James Joseph McDonagh, Solicitor
Born: Dumbarton, May 18, 1947
Died: Cardiff Wales, July 25, 2024
Jim McDonagh, a Dundee solicitor who was born and bred in Dumbarton, has sadly died suddenly while spending a holiday with friends in Wales. He was 77.
A teacher turned lawyer, Jim attended St Patrick’s Primary School, McLean Place, Dumbarton, and St Patrick’s High School before going on to study at Aberdeen University.
He qualified for for the teaching profession and returned to Dumbarton where he took up a post for a short time at his alma mater, St Patrick’s High School.
Whilst at university in Aberdeen, Jim had met and married his wife, Norma, and the couple moved to Dundee, where Norma commenced her teaching career and Jim embarked on a law course which he completed at the University of Dundee.
Jim and Norma had been married for 47 years. They had two sons, Ross and Neil, who is married to daughter in law, Caoimhe.
His private funeral service will be held on August 22, 2024, in Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church, Porthcawl, followed by cremation at Coychurch, Bridgend.
After graduating, Jim became a partner in a busy law firm in Dundee and was well-known in the city’s courts, where he was a successful practitioner.
Jim McDonagh will be remembered as a successful sports person, both in his home town of Dumbarton and in the North East of Scotland.
He played football for St Patrick’s High School first X1 for three years and, in 1964, he scored two goals in the final of the Scottish Secondary Schools Shield against St Mungo’s Academy at Celtic Park in Glasgow, a game which St Patrick’s won 3-1.
In 1965, he captained the St Patrick’s team to the semi-final of the same competition, losing narrowly to Peterhead Academy.
Whilst at Aberdeen, he played for the University first X1 and went on to play for Scottish Universities and British Universities in many competitions. He also played for Huntly in the Highland League .
Born of Irish heritage in Dumbarton, Jim had many relatives and friends in the town. He loved to travel and made friends throughout the world.
He had a great love of Ireland and Western Isles of Scotland.