Let me first begin this article by wishing a happy St Patrick’s Day to all our Irish readers and the many of you who descend from an Irish background. For the day that’s in it, I revisit an old hymn which featured regularly in the Celtic song book until recent decades.
“In the war against the Rangers, in the fight for the cup, Jimmy McGrory put the Celtic one up.”
“On Erin’s Green Valleys, On Erin’s Green Valleys, On Erin’s Green Valleys, look down at Parkhead.”
Celtic fans of a certain vintage will remember those lyrics being proclaimed on the terraces, whilst others will have heard the song belted out in St Patrick’s Day in 1991, as the Hoops defeated Rangers at Paradise.
It’d be wonderful to hear this fine old hymn return.
An official request for Hail Glorious St Patrick to be reinstated to the Celtic songbook.
On Erin’s Green Valleys
On Erin’s Green Valleys
On Erin’s Green Valleys
Look Down On Parkhead pic.twitter.com/z3H2SULTP7— Liam Kelly (@cfcliamk96) March 17, 2021
30 Years ago today I made my first journey from Dublin to Glasgow on a 9 hour bus and ferry trip to see Celtic as a 19 year old. Still going to this day and wouldn’t swap it for any other sporting venue in the world. Can’t wait to get back to paradise. Hail Hail!
Does anyone know the derivation of the reference to Jimmy McGrory putting the Celtic one up? Was this a specific game? Cheers 🍀🍻