A plaque marking the historic home of Hibernian Football Club has been unveiled at St Patrick’s Church in The Cowgate, Edinburgh.
Hibs legend Pat Stanton performed the unveiling on Saturday, at the close of the club’s 150th year. Beforehand, Holy Mass was celebrated for the living and deceased members and supporters of Hibernian Football Club.
Pat Stanton is widely regarded as one of Hibs’ greatest-ever players, having made 617 appearances for the club between 1963 and 1976. Last year, Easter Road’s East Stand was renamed the Pat Stanton Stand in his honour.
The plaque recalls that Hibs was founded within the parish on 6 August 1875 by the parish priest, Fr Edward Joseph Hannan, and Michael Whelahan of St Patrick’s Catholic Young Men’s Society.
Fr Hannan—later Canon Hannan—had come to Edinburgh from County Limerick in 1861 and spent the next 30 years serving the people of the Cowgate. Faced with great poverty and overcrowding, he established a branch of the Catholic Young Men’s Society to offer young men faith, education, friendship and healthy recreation.
When 21-year-old Michael Whelahan suggested forming a football team, Fr Hannan backed the idea.
Hibernian Football Club was established at St Mary’s Street Hall, with Hannan as its president and Whelahan as its first captain. The new club was closely connected to the charitable work of the parish, with proceeds from matches supporting good causes.
The remarkable priest behind the story is the subject of Mike Hennessy’s recent book, Edinburgh’s First Hibernian: The Mission of Edward Joseph Hannan. Published in 2025, it is the first full biography of Canon Hannan and explores his work among Edinburgh’s poor as well as his lasting contribution to the city through Hibs.
More than 150 years later, the plaque is a fitting reminder that the story of Hibernian began with faith, community and a desire to improve young lives.
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Photos by St Patrick’s Church, Edinburgh.
