Underground Celtic Supporters Club

All Celts are welcome to join us to watch the semifinal against St Mirren. You'll find us between Euston and King's Cross stations in London. The C**k Tavern, NW1 1HB.

Welcome back GB - we need you now more than ever.

The pool table at The C**k Tavern commemorating Easter week 😉 If you're in London over Easter join us to watch Dundee v Celtic today at 4.30, there'll be an Easter Rising play list on before the game. You'll find us between Euston and King's Cross stations. All Celts welcome.

Óglach Tom Smith was shot and killed while trying to escape Portlaoise prison on this day in 1975.

After the October, 1973 helicopter escape from Mountjoy prison, republican prisoners were transferred to the more secure Portlaoise prison, but this did not stop further escape attempts.

In May, 1974 a tunnel was discovered by the authorities and in August, 1974 nineteen Irish republican prisoners escaped when a hole was blown in the wall of the prison.

In an attempt to break the spirit of republican prisoners, the prison authorities made conditions there very harsh which led to protests and even a hunger strike. Republicans now planned another escape for St. Patrick's day, 1975.

Shortly after 8pm, an explosive device blew open the door to the yard and the lead group of 20 Irish republican prisoners emerged from the recreation hall where the prisoners had been watching a film.

On the outside, an IRA active service unit was to drive through the main prison gate using an armoured truck, but the vehicle broke down before it reached the wall.

Free State Soldiers in posts along the prison walls then opened up lethal gunfire on the prisoners in the yard. Several were injured, some seriously. When the firing ceased it was not realised that one prisoner, Óglach Tom Smith of Dublin, had been shot dead.

As the prisoners were returning to the recreation hall they discovered his body which lay in the shadow of seating. It seems that a prison officer or officers had seen him first and did not raise an alarm for fear of retaliation.

The IRA prisoners carried their fallen comrade into the republican wing of the prison and stood to attention in silent tribute along the landing. A Free state soldier later admitted that he had fired the fatal shot, though not deliberately targeting Tom Smith.

Óglach Tom Smith was five days short of his 27th birthday when he was killed. He was a member of the Provisional IRA’s Dublin Brigade, originally from Donore Avenue in Dublin's South Inner City. He worked in Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, joined the IRA in the late 1960s, and was imprisoned for republican activities in 1973.

A few days later at his funeral, there was a huge Garda presence, in Glasnevin cemetery where they batoned charged some of the large crowd who had gathered to pay their respects to Óglach Tom Smith.

Picture of Tom painted by Danny Devenny in the mural at Peadar Browns pub Dublin⬇️

Another early kick-off on Sunday against Dundee Utd. All Celts are welcome to join us at Central London's best CSC. You'll find us between Euston and King's Cross stations. Hail, hail.

All Celts are welcome to join us at Central London's best CSC for the Glasgow derby. You'll find us between Euston and King's Cross stations. It'll be busy so get in early to grab a good spot. Rebs on from 11.30, live music to follow.

The C**k Tavern will be open from 10am for the early risers. There'll be rebs on before the game from 10.30. All Celts welcome, but it'll be busy so get in early to get a good spot. Underground CSC badges and teeshirts will be available to buy. Behind Enemy Lines - for 25 years.