Hoolies.ca :: Ceilidh House Hoolies

Club History

The Founding

A small group of lifelong footie fans, and 1 disillusioned baseball fanatic, were enjoying a pint at the Ceilidh House pub. Rangers, Celtic, Man U, Liverpool and Cardiff City supporters were represented and were discussing the finer points of how each supporters team was better than the rest. A fairly typical football conversation in mixed company and a never ending one as we are all aware.

At that moment, the TV started coverage of the press conference announcing Toronto being granted a MLS franchise. After the story, we exchanged looks amidst silence ... before one of us was struck by sudden inspiration. He announced that he was adopting the new team and pledging his loyalty towards Toronto FC. Reminding us of the fact that we are not likely to see many, if any, matches involving our beloved squads in person. That the heart of football is supporting your communities team and we would be poor examples of supporters if we did not embrace our first chance at high level football.

Immediately we took his pint from him and cut him off for the rest of the night.

Begrudgingly we all agreed to this growing realization, a feat in itself considering the company. That afternoon we had started, what is now, The Ceilidh House Hoolies.

World Cup 2006

While the CH has always been an Irish pub, it has only recently come to embrace the beautiful game. Going full out to be a official WC center, televising every game, even opening at 7am for the early games with hot coffee served up till 11am. As it was the pub's first push into the football world, things started slow. With the help of the Hoolies campaigning and signs galore, things grew to a full house by the end.

World Cup tournament is also where the issuing of cards came into being. To manage the Hoolies and regulars throughout the tournament, soccer cards were shown to patrons depending on the 'error' of their ways. For example, spilling some beer = Yellow Card. After visiting parents, being asked if you still had your Justin Timberlake posters up = Yellow Card (for the asker). While our conversations always are full of jabs, a long day at the pub watching footie allows for many pints .. which leads to a few slips of the tongue. Cards were a plenty.

Supporting England through the tournament, the Hoolies showed up en masse in full supporters gear, faces painted and scarf's high. A lot of good natured ribbing between a strong French and Portuguese crowds was commonplace.

Narc (Yellow Hoolie, hoolie founder) was in fine form for the tournament, setting several records for the tournament. 13 Days straight he watched three games, including call in sick on some game days just to catch them all. Records set are .. most matches watched, most consecutive matches, most dollars spent, most pints, most contest entries, most cautions (1 Red, 12 Yellow cards). Scouser Hoolie (founder) attended almost as many matches as Narc, kept up with the pints but in the end ... somehow ... won the Budweiser Leatherette chair in the contest draw despite Narc having 30% of the bars entries. Red Hoolie (founder) attended a fair number of games, but made his mark when he did ... piling up the cards (3 Red, 10 Yellow) with staggering ease, including setting a new precident by going beyond the Red card and being banish to "The box." An iron cage just outside the patio where one could not watch or hear the game.

WC 2010 can only be better, we cannot wait.


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	"Slainte Mhtah!" Traditional Gaelic Toast
	What IS a "Hoolie" exactly? First off, we're not a large supporters group .. currently around twenty something members. Most of us are a bit older than our compatriots (Red Patch Boys or U-Sector), in our 30's, we try but find it hard to get everyone out for a event night with our work schedules but we at least have a few guarranteed to show up. We don't care how many of us there are, we come and go, we only support TFC will all our might. Anyone's welcome to join us and share a pint! Secondly, we're not Hooligans, we do not condone violence. The name came about from the Hoolie founders during the World Cup 2006. Frequently they were at the CH for most of the day watching the matches, and when England was playing .. most were all decked out in supporters gear and face paint. During the course of the WC, it became commonly referred to getting "gooned" up (drinking a lot), and it came to the Hoolie founders being referred to as "the Hool-E-goons." We changed the Hooligoons to Hoolies, (and as small tribute to one founder from Hawai'i is combination of 'Hooigoons' and "Haole") so we would not be thought of as true hooligans.
	Club History The Founding A small group of lifelong footie fans, and 1 disillusioned baseball fanatic, were enjoying a pint at the Ceilidh House pub. Rangers, Celtic, Man U, Liverpool and Cardiff City supporters were represented and were discussing the finer points of how each supporters team was better than the rest. A fairly typical football conversation in mixed company and a never ending one as we are all aware. At that moment, the TV started coverage of the press conference announcing Toronto being granted a MLS franchise. After the story, we exchanged looks amidst silence ... before one of us was struck by sudden inspiration. He announced that he was adopting the new team and pledging his loyalty towards Toronto FC. Reminding us of the fact that we are not likely to see many, if any, matches involving our beloved squads in person. That the heart of football is supporting your communities team and we would be poor examples of supporters if we did not embrace our first chance at high level football. Immediately we took his pint from him and cut him off for the rest of the night. Begrudgingly we all agreed to this growing realization, a feat in itself considering the company. That afternoon we had started, what is now, The Ceilidh House Hoolies. World Cup 2006 While the CH has always been an Irish pub, it has only recently come to embrace the beautiful game. Going full out to be a official WC center, televising every game, even opening at 7am for the early games with hot coffee served up till 11am. As it was the pub's first push into the football world, things started slow. With the help of the Hoolies campaigning and signs galore, things grew to a full house by the end. World Cup tournament is also where the issuing of cards came into being. To manage the Hoolies and regulars throughout the tournament, soccer cards were shown to patrons depending on the 'error' of their ways. For example, spilling some beer = Yellow Card. After visiting parents, being asked if you still had your Justin Timberlake posters up = Yellow Card (for the asker). While our conversations always are full of jabs, a long day at the pub watching footie allows for many pints .. which leads to a few slips of the tongue. Cards were a plenty. Supporting England through the tournament, the Hoolies showed up en masse in full supporters gear, faces painted and scarf's high. A lot of good natured ribbing between a strong French and Portuguese crowds was commonplace. Narc (Yellow Hoolie, hoolie founder) was in fine form for the tournament, setting several records for the tournament. 13 Days straight he watched three games, including call in sick on some game days just to catch them all. Records set are .. most matches watched, most consecutive matches, most dollars spent, most pints, most contest entries, most cautions (1 Red, 12 Yellow cards). Scouser Hoolie (founder) attended almost as many matches as Narc, kept up with the pints but in the end ... somehow ... won the Budweiser Leatherette chair in the contest draw despite Narc having 30% of the bars entries. Red Hoolie (founder) attended a fair number of games, but made his mark when he did ... piling up the cards (3 Red, 10 Yellow) with staggering ease, including setting a new precident by going beyond the Red card and being banish to "The box." An iron cage just outside the patio where one could not watch or hear the game. WC 2010 can only be better, we cannot wait.
	Finding the Hoolies The Ceilidh House Hoolies are named after the pub they frequent, on any given night one can find a number of us there as we are all regulars. Seeing as we use the pub as our unifier, it’s hard to keep track of who’s who and when we’re there … but chances are, there’s at least one of us there at any time. Tuesday nights and the last Sunday of the month are the days to are pretty much assured to run into the Hoolie founders and mainstays. Otherwise, be on the lookout for a big soccer match that will be televised on Setanta, and don't forget the holidays ... especially St Paddy's. Just ask about the Hoolies or “Hool-E-goons” if you happen to drop in. For more info contact: narc@gotorontofc.com
Copyright 2007, Ceilidh House Hoolies. All rights reserved. This website is not affiliated with Toronto FC, or its logo/crest. This is an unofficial fan website. The Ceilidh House Hoolies are a non-profit organization.