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The Lighter Side / the story of 'Bang Bang'
« on: Wednesday 22 August 07 01:52 BST (UK) »ErrorSPAM
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]hi all and especially 'Bridget x'
who mentioned 'Bang Bang' in one of her popular stories
of growing up in Dublin on the dublin board.reading through
the story of Bang Bang' makes me wonder what he would make
of todays transport with its closed bus doors and The' Luas' or
bendy tram as its been called,I'm sure bang bang would have
managed somehow.
anne[/color]
From a hidden alley and lane in Dublins historical Liberties of St Thomas's court and Donore one of the two Kings of Dublin,a street character in the 20th century.Thomas Dudley or 'bang bang'as he became known was born in the Rotunda Hospital on the 13th of February 1906 .With bad health,weak eyes and a simple mind,he led a lonely life of hardship and tears.He was reared by the nuns in Cabra,after his father,brother and sister died.He became the king of the kitchen in cabra,so much so,one of the nuns 'knighted' him "Lord Dudley"
He has told how a cowboy picture in the "Tivo" ( the Tivoli Picture Palace in Francis Street,now a Theatre)started the bang- bang story and tradition.He was very impressed by the Lone Ranger and his six shooter.At that time Bang-Bang was 34 years of age working in Rialto Hospital Kitchen.He went home from the "Tivo" to Mill Lane to find a gun.The nearest thing to a gun he could find was the silver hall door key which fitted nicely into his hand,and he bang banged into the mirror
The silver hall door key was now his six shooter so he waited for the school children in Weaver Square.As soon as the children heard the first 'Bang Bang' the biggest game of cowboys and indians was played on Liberty Streets,Lanes,Alleys and rows.This led to a chase around the streets and he sometimes hopped onto the open platform at the back of a bus to get away.What a sight it was to see Bang -Bang hanging out of the back of the bus in College Green playing cowboys and indians with bankers with rolled up brollys as rifles and the policeman on point duty going down on one knee to steady his aim with his baton.but like the Lone Ranger, Bang-Bang always ducked the bullets and shouted back in the loudest of voices;' Bang Bang Bang Bang' until shortly before he died on the 11th of January 1981.