First some background, then the question regarding text in bold:

This morning's newspaper had a short article about a Baltimore oriole being spotted in Baltimore (County Cork) Ireland. This is a unique event, apparently due to the bird's being blown off course by high winds in its migration. Herewith quote:

"This is the first-ever sighting of a Baltimore oriole in Ireland. It's made an astonishing journey," said Birdwatch Ireland's Dick Coombes, who drove for six hours Sunday after getting frantic calls from friends who'd seen the bird. ...
"I ran like the clappers when I heard someone shout up the hill they'd seen the wee fella," said Coombes, who stayed overnight in Baltimore.

Any Irish or other UK speakers care to comment on this interesting expression?