The Barga – Scotland connection might seem a bit less vibrant since the ” good old days” of the Scottish week held every year in Barga.
Bagpipes have not been heard in Barga Vecchia for some time now but under a grey, miserable, heavy overcast sky this afternoon, Scotland was here and making itself heard once again.
It was the fourth meeting of the Italian Celtic Supporters Clubs and it drew in groups of Celtic football club supporters from right across Italy – Barga Celtic Supporters Club (BCS) and even 8 supporters who flew in specially from Scotland
After a presentation by the L’assessore allo sport, Gabriele Giovanetti at the tennis club, followed by a 5 a side football match, the supporters then moved on to the main hub of all this Celtic energy – Paolo Gas’s bar on the Fosso.
Later that evening, they moved next door into the Trattoria da Riccardo for the cena sociale where once again the sound of the bagpipes could be hear as the piper Nick MacVicar from Pisa was there to greet the players and supporters and pipe them through the evening.
From the Barga Celtic Supporters Club site (here) we can read the following text _
It’s with great pride and joy that we announce the 4th National Meeting between Italian Celtic supporter clubs which will be held in Barga on the 25th and 26th of May 2012.
You will find below the calendar for the event, outlining the programme for the two days, where we will play host to our friends from The Italian Celts and Udine Celtic Club.
Saturday 25th of May, 12.00 am: Piazzale del Fosso, meeting of Bhoys and Ghirls at Barga Celtic Supporters Club.
Saturday 25th of May, 2.30 pm. Council meeting room, welcome to the clubs participating in the meeting (The Italian Celts, Celtic Club Udine, Barga CSC).
Saturday 25th of May, 4.00 pm: Tennis playing fields: Five-a-side football between Barga CSC and the Italian Celts.
Saturday 25th of May, 6.30 pm: Piazzale del Fosso: Evening drinks with live Irish/Celtic music.
Saturday 25th of May, 8.30 pm: Trattoria da Riccardo: Scottish/Tuscan dinner accompanied by bagpipes.
Sunday 26th of May, 10.00 am: Garden area of Barga: Breakfast and tour of the town.
Sunday 26th of May, 4.00 pm: Bar del PaoloGas: Scottish Cup Finals – Hibernian v Celtic.
