THE Northside granny made famous by urging brawling men to
“leave it out
? is worthy of a Lord Mayor’s award for her bravery and community spirit, according to a local councillor.
Ann Grimes (59), of Sherriff Street, became a household sensation in Dublin after her voice featured on a YouTube clip of four men fighting in Talbot Street, which was watched by over 250,000 people.
Ann was the only onlooker who attempted to break-up the vicious brawl and after the clip went viral her distinctive voice was dubbed onto several other non-related videos for comedic purposes.
Ann’s famous
“ah here, leave it out
? catchphrase can be now heard on clips from dozens of movies including
‘Scarface’,
‘Star Wars’ and
‘The Dark Knight’. It also features on popular YouTube hits such as former Green Party TD Paul Gogharty’s four-letter-word Dáil outburst and a martial arts fight between two toddlers.
As well as becoming an overnight internet hit, the great grandmother could be up for a Lord Mayor’s award for her
“heroic actions
?.
Local councillor Nial Ring (Ind) tabled a motion for consideration at last week’s Central Area Committee meeting calling for Ann to be recognised
“not just on YouTube clips
?.
He asked the council to acknowledge the bravery of the local resident and community activist in dispensing her
“wise and colourful advice to the young gentlemen engaged in an altercation on Talbot Street
?.
“Looking at the video clip, it is interesting to note the number of people who just walked past the altercation or simply looked on,
? Cllr Ring stated.
“It took a great grandmother to confront these youths and express what we all want – safe streets to walk on with no unacceptable behaviour from those who think they can do what they like, when they like and where they like.
“Ann Grimes is a tireless community worker in the North Wall and is involved in home help, the church, senior citizens and the local school, and it came as no surprise to anyone who knows her that she would speak out against anyone behaving in an anti-social way.
?
Being outspoken is second nature to Ann who insists she’s not afraid of anything or anyone.
The mother of four, grandmother of 11 and great grandmother of two is enjoying her newfound fame. As a result she’s now unable to walk down the street without hearing shouts of
“leave it out
? or having to pose for pictures.
“Ah sure it’s all a bit of fun,
? she told Northside People.
“I went to the post office in North Strand the other day and when the guy behind the desk heard someone call
‘leave it out’ to me he asked if I was the woman from YouTube and whether he could get his picture taken with me.
“When I go to my local chipper they have a picture up of me so if ever I’m there and someone recognises me then they want to take photographs too.
“It doesn’t bother me really.
?
Ann, who recalled the day the footage was taken, said she would do and say the same thing again if it happened in the morning.
“I would say
‘leave it out’ a bit,
? she said.
“I was just going up to the shop to buy some paint with my grandchild when I saw the fight.
“It was unreal. Them two chaps would have been dead if I didn’t shout for them to stop the fight. They got some bating.
?
She added:
“I’m not afraid of anything or anyone. That’s just me. I say what I have to say.
?
Ann, who serves as a minister of the Eucharist in her local church, also has no regrets in relation to her so-called
‘colourful’ use of language.
“I’m not bothered,
? she said.
“I’m not going to be censored. My grandkids have got a great kick out of all the publicity and they’re always saying:
‘ah nanny, will ya leave it out’.
?