Kick out Bigotry" campaign in Scotland. You can offer your support to the Celtic Trust by adding a comment at their website.