The Dhun Na Ngall Man Poem by Daniel McDonagh

Ramelton, Donegal, in the north west of Ireland,
Felt the hardship and the pain of the potatoe famine,
As the poor and the wretched fled to foreign shores
On the coffin ships they boarded, their pride, they stored.

In 1891, through the poverty and depression,
In the old Milford Workhouse, Patsy Gallacher was born,
After the death of Lord Leitrim on the shores of Mulroy Bay,
Clydebank became the new home for the Gallacher family.

To 32 John Knox Street, the family did settle,
Gallacher became Gallagher; the doorplate did spell,
The shipyards in Glasgow found work for Patsy’s father,
As he was enrolled in the school of the Holy Redeemer.

Young Patsy’s talent for the growing football game
Had him playing for a juvenile team called Renfrew St.James,
However, it was Clydebank Juniors, who gave him a stage on which to play,
And his skills came to the attention of Celtic’s Willie Maley.

On a Dumfries Bank holiday, on Rood Fair Day,
Celtic agreed to play, a traditional friendly,
Maley asked Patsy to travel with the squad,
And by the end of the game, twice, he had scored.

When the Titanic was making its maiden voyage,
And when Scott’s expedition was lost in the South Pole,
Celtic faced Clyde in the Scottish Cup Final
As Patsy claimed glory with a cup-winning goal.

And thus became the legacy of Patsy Gallagher’s fame,
Fifteen years at Parkhead,569 games,
But in June’53, at 62 years of age,
The Celtic fans lost their most influential & most loved player.

Oct’5th 2005