St Patrick's - Home of the Hibs

The Making of Hibernian

In his book The Making of Hibernian, Alan Lugton describes how the name of the club was chosen:

"Giving St Patrick's CYMS football club a name, proved to be difficult. Father Hannon proposed the obvious name: The Catholic Young Men's Society Football Club. Though appropriate, it was generally agreed it was just too long-winded. St Patrick's F.C. was thought to be disrespectful to Ireland's patron saint. Other suggestions that were rejected included Harp, Shamrock, Emerald and Celtic. Michael Whelahan asked for more time to think about it, and came to St Patrick's church to pray for inspiration. Here he remembered that the fiercely Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians had been absorbed into the CYMS many years before. Hibernian was the old Roman name for Irishman. This was a name that would stir the soul. There and then, Hibernian football club was born."

The Making of Hibernian, by Alan Lugton, John Donald Publishers (1997)

The Hibs team in 1876. Michael Whelahan, the captain, is seated in the centre.

Renewing the connection

On 20th August 2006, the connection between Hibs and St Patrick's was marked when the newly refurbished monument to Canon Hannan was blessed and rededicated in a special ceremony in The Grange cemetery, Edinburgh. The monument was refurbished by the Hibernian Historical Trust. Mr Pat Stanton of Hibs FC welcomed all assembled and Tom O'Malley gave historical background. The blessing was performed by Fr Ed Hone CSsR, priest in charge of St Patrick's, and Rev Mitchell Bunting, of Augustine United Church.

Blessing of Canon Hannan's monument

Latest Book

2 January 1877 Fr Edwards Hannan ensures the future of Hibernian Football Club.
The Minutes of St Patrick’s Catholic Young Men’s Society record the important role Fr Edward Hannan had in the development and future success of Hibernian Football Club.
As Chaplain of St Patrick’s Catholic Young Men’s Society, which he had founded, Fr (later, Canon) Edward Hannan, is recorded as enquiring about a group of young Irishmen who had formed Hibernian Football Club. He asked for information on the Club as ‘it appeared it was outside our direction’. He asked to meet the members with a view to ‘bringing them within our influence’ … At a meeting of the CYMS on 20 Feb 1877 it was recorded that Fr Hannan had had ‘a conversation recently with some members of the Hibernian Football Club with respect to their placing themselves under the control of the Council’ of the CYMS. Then it was noted on 27 Feb 1877 that officers of the Football Club were willing to come under the control and patronage of the Council. Hibernian FC, an existing loose affiliation which played nearby on the Meadows, agreed to come under the umbrella of the CYMS and be guided by Fr Hannan, who would provide facilities and finance for the players. From being a casual grouping of young men who enjoyed a kick-about, Fr Hannan gave Hibernian FC a formal structure and financial security.

This is an extract from The Edinburgh Book of Days by
Michael T R B Turnbull (The History Press, 2011) ISBN-10: 0752458418 /ISBN-13:978-0752458410

The Minutes of the St Patrick’s CYMS (ref: Scottish Catholic Archives GD82/812) are held at The Scottish Catholic Archives in Edinburgh (contact details below) can be visited by prior appointment:

Mr Andrew Nicoll,
The Keeper and Archivist,
Scottish Catholic Archives,
Columba House,
16 Drummond Place,
EDINBURGH EH3 6PL
Scotland

tel: 44 (0) 131 556 3661
fax: 44 (0) 131 556 3661
email: archivists@scottishcatholicarchives.org.uk
web: http://www.scottishcatholicarchives.org.uk