Dublin Jack

Dublin Jack  

By Paul McCann

Brought up in poverty and kept ignorant was the only way to remain healthy back then in the hungry years . The hardest thing for many was to keep clear of the court . For what it was worth the only law and order was dished out by those who would be seen as watching over the city . One of the things you learnt early in life was to find out what gang you belonged to .Dublin gangs were many .

Dublin jack was part of the quiet ones who ran the bingo halls on the East side and on Saturday they policed some of the local dance halls . I remember someone once had said that Dublin Jack controlled the bingo numbers . There was a joke going round that Dublin Jack only called out the bingo  numbers in Latin so that  the educated Catholic’s gad a better chance of winning , Now the local Parish priest Father Sean loved the Bingo and could play five  books himself at a time . Before bingo he would often say , 

“Now Jack . Sunday will be only a day or two away . Ask some of the lads to pass the plate around for me will you  . By the way how are things at your  school . I’m a man of the world and soon you’re going to find out what life is all about . The church needs good decent lads like you and I’m sure you’ve got the right metal for to be a priest . Come and have a talk with me after mass on Sunday. ”

“ Father sure you know my heart is fond of wandering and Dublin is a place where the streets can be a hard existence . Not that I’m complaining like but God knows I want to get myself out of this .”

Father Sean always had an answer , “ You’ll never hear me complain Jack . As bad and as dirty as Dublin City is , its where we at home lad . In fact Jack you are part of what makes this city tick .“

Jack was one of the quiet . As honest as the day was long . As time went on he saw most of his school friends leave on the boat across the water to finf their fortune in London . It was only a matter of time and Jack would do the same ,. Father Sean knew that and that’s why he persisted to ask Jack about becoming a priest . Father knew the dangers of a big City like London and wanted to protect Jack from all of that . After the hungry thirties there was a desperation about Dublin .  

It was about a year after Jacks father died that he decided to leave on the bait train .  Father Sean saw Jack to the docks at Dublin and said a tough goodbye .

Dublin Jack soon made his way to London but was unable to find a place to live .The shelters were full and the charities had given up handing out penny lunches .London was like a hungry lion ready to devour anything in sight . The street people took Dublin Jack to their heart and introduced him to alcohol . Work was hard to find and Jack felt the cold through the holes in his clothing . Two years had gone by in London with no work and all that Dublin Jack looked for was another drink with his friends the street people . He had no place to live but the park . He had no hope except that of a drink .

He was complaining about life and for the first time questioned Gods love for him . Like a empty seat in a crowded stadium Dublin Jack watched life pass him by on a concrete seat outside the Oval Tube station . He would sit day after day trying to forget what it was that had brought him there in the first place . He smiled at the passers by who ignored him and his heart was bitter because of their attitude . The business people leisurely strolled along the pavement all lived so far away from Jacks living hell . His nightmare had no escape apart from alcohol which set him free for a while .

One day in the manna centre Dublin Jack was told about a bus in Brixton where someone was handing out food and money to the needy . Jack made his way there and eventually found the old London double decker bus . It had a sign on the bus that said , Meals On Wheels for the needy .

There was a queue of about a dozen men in the early morning waiting for a handout ., Dublin Jack got in the queue and when it was his turn to receive something Dublin Jack stood face to face with Father Sean who was speechless and quite upset when he saw Jack but he immediately realised he was in a position where he could help him .

“Thank God I’ve found you Jack we need you to call out the bingo numbers .  The dance hall needs fixing up and the worries of the young ones are sending boatloads across the water. Come home son and tell your story .

Tell them not to leave looking for work that doesn’t exist . Let them see how it is . Will you do that Jack ?”

Jack never spoke . He just stood there with his hand out stretched .

Father Sean took a prayer book from his pocket and placed it into his hand .

Jack walked away with his head down .

Father Sean went after him . He put his arm around Jack and said firmly ,

“Maybe you think running away is going to help you . Maybe you think God has forgot you . Maybe you don’t know who you are anymore . Well Jack just maybe you are wrong . Listen to me Jack read me a prayer from the book I gave you  .Could you just try ?”

Jack opened the book and said the our father .That evening Jack and father seam were on the boat heading back to Dublin . On their return Jack was admitted into a hospital for some treatment . It took six months but Dublin Jack beat the booze and ended up with a smile Back on his face again. Sure now wasn’t Father Sean’s prayers heard . Jack finally became a priest and wasn’t he a popular one at that .

Now with a parish in a hard place Father Jack took all of his lifes  experience and spat it out like fire upon the heads of the people who needed to hear his message . Apart from Father Sean now there was some one else looking out for Jack .

The End

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