A lesson straight outta Ballaghaderreen
Growing up in the town, each street had its own gang whose sole purpose was to have the best bonfire on June 23rd every year.
From January to June we collected tyres, in particular, (this was deep in the last millennium/century, before global warming and EU regulations) but everything combustible towards that glorious end.
These were secreted away in places none of the other gangs could possibly find but usually did.
READ MORE
We were the superior and totally honourable Barrack Street Gang or, as my mother used call us, 'the Bash Street Kids' (we used to get the Beano comic in our house).
Against us were ranged two other major gangs; the combined thugs of the New Street Gang (including Main St) and the low gangsters of Pound Street (including Abbey View).
Raids on each other's stores of tyres were frequent, usually facilitated by informers on all sides, and leading to ferocious pitched battles generally involving ash plants/sticks. Bin lids were excellent shields.
Once we spotted a Pound Street gang member up a tree spying on us. We dragged him to a nearby garden, tied him to a stake and rubbed nettles on his legs to try to find out where they kept their tyres.
He wouldn't say. Then we put brambles around him and said we'd light them. He still wouldn't say. Typically noble, we let him go.
Our greatest ignominy was when the Pound Streets took over our bonfire one year. The humiliation! We had been betrayed by one of our own. He sat beside a Pound Street member at school.
We regathered forces and in an almighty assault set about recapturing our own fire. Adults happening on the scene were so appalled by the violence they threatened to call the guards. It made no difference.
Then they said they'd call 'the Brothers'. Enough. Members of all gangs knew that when it came to violence none of us could match 'the Brothers'.
We all downed weapons and went home, black and bruised in our case with a firm purpose of amendment to have foul revenge on those Pound Street low-lifes.
Gang
, from Old English
gang,
for group of men.
inaword@irishtimes.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
43 minutes ago
- The Journal
Father of boy allegedly assaulted by Niall Gilligan phoned him to say 'you just attacked my son'
THE FATHER OF the 12-year-old boy allegedly assaulted with a stick by former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan phoned him from an A&E to say 'you just viciously attacked my son', a court has heard. On the fourth day of the trial at Ennis Circuit Court, the boy's father gave evidence of a phone call he made to the accused as his son was being treated for his injuries by medics on the evening of 5 October, 2023. The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of 5 October after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on 5 October 2023. In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation. The father said that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick. He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries.' Advertisement He said: 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.' He said that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike. He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' He said that his son had his jacket pulled down over a cut on his arm 'and I could see blood coming from the cut'. The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping'. 'He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock. He said that once they got to the VHI clinic, his son told him what had happened earlier. The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Former All-Ireland hurler Niall Gilligan pleads not guilty to assaulting boy with stick
FORMER ALL STAR and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan has pleaded 'not guilty' to the assault causing harm of a boy with a stick in October 2023. Before a jury panel at Ennis Circuit Court this morning, Gilligan (48) replied 'not guilty' when arraigned on two charges. Gilligan said 'not guilty' when arraigned on the charge of assault causing harm of the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Mt Ivers, Broadford Rd, Sixmilebridge contrary to Section 3 of the Offences Against the Person Act on 5 October 2023. Dressed in a suit and tie, Gilligan, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, also replied 'not guilty' to producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury during the course of a dispute contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act at the same location on the same date. Advertisement Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL, instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told the jury panel that the alleged offences occurred at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge on 5 October 2023. Comerford said that Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted the boy 'and used a wooden stick during that assault'. Comerford said that it is anticipated that the trial will take four to five days and should finish by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Comerford called out a list of civilian witnesses to give evidence and included the name of the alleged juvenile injured party on the list. She also listed the names of five witnesses who have compiled reports for the trial. Comerford also provided to the jury panel the names of 18 Garda witnesses due to give evidence. Comerford said that the defence in the case has notified the State of the potential to call one defence witness during the trial, a Martin Murphy residing at Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. A jury of seven men and five women was then selected from the jury panel to serve on the jury. The selection process took just over 20 minutes as solicitor Daragh Hassett, for Gilligan, and Casey, for the State, each challenged potential jurors to serve. The maximum number of challenges is seven for each side. Judge Francis Comerford told the jury that the trial will commence on Wednesday morning and adjourned the case until then. Written by Gordon Deegan and posted on
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Pensioner fatally assaulted outside home had ‘heart of gold', funeral hears
A man who died after he was fatally assaulted outside his home had a 'heart of gold' and was funny, 'loyal and kind', his funeral Mass has heard. Michael 'Mikey' Hayes (72) died after he was found with critical injuries outside his home at St Michael's Court, Watergate, Limerick, on July 10th. Retired Irish Army and United Nations soldiers, dressed in uniform, performed a guard of honour as Mr Hayes's coffin, draped in the Tricolour, was brought inside St John's Cathedral in the city on Friday. In a tribute, one of Mr Hayes's four sons told mourners: 'Mike brought smiles, he told stories, he made memories, but behind the craic and the spoofs was a man with a heart of gold. READ MORE 'He would help anybody, no hesitation, no questions asked. If you needed him, he was there, that kind of loyalty and kindness is rare, and he gave it so freely. 'He loved the drink, a laugh and being around people. More than that, he loved his family, his friends and his community, and we loved him deeply and truly.' He said his father's sudden death had paralysed his family in grief, saying: 'It's impossible to come to terms with how his life ended, but we will carry his spirit. 'None of us will ever understand it, but what we do understand is the impact he made while he was here, and that's what we're here to remember.' He described his late father as 'an unforgettable man'. 'Our dad was a kind man, a proper character – if you knew him you'd know he was some man to make up a story, and not just any story, but a full-blown 'Mikey-spoof',' the son told mourners to laughter. 'He could spin a tail from nothing, and he'd have you in stitches before you realised half of it was made up. 'They would be one of those stories you wouldn't believe about a neighbour, cousin or some poor stranger that probably never existed at all. 'But the magic was, you didn't care because when Mikey told a story you listened and you laughed.' His father was also known by many for his time selling ice-cream at football matches and concerts. 'That's where you'd find him with a cheeky grin, a quick joke and a '99 in each hand.' Finishing his eulogy, the son said: 'Rest easy, Dad. You were one in a million and we'll be telling your stories for the rest of our lives.' Afterwards, the late Mr Hayes, who is survived by his four sons, Tom, Michael, Brendan and Joe, was laid to rest at Mount St Oliver Cemetery, Limerick. At Limerick District Court on Saturday, Phillip Ambrose (43), of no fixed abode, was charged with Mr Hayes's murder.
