Celtic have been forced to clarify comments by the club's chief executive after he claimed the club had no connection with historic Irish Republicanism.

Questioned at the launch of the club's new deal with American sportswear giant New Balance on issues of fan behaviour, Mr Lawwell said Celtic had no attachment, historically or now, with Irish Republican identity.

However, it was quickly pointed out across social media that the original turf for Celtic Park had been ceremonially laid by leading 19th Century Republican figure Michael Davitt.

It was also noted the club flew a flag given to the club by Eamon De Valera, one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders who later became Irish prime minister and president, with Pat Welsh, a member of the revolutionary Fenian movement, also a pivotal figure in Celtic's early history.

But Celtic has moved to insist Mr Lawwell's comments had been misunderstood.

A spokesman said: "Following today's press conference, for clarification, Peter Lawwell is well aware and proud of Celtic's history and the club's Irish roots.

"To clarify any misunderstanding, Peter's comments related to the longstanding position of the club.

"People who promote proscribed terrorist organisations are not welcome at Celtic."

At the press conference Lawwell defended the reputation of his club's supporters and said they were working hard to weed out any troublemakers.

He said Celtic had no problem with offensive behaviour at Celtic Park and any misbehaviour from their supporters was "immaterial".

Mr Lawwell added that the club's history had no association with Irish republicanism and said those who promote terrorist organisations were not welcome.

He said: "Two points: We oppose the offensive behaviour act and certainly, I don't accept that Irish republicanism is in Celtic's history, anywhere in Celtic's history. I don't recognise Celtic being associated with sectarianism. I don't recognise Celtic being associated with Irish republicanism.

"We have a very small minority of people who have chants that we would rather not be here, whether or not that is people who wish to have an Irish republican identity is another matter.

"Again, it's a complicated issue. People who promote proscribed terrorist organisations are not welcome at Celtic Park. That has been the case forever and will always be the case. But you need to put this into a context - this is a very, very small minority."

Davitt had been a member of the revolutionary Irish Republican Brotherhood organisations in the 1860s and 1870s and had served time in prison for arms raids.

He became a leading member of the Land League and became MP for County Meath, East Cork and Mayo on various occasions.

A frequent visitor to Scotland where he was closely associated with the crofters' struggles in the Highlands and Islands, Davitt also urged the Irish immigrant population to integrate into the politics of their adopted country and in particular the Labour Movement. He was invited to lay the first turf at Celtic Football Club in 1892, although it was stolen overnight.

The Irish Tricolour, which was at the centre of the flag controversy in the early 1950s had been given the club by De Valera and his government. Legendary manager Jock Stein later met De Valera after the club won the European Cup.