Latest news with #MerchantCity
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
A dog-friendly guide to Glasgow
City breaks shouldn't be the preserve of those on two legs, and Glasgow offers proof. This dynamic urban sprawl on the west side of Scotland has plenty to entertain a dog and its humans for a weekend away in the country's second city. Its very name alone is tempting: ' Glasghu ' in Gaelic means 'dear green place', and green it is – in parts. Dogs will love sniffing about Kelvingrove Park, where a rushing river flows through its centre – ideal for doggy paddles on those rare hot days – and bandstands and statues make excellent perching places for picnics. Those who need a good game of fetch will enjoy the wide open lawns of Glasgow Green, set right on the Clyde in the east side of the city, and if you're feeling adventurous, get out to Pollok Country Park for longer walks amid woodlands and manicured gardens. With diverse neighbourhoods from trendy Southside with its neat rows of tenement houses to buzzing Finnieston with its student population, and the city's thronging centre around Merchant City, here's how to spend a great weekend in Glasgow with your dog. Things to do Glasgow is famous for its arts and culture, with a healthy roster of free museums and art galleries to explore. Sadly, dogs with a nose for the arts can't enjoy the vast majority of these, as pets aren't allowed in these spaces. However, bringing the dog means you can go a little off piste and see a side to the city many don't. These are the best dog-friendly things to do in Glasgow. Take a walking tour Desperate to see some art but can't take the dog into Glasgow's galleries? Glasgow Walking Tours offer a fine solution to your problem: street art abounds in Glasgow, as does fabulous architecture by the lauded Charles Rennie Mackintosh. See plenty of both on a 90-minute exploration of the city, which takes in its history and geography for an all-round excellent orientation. Tours begin in George Square right by the regal City Hall, and they finish in Merchant City beside the Duke of Wellington statue, where you'll learn just why he wears traffic cone (or sometimes three) on his head at all times. Daily tours from £12 per person; private tours start at £95 Police Museum Forget the Met – Glasgow's police force was the very first in Britain to attempt to keep law and order on the mean streets of this city, and now there's a museum dedicated to its long, 225-year history. It's a tiny, low-key exhibit put together largely by volunteers and passionate collectors, but it's fascinating and has some deeply entertaining tales of grave robbers, tavern brawls and the UK's first ever police dog unit, whose first working dog was an Airedale-Collie-Retriever cross called The Executive. A fine hound, indeed. Free
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
STRETCHED TO BREAKING POINT: Scotland's top cop says deploying hundreds of officers to police title parties is causing a major concern ... and she urges clubs to organise official events in future
Football fans should be given a dedicated area to celebrate their team's sporting success in a bid to prevent city centre disorder, Scotland's top police officer has said. Chief Constable Jo Farrell said 320 officers were deployed after thousands of Celtic supporters descended on Glasgow's Merchant City and Trongate on Saturday. A total of 20 people have been arrested after Celtic fans celebrated their team lifting the Premiership trophy, following a 1-1 draw with St Mirren. An additional 17 people have been charged and four have been reported in connection with offences, including being in possession of pyrotechnics or offensive weapons, assault and public order. On Thursday, Farrell told a public board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in Glasgow that the 320 officers involved in policing the disorder were 'not available to communities for other duties'. She said: 'For me, the ideal scenario would be an agreed and organised event that ensures safety and security, minimises wider disruption, and which could also create economic opportunities. 'Of course, we have another high-profile fixture this weekend [the Scottish Cup final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden on Saturday], and nobody wants to see disorder or violence associated with it. 'As you would expect, we have an appropriate policing plan in place and will respond as required.' Commenting on last weekend's disorder, Farrell said the 'impact on businesses, tourism, and the cost to the taxpayer cannot be ignored and we received feedback from all of those groups'. She called for 'some safety controls to these celebrations - that's going to need co-operation from the clubs, and from the Football Associations'. Farrell added: 'Moving forward, I don't want to be in a position where we're deploying 320 officers in order to try and allow people to go about their business safely, and at the same time deal with the violence, disorder and pyrotechnics.' The arrests in Glasgow came after thousands of fans flooded to the Trongate area despite calls from the club, Glasgow City Council and police to stay away. Videos online showed fights breaking out in the gathering crowds as fans were spotted scaling traffic lights and the famous Mercat Cross, as well as Merchant City signs in the area. A heated altercation also unfolded in George Square in the city centre last Saturday morning as Celtic fans heading to Celtic Park clashed with people taking part in the Orange Order's VE Day 80th anniversary parade. Footage emerged showing objects being thrown between the crowds. Earlier this week, First Minister John Swinney condemned Saturday's events in Scottish football, which included Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie being struck by a chair allegedly thrown from a stand at Tannadice. Swinney said: 'I am very concerned by what I saw over the weekend. 'I understand football supporters want to celebrate the performance of their team. 'I don't doubt that, or say I don't understand it. 'Of course, I understand it, but it shouldn't be at expense of other people. 'Whether it's a supporter, it appears, from the Aberdeen end throwing a chair that injures an Aberdeen player, a quite serious injury from what I can see. 'Nor the disruption in the centre of Glasgow, where the city was damaged and disrupted. Lives were disrupted, and there's a lot of cleaning up that's got to fall on the city council. 'I'm all for people celebrating, I quite understand it, but not at the expense of others.' A spokesman for Merchant City and Trongate Community Council said: 'It is clear Celtic cannot control its supporters when they take to the streets. 'We repeat our request, made two years ago, that should there be another such occasion the club organises - at its cost - its own celebration at Parkhead, the Emirates across the road from the stadium, Glasgow Green or any other venue of its choice. 'This cannot be allowed to happen for a fourth successive year. 'We shall be reviewing Saturday's events with Glasgow City Council, the police and our Scottish parliamentary representatives, and will continue to press for urgent actions by all parties involved.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bus shelters dismantled ahead of unofficial Celtic title party
A number of bus shelters have been dismantled in Glasgow city centre area ahead of an unofficial Celtic "title party" after the final game of the Scottish Premiership season. Thousands of supporters are expected to descend on the Merchant City and Trongate areas of the city after the club lift the league trophy following the 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Celtic Park. On Friday Celtic asked fans not to attend due to safety fears and concerns from local residents and city officials. Around 500 police officers will be on duty after previous gatherings attracted anti-social behaviour, damage and disruption to the local area. In recent years fans have been pictured standing on bus shelters but by Saturday morning several in the area had been removed as a safety precaution. The shelters were also stripped of glass and taped off. The gatherings are not supported by Police Scotland or Glasgow City Council, which has said similar previous unofficial events "robbed the public purse" and described them as "disruptive". The expected unofficial celebrations come on the same day a major Orange walk took place in the city, although it passed off without incident in the morning. Celtic fans started to assemble in the Trongate during the match and the crowds started to swell after the full-time whistle. Celtic issued an appeal on the eve of the match, which kicked off at 12:30, for fans not to assemble in the city centre. A club spokesperson said: "While previous celebrations involving Celtic fans have been well intentioned, unfortunately, as local community stakeholders have made clear in recent weeks, some of these have led to severe congestion and difficulties for emergency services, residents and local businesses. "Further, without the planning, facilities and infrastructure of an organised, licensed event, the number of supporters present at previous gatherings has become so great that the safety of fans has also become an issue of real concern. "For all of these reasons, the club would encourage supporters not to attend unlicensed large public gatherings, which do not have safety planning, facilities or infrastructure for supporters attending." Last year's gathering resulted in 19 arrests, injuries to four police officers and a massive clean-up operation the following day. Tricia Fort, chairwoman of Calton Community Council, said previous gatherings had been "hellish" for some people who live around the Trongate and Glasgow Cross areas. She said: "People who live at Glasgow Cross are moving out (for the day) because it has been so bad before. "The city council say they can't do anything because nobody has asked them to arrange an alternative, such as Glasgow Green. "The police are sort of left in the middle and Celtic effectively refuse to organise anything for their supporters - I firmly think they should be arranging a celebration for the fans. The club need to accept their responsibility and step up to the plate." A Celtic spokesperson said the club had been "trying for some time" to come to an alternative arrangement with city officials which might allow for a "more suitable venue for celebratory events away from Celtic Park". Scottish Premiership: Dessers gives Rangers early lead at Hibs Celtic fans warned to stay away from 'title party' Celtic urge fans not to attend unofficial title party
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shocking pictures of the aftermath of Celtic 'title party'
Images show the aftermath of an unofficial title party by Celtic fans yesterday. Following the Hoops lifting the Scottish Premiership trophy at Celtic Park, thousands of supporters gathered to celebrate at Trongate. As fans slowly dispersed and police closed in around 8pm, the Glasgow Times took exclusive pictures of the scene. Strewn across the road, pavements and street furniture, a sea of rubbish was pictured, including broken glass, cans, plastic bags, discarded vapes and flares. Bins were overfilled, liquids were spilled and stickers were plastered all over the surroundings. In the late hours of the day, council employees and volunteers cleaned up the area, getting it ready for the Race of Life, a charity running event cutting through Merchant City this morning. READ NEXT: 34 pictures from Glasgow Celtic title party celebrations (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: Furious Glasgow locals hit out over unofficial Celtic title party From the early afternoon, a large crowd took over the Merchant City area, dressed in green-and-white. Participants sang songs, waved flags and drank in celebration. We previously reported that a similar unofficial event by Celtic fans last year cost the council £100,000 in cleanup fees, including repairs to the historic Mercat Cross.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Celtic can't control them': Furious locals hit out over unofficial title party
FURIOUS locals have hit out at Celtic over the unofficial title party in the Trongate today. A group representing the local community has claimed that the club 'cannot control' its fans and slated the '11th hour' statement they made on Friday. A spokesperson for Merchant City and Trongate Community Council (MCTCC) said: 'Once more, streets in the centre of Glasgow were taken over by thousands and thousands of Celtic supporters and turned into a No Go area for residents, businesses, and traffic, including emergency services and public transport. 'An historic monument, traffic lights and a subway station roof were climbed upon. Flares and firecrackers were set off. Normal life in and around Glasgow Cross and Trongate was brought to a standstill. "Several hundred police did their duty at great cost to the public purse. Glasgow City Council cleansing staff faced the massive task of clearing up the mess - yet another expense to taxpayers. Furious Glasgow locals hit out over unofficial Celtic title party (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) 'At the 11th hour, Celtic Football Club issued a statement the previous day asking their fans not to congregate en masse, noting it would be an unauthorised gathering. "While we are grateful that, at long last, the Club spoke out, at least 15,000 fans ignored the belated appeal. READ MORE: LIVE: Hundreds of Celtic fans take over Glasgow cross for title party 'It is clear Celtic cannot control its supporters when they take to the streets. We repeat our request, made two years ago, that should there be another such occasion the Club organises - at its cost - its own celebration at Parkhead, the Emirates across the road from the stadium, Glasgow Green or any other venue of its choice. 'This cannot be allowed to happen for a fourth successive year. We shall be reviewing Saturday's events with Glasgow City Council, the police and our Scottish Parliamentary representatives, and will continue to press for urgent actions by all parties involved." READ MORE: 34 pictures from Glasgow Celtic title party celebrations Today, May 17, thousands of revellers gathered as Police closed off roads and the historic Mercat Cross building was breached with people climbing on the roof. 'It is clear Celtic cannot control its supporters. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Police chiefs previously hit out at Celtic and council bosses for 'failing to organise a title party fan zone'. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: 'Our preference was for an organised event or fanzone which would cause far less disruption, reduce levels of antisocial behaviour and improve public safety. READ MORE: Glasgow roads closed by cops as Celtic title party starts in Trongate 'Police Scotland requested this be considered with our partners, including Celtic FC and Glasgow City Council, as part of planning discussions. 'Unfortunately, this option wasn't progressed." 'This cannot be allowed to happen. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) However, Glasgow City Council claimed that police chiefs had never asked the local authority to organise an event. A council spokesperson said: 'We have been clear, this season and in previous years, that we would support any effort made by our football clubs to organise safe, sustainable celebration events for their supporters. READ MORE: Measures taken to prevent bus shelter incidents at Celtic Trongate title party 'We know from our discussions that an organised event is also the strong preference of Police Scotland. However, there has been no request from them for the council to organise or host such an event.' In 2024, the local authority was forced to fork out a whopping £73,032 to repair Mercat Cross after the unofficial Celtic title party took place. The historic Mercat Cross building has been breached with revellers climbing on the roof (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) At the event, attendees were pictured climbing buildings, bus shelters, and traffic lights. Some were also spotted setting off pyrotechnics and drinking. After crowds left the event in the Merchant City area, stickers, graffiti, flags, and litter were left behind. The entire cost of the clean-up mission was expected to amount to over £100,000. Locals living in the city centre called on Celtic's top boss to urge the club's supporters not to repeat 'disgraceful anti-social behaviour' at the event this year. In April, Calton and Merchant City, and Trongate community councils wrote to Hoops CEO Michael Nicholson, saying while they understand fans want to celebrate the occasion, at the end of the last two football seasons, they have "created havoc for people, businesses and visitors in and around Glasgow Cross".
