Skangers - Chavs Irish style

A common greeting used by so-called scangers is pronounced 'starry buud?', a corruption of the Dublin phrase 'what's the story, bud?', meaning, 'how are you, my friend?'.

hile most scangers may look violent and threatening, most still abide by social convention and public law, and are usually harmless unless provoked. There is however a sub species of Scanger widely known as ‘scum-bags’, ‘scumbags’ or ‘scum’. This form of scanger is very violent, often attacking innocent civilians with impunity and with no fear of retaliation, the law or witnesses to the attack.

In other parts of Ireland, such as Cork and Limerick, scangers are known by names such as 'shams' (hence the 'muppet-mobile' is known as a 'sham-wagon'), 'knackers' 'tracker knackers' and 'wahs'. One troubling difference that Limerick shams have to their Dublin and Cork brethren is their emulation of American gang culture.

There are many "wannabee" scummers from the better off estates in Dundalk. They are differentiated by driving better cars, slightly longer hair to please their mammy, cleaner tracksuits, and are "all talk, no action". They are usually from areas such as the Bay Estate, The Quay. Many of these hang out in Oriel Park.