I was out for a walk last bank holiday Monday and I came across a group of lads spraying graffiti on the new bridge near Eire Og. I sent them packing but it got me thinking – should I have done more – such as call the police? I don’t think there is any point in kicking their arses as
- There were quite a few of them
- I don’t think it would do any good
- I was on the wrong side of the river
I took a video (see it below if Youtube behaves) with the intention that if they think I’ll report them/tell their parents then that fear factor would be a deterrent. Maybe I’m being too innocent and thinking back to my own childhood where if I had been caught doing this I’d probably have been beaten black and blue – and that would have only been by my brothers.
The next day I had the chance to bolster my new found sense of civic pride when a women threw a burning fag out the window of her parked car and it landed at my feet. Did I say anything? Nope – big chicken that I am I think all I managed was a dirty look. How brave of me.
The Carlow Graffiti “Artists” on Youtube
Update: It seems YouTube ate the audio – don’t worry – you’re not missing much. All I said was something like “right lads – time to go home”. Very inspirational.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=713b126d-e52c-4edc-be6f-0584df7c4452)

November 2nd, 2008 at 23:31
I’m surprised they listened to you! I must say I wouldn’t approach a bunch of lads like that, not worth the hassle.
November 3rd, 2008 at 00:05
I was pleasantly surprised myself. I had expected them to tell me to feck off – or use some other colourful language.
I do wonder if they spent the time walking home talking about how lucky “I” was that I was on the other side of the river i.e. As soon as they were out of sight they became hard men.
November 5th, 2008 at 22:58
Hehe, I can’t decide if you were extrememly brave or extremely stupid Keith but fair bloody play to you. I wouldn’t have had the balls to do that!
November 6th, 2008 at 16:48
I’d like to claim I was brave but it’s a new bridge for the Carlow relief road and the other side is blocked off. They would have to have climbed a big fence so I was pretty safe.
November 7th, 2008 at 18:20
[...] YouTube user called CroppyBoy1798 commented on my Carlow Grafitti video and being a good net citizen – I went to have a look at what he does. I found the following [...]
November 7th, 2008 at 23:14
Well done Keith. Im stuck in an on going battle with young vandals in my hometown and really the only resolution is more people to stand up to people like this.
November 8th, 2008 at 16:18
Fair play Keith, the way they scarper the minute you catch them, pure cowards!
January 17th, 2009 at 01:23
oiii!!! who gives 2 shits whats sprayed on the side of a bridge where no one can see even if it was ?? sure who would notice that anyway? id rather see graffiti than a big load of borin concrete and anyway whats this you said? “I don’t think there is any point in kicking their arses as” kickin their arses?
[This comment was editing to remove inappropriate language]