On Monday evening it pissed rain.
This was a foregone conclusion, as an outdoor event had been organised. Despite the weather, they came in their droves to Phibsboro for a day to celebrate Lord Dudley, known to generations of Dubliners as ‘Bang Bang’.
With the great street character buried in an unmarked grave in Drumcondra, the team behind the Bang Bang Cafe in Phibsboro decided it was time to mark the final resting place of Thomas Dudley. A new plaque was unveiled in his honour, The Mero was sung with gusto, and then it was back to Phibsboro.
My thanks to photographer Luke Fallon for capturing these images of the street celebration. Pat McGrath beautifully brought Bang Bang to life,performing from a play by Dermot Bolger. Dermot himself said a few words and read poems about the street and those who made it. I said a little about the Dublin of Bang Bang’s time, and Shane Coleman of Newstalk kept it all together as MC. Thanks to Mary Clarke of Dublin City Library and Archives for bringing along the key.
DermotBolger reads. (Image: Luke Fallon)
Coddle! (Image: Luke Fallon)
Pat McGrath (Image: Luke Fallon)
Pat McGrath (Image: Luke Fallon)
Daniel Lambert of Bang Bang Cafe (Image: Luke Fallon)
Your Humble Narrator (Image: Luke Fallon)
