'The Mighty Atom' Honored In County Donegal

Lawwell Happy At Beating The English To Capture Scott Brown

The town of Ramelton, County Donegal, birthplace of Patsy Gallagher, has honored the Celtic legend with the unveiling of a plaque. The ceremony was attended by Celtic chairman Brian Quinn and some of the Lisbon Lions. Gallagher, known as 'The Mighty Atom', was born in Ramelton in 1891 and went on to become one of Celtic's greatest players. He signed for Celtic in October 1911 and went on to make a total of 464 appearances for the club, scoring 196 goals before leaving Celtic in 1926. During those 15 years, he won seven league championships and four Scottish Cups. Patsy Gallagher died in June 1953 at the age of 62.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has expressed his delight at beating off competition from a number of English Premiership clubs in order to sign Scott Brown. "I think Scott Brown is a 'wow' signing in the context of the demand for him," Lawwell said. "But what we've always said is that our fans demand and deserve big names, the leaders if you like. The frustration is that this club is recognized as one of the biggest in the world and what's holding us back clearly is the small market we are playing in. If we were playing in an environment which gave you media values like England or Spain then there would be no barriers - we would be as big as anyone. We need to be in the Champions League every year to get both the short term revenue and the long term exposure."

New signing Chris Killen claims Celtic could set for a clear-out of strikers after he became Gordon Strachan's third summer signing. The signing of Killen takes the number of senior strikers in Gordon Strachan's squad to seven. Killen said: "They've put one guy on the transfer list and I've been told a few more are on the way out but it's down to me, I've got to earn my place."

John Kennedy is looking forward to his first pre-season training for four years. The 23-year-old made his comeback in April following more than three years out and four knee operations. "I'm looking forward to pre-season this year," said Kennedy, "It's not often a footballer says that, but next season is going to be a big one so I'll have to be ready from the first day. Most of the boys have played all season long, whereas I have only come in at the end of the season. They will be well due a rest whereas I'm going to keep myself in decent shape while I'm waiting for pre-season. So hopefully I can get a wee head-start."

Former Celtic goalkeeper Packie Bonner is to be accorded the Freedom of Donegal, the county's highest honor at a reception hosted by the Mayor and members of Donegal County Council in Lifford on June 25th. Packie, who spent all his professional career playing for Celtic, is to receive the 'Freedom of Donegal' medal. In 1978 Jock Stein made Bonner his last signing for Celtic when he swooped for the promising young keeper, then with his local team, Keadue Rovers from Co Donegal. He went on to play 642 times for Celtic. In total with Celtic, he won four League Championship badges, three Scottish Cup winners' medals and a League Cup winners' medal. His last appearance for Celtic was winning the 1995 Scottish Cup final under Tommy Burns. Council Chairman, Cllr Enda Bonner, said he was delighted to formally propose Packie for the award. "Last year we gave the first ever Freedom of Donegal award to Shay Given, a goalkeeper still at the height of his career. I'm delighted to confirm that Packie Bonner has accepted this year's award and will follow in the footsteps of his student."

The Lisbon Lions marked the 40th anniversary of their European Cup winning triumph with a civic reception in Derry's Guildhall last Friday. 20 of the former Celtic greats who defeated Benfica in the Portuguese capital in May 1967 also went to County Donegal and took part in a golf classic at Rosspenna Golf Club and attended a gala dinner in Letterkenny. Among the former players on the trip were Lions captain Billy Mc Neill, Tommy Gemmel, John Clarke, Bertie Auld, Bobby Lennox, Stevie Chalmers, Jim Craig, Willie O'Neill, John Fallen, Joe Mc Bride, John Hughes and Willie Wallace.