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Remembrance Service 2013
In the first international Celtic Graves Society remembrance event, on 7 April 2013 Charlie Shaw was honoured by a group of family, Celtic fans and Celtic ambassadors to mark the great life of a great Celtic man.
Video of Remembrance Ceremony (2013)
Celtic Graves Society event for Charlie Shaw in New Jersey
By: Paul Cuddihy on 05 Apr, 2013 18:00
THE latest Celtic Graves event takes place this Saturday, April 6, and it is happening over 3,000 miles from Celtic Park.
At the Madonna Cemetery, Fort Lee, New Jersey in the United States on Saturday afternoon (7pm Celtic Park time), a group of Celtic supporters will gather at the graveside of former Celtic goalkeeper, Charlie Shaw, along with relatives, including Charlie´s great-grandson, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death.
Celtic director Brian Wilson will represent the club at the event, while Charlie’s great-grandson, Brendan Cahill, will speak on behalf of the family, who have been instrumental in organising this unique event.
Representatives from a number of supporters’ clubs, including the New York Celtic Supporters’ Club and the Bronx CSC, will be represented.
And the blessing will be conducted by Monsignor Peter Smith. The former parish priest of St Mary’s, Calton, Glasgow, is now the Vatican’s attaché to the United Nations in New York, and he previously conducted a number of the Celtic Graves Society events in Glasgow.
A true Celtic great, Charlie Shaw played for the club between 1913-25, making 436 appearances and recording 240 shut-outs. His appearances tally is all the more impressive when you consider he played football at a time when ‘robust’ challenges on goalkeepers were part and parcel of the game and keepers were not offered anything like the protection they receive today.
Charlie, at only five feet, six inches in height, perhaps didn’t possess the physical stature many would imagine was a pre-requisite for his position, but his agility, courage and bravery between the sticks could not be disputed.
He joined Celtic from Queens Park Rangers in May 1913, and made his debut against Third Lanark in a Charity Cup match.
He won four league championships and two Scottish Cups during his time with his beloved Celtic. He moved to the United States and sadly passed away in New York on March 27, 1938 at the age of just 52.
This special event in New Jersey is being filmed and supporters will be able to watch it from next week. More details to follow.
Poignant occasion in New Jersey for a Celtic great
By: Newsroom Staff on 08 Apr, 2013 12:15
THE latest Celtic Graves event took place last Saturday, April 6, at the Madonna Cemetery, Fort Lee, New Jersey in the United States.
A group of Celtic supporters gathered at the graveside of former Celtic goalkeeper, Charlie Shaw, along with relatives, including Charlie´s great-grandson, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death.
Celtic director Brian Wilson represented the club at the event, while Charlie’s great-grandson, Brendan Cahill, spoke on behalf of the family, who have been instrumental in organising this unique event.
Representatives from a number of supporters’ clubs, including the New York Celtic Supporters’ Club and the Bronx CSC, were also represented.
And the blessing was conducted by Monsignor Peter Smith. The former parish priest of St Mary’s, Calton, Glasgow, is now the Vatican’s attaché to the United Nations in New York, and he previously conducted a number of the Celtic Graves Society events in Glasgow.
A true Celtic great, Charlie Shaw played for the club between 1913-25, making 444 appearances and recording 236 shut-outs. His appearances tally is all the more impressive when you consider he played football at a time when ‘robust’ challenges on goalkeepers were part and parcel of the game and keepers were not offered anything like the protection they receive today.
Charlie, at only five feet, six inches in height, perhaps didn’t possess the physical stature many would imagine was a pre-requisite for his position, but his agility, courage and bravery between the sticks could not be disputed.
He joined Celtic from Queens Park Rangers in May 1913, and made his debut against Third Lanark in a Charity Cup match. He won four league championships and two Scottish Cups during his time with his beloved Celtic. He moved to the United States and sadly passed away in New York on March 27, 1938 at the age of just 52.
Speaking after the event, Jim McGinn, president of the New York Celtic Supporters’ Club, said: “What a perfect day. From the glorious sun-filled day that gave the Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, NJ a pristine glow, to the final invocation by Monsignor Smith, this was indeed an unforgettable tribute.
“The large turnout was piped down a grassy path to the gravesite as the strains of ‘The Fields of Athenry’ filled the air.
“At the gravesite, awaiting the large contingent of the local CSCs in the area, were 15 to 20 members of the extended Shaw family. We formed a semi-circle facing the grave in an awe-filled moment of reverence, which the great man no more than deserved, as the piper played the last chorus of the ‘Fields’.
“At this point, Brian McIntyre of the New York CSC took over the MC duties. Brian did a masterful job of introducing the speakers and dignitaries. Brian said a few nice words complimenting and thanking the Celtic Graves Society for this special undertaking and all the work they perform.
“He then introduced in order, Chas Duffy of the Bronxbhoys CSC, Celtic director Brian Wilson, Brendan Cahill (great-grandson of Charlie Shaw) and then closing remarks and final prayer by Monsignor Smith.
“This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and several scarves were placed on the gravestone. The piper then played a rousing rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ as the large throng trudged away respectfully from the great man’s grave.”