The children of Ballydowse and Carrickdowse engage in battles in which they cut off the buttons, shoelaces, belts, and braces of their captured opponents. This gets their opponents in trouble with their parents. They go to battle in mass groups of dozens, wielding sticks and slingshots. It's a battle of strategic skills for the opposing leaders, including one scene in which the principal gang uses an ancient war trick to overcome their opponents with successful--and itchy--results.