I’m pleased to announce I’ll be one of the panelists for the upcoming History IrelandHedge School
on the Animal Gangs of the 1930s. The Hedge School will take place at the NLI on Thursday, October 13 with a 7pm start. According to the NLI site, no booking is required.
I’ve discussed the Animal Gangs in the past on the Moncrieff Programme for Newstalk and 1930s Dublin is something we’ve dealt with frequently here in the past. I will post the finalised panel soon and more information as I get it.
The so-called ‘Animal Gangs’ are a staple of Dublin folklore, remembered by some as Robin Hood figures who protected the poor, or as brutal thugs whose nickname reflected their savagery. The story of the Animal Gang sheds light on the social history of inner city Dublin in the 1930s, when some of its inhabitants came to the attention of both paramilitaries and the police, and ended up passing into urban legend.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Interesting and entertaining evening – still chuckling at the account of ‘the battle of Tolka Park’ and the idea of one gang gaining access via small craft coming up river: had it happened in Ollie’s time, he’d have been over with the biscuit tin in no time…..
is this the battle thqat took place after a football game between drumcondra and bohs in the ’50’s.I’ve had people tell me about it,apparantly partly caused by overcrowding.i notice the animal gangs have got fair publicity but noones’s mentioned the black and whites,another infamous gang from bray at the time
Can you enlighten us a little on the Black and Whites Gerry? I live close to Bray and had never heard of them.
https://comeheretome.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/a-brief-look-at-a-day-of-violence-in-tolka-park-1942/
There you go Gerry!
On recent information the only man who could demand disaplin and order from this type of scum gangs was the one and onlytolerence in Dublin night club and pub scene. I wish we had more of his type in on Garda Sochana today.A fair but hard man.who could maintain respect in all situations. sadley missed in Dublin