Glasgow residents fear 'inflammatory mix' over title party and march

Glasgow Times

03-05-2025

Thousands of people are expected to join an Orange Order parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day on Saturday, May 17 - the same day it's believed thousands of Celtic fans will gather in the Glasgow Cross area to celebrate the team's Scottish Premiership win.
Merchant City and Trongate Community Council (MCTCC) are now calling for the County Grand Lodge of Glasgow to hold its VE Day parade on another day as they fear having both events on the same day "risks making a bad situation even worse".
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(Image: Newsquest) A spokesperson said: "Making it the same date as the anticipated Celtic celebrations risks making a bad situation even worse.
"Residents and businesses in and around Glasgow Cross are already concerned about serious disruption following the Celtic-St Mirren match.
"Police are likely to have their hands full just dealing with that."
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The Glasgow Times reported earlier this week around 2500 people are expected to take part in the VE Day parade with more following alongside.
VE Day is celebrated on May 8 each year, and events in around Glasgow will take place on the weekend of May 10/11.
The Orange Order parade takes place a week later.
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(Image: newsquest) The lodge members from across Glasgow and Orange bands will assemble at Wishart Street, near Glasgow Cathedral before travelling down High Street, along George Street, Montrose Street, Cochrane Street, St Vincent Street and Renfield Street before crossing over the River Clyde.
They will then travel along Paisley Road, Paisley Road West, Harvie Street and Brand Street before ending in Lorne Street.
The outward parade is due to start at 9.45 am.
On the same day, Celtic fans are likely to congregate in the afternoon for an unofficial title party on Trongate after their game against St Mirren which kicks off at 12.30pm, meaning the two events are unlikely to overlap.
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Last year, around 25,000 supporters gathered in Merchant City bringing the area to a standstill, following similar events which have taken place in the city centre since 2021.
MCTCC and Calton Community Council previously said residents, businesses and visitors to the area had been left 'terrified and intimidated' by the display and this year have written to Hoops CEO Michael Nicholson asking him to urge supporters not to repeat the 'disgraceful anti-social behaviour' seen in previous years.
The MCTCC spokesperson continued: "The presence of tens of thousands of Celtic and Orange Lodge supporters in the city on the same day is an unwelcome and possibly inflammatory mix.
"We call on Glasgow City Council and the County Grand Lodge to get together to arrange for the parade to take place on a different date."
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A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said discussions will continue up until May 17 with plans reviewed if its deemed necessary.
They told the Glasgow Times: "Both planned and potential events to be held on the same day will have been carefully considered as part of the multi-agency meetings to review future processions.
"There is a presumption in law that processions can take place, unless there is a reason to intervene – and these reasons are quite narrowly defined in the statutory framework.
"Ultimately, a local authority requires credible evidence to take such a step – usually by way of intelligence from the police about a risk of disorder or a threat to public safety.
"Discussions with event organisers, Police and ourselves continue right up to the event or procession taking place and plans kept under review, to be able to adapt to changing circumstances."
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The Glasgow Times previously reported that at a high stakes a meeting in Hampden Park on Friday, March 28, MSP Kaukab Stewart brought together community councils for Merchant City, Trongate and Calton and representatives for Celtic FC, Rangers FC, the SPFL, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council in a bid to avoid the 'disruption' seen in previous years.
Residents were given the opportunity to tell clubs about their experience of anti-social behaviour from unofficial parties in Trongate and George Square, which have seen thousands of pounds worth of damage caused.
However, despite agreements "more should be done" to encourage fans not to gather in the city centre, no plans were put forward ahead of this year's expected gathering.
The County Grand Orange Lodge of Glasgow has been contacted for comment.