On 6th August, Hibernian FC embarks on a year of celebration to mark the founding of the club in 1875. The first event will be an exhibition in the very location where the announcement took place, at 16 St Mary’s Street, formerly known as St Mary’s Street Hall. Proceedings will begin at 0900 with the unveiling of a plaque, and over the course of the day, up to 3000 fans, including some from Australia, descendants of the founder, Father Hannan, are expected to visit. They will be able to view a selection of artefacts and images from the club’s illustrious past, part of the Hibernian Historical Trust’s collection, and view panels recording key events from the last 150 years.
Around the corner in St Patrick’s church, where Father Hannan was a priest for 30 years, fans will be able to buy his biography, Edinburgh’s First Hibernian for the first time. It tells of how he left behind famine in rural Ireland to become a highly influential figure in 19th century Edinburgh, making significant contributions in civic life, education, architecture, politics, and of course religion and sport. It will also be available at several other outlets in the city including Blackwells and Waterstones, St Paul’s bookshop, the Hibs club and programme shop, and the club store at Easter Road.
The book is set largely in Little Ireland, an area encompassing the Cowgate, Grassmarket, Pleasance and surrounding streets. The story overflows into Easter Road to the east and the Meadows and the Grange to the south. It traces the economic and social development of the city, the destruction of the slums and the construction of the David Cousin inspired baronial style replacements. Hannan’s lasting legacies include the former St Ann’s School, the presbytery of St Patrick’s and St Mary’s Street Hall.
The celebrations on the 6th will be followed by the club heading to Easter Road to face Kilmarnock on Sunday 10th at 1500 in the first home league match of the season. On the same day at 1200, Archbishop Cushley will say the Festival Mass at the RC Cathedral, following which the book will be available at St Paul’s bookshop.
Further information available here: thirstybooks.com/bookshop/edinburghs-first-hibernian and at https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/150/
