Holden’s petrol pump man Jim Scott wrote great Celtic songs
A story from almost 50 years ago and might be of interest to Celtic fans out there....
‘IT’S hands-across-the-water for cheery Irishman, Mr. Jim Scott who has many contacts in Glasgow and has now come to Drogheda to make his home here.
He is night-man on the petrol pumps in Holdens Garage of Mary Street but he has an interesting hobby on his off-duty hours—he writes songs. .
And he is hoping that his current piece, “We Support Celtic “to be recorded by tenor Patrick O’Hagan will be a sellout on the charts. . Jim, who was the host at the Lucky Hoose licensed premises in Hunter Street, Glasgow left his native Donegal in his teens to seek his fortune in Scotland. He is part of a song-writing team with his mate Billy McGregor the band-leader in the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, a famous haunt for nostalgic Irishmen.
So far, the team have produced a dozen ballads—” Lay me on the Hillside,” “The Cottage I call Home,” Friendly Donegal,” “Your Home in Donegal,” “Leave Me to Ponder.” “Ireland’s Fair Counties,” “The Voice of County Tyrone.” “Whiskey’s Flowing Like Water,” “Rose of Sharon,” “Bonnie Achnasheen.” “Tyrone and Home,” and “St. Patrick’s Day on Broadway.”
Jim Scott, who now lives at Beamore Road, writes the words and his friend Billy, the music. Bridie Gallagher and Patrick O’Hagan are both interested in the team’s work and Patrick has guaranteed a sale of more than 60,000 records if he records “We Support Celtic.”
I wonder did Jim have those hits? Maybe Adrian Hillman and the crew at St Margaret’s CSC out in Duleek might know.