The Boy at the Gate Paperback – 12 Sept. 2013

The sad bit about the book is the name “Boy at the gate” – Danny waits at the gate for his mam who has said she’ll be back for him and she never does. Danny is happy (if you can call it that) when he joins the Artane Band and plays the Trombone.“The Two Twins” who were his half-brothers, were in Artane and Danny didn’t know until the day he was leaving (when he was 16) when the administrator asked what his mother’s maiden name was. He mentioned then that the twins had the same surname.There are some great photos in the book, especially the ones of Artane, where you get an idea what the place was like.Somewhere I’ve read that the brothers punished you even if you were good and every now and again, Danny (the man) talks about his time when he was a young lad. This was a lovely book of memories.If you’ve read a lot of books regarding Artane Industrial School you’ll find that some of the Christian Brothers’ names crop up again in this book. If you google “Brother Joseph O’Connor Artane” you’ll come across an Article entitled “Brothers from Hell”. This article is sad and considering this went on in the late 60’s it’s sad.

The reviews written thus far do a very good job of praising this book, deserved praise. It is indeed wonderfully crafted. However I feel the need to warn you that the reviews in general are missing something and that is how truly difficult a read it is in places. The obvious example being the time he waited for his mother at the gate. It will haunt me forever, the heart wrenching sadness of it would draw tears from a stone. I have tried to explain to people what the book is about but choke up when I get to this part in particular. Be prepared! Not for the faint of heart.This book has great power. It is not an attack on the Christian Brothers or his parents, nor is it a 'woe is me' account of a tough childhood or a tirade at the system. These approaches could have been taken and I don't think too many people would have begrudged him his opportunity to vent. It gets its power from being just an honest and calm account, as seen through the eyes of a child. It is pure, honest and dignified. As a result it cannot be dismissed as just another sad story.

"Boy at the Gate" by Danny EllisDanny's book is a must read if ever there was one. I was absolutely blown away by his account of those dark days of his childhood for it echoed many parallels to that which I myself experienced in Artane.Full credit to him for having the tenacity and dedication to tell his/our story in this brilliantly written masterpiece which ranks in my humble opinion to all that has been written before and since which puts it in a league of its own - beautifully executed and profoundly inspiring.Danny is not only a talented musician/songwriter but now an author of promising distinction which if continued will surely give rise to a dormant if somewhat belated exploration of another God given writing ability which he most certainly has.I have detected while reading his book that Danny and his wonderfully supportive wife, Liz, (mentioned often in the book) must have reflected many times upon this question during the writing process; Do we really need to confront these demon's - in print? Well, I'm glad he did.Sadly, my own dear wife (now deceased) would have, like Danny's dear wife, encouraged me to do likewise and write my story. But when I lost her support, I lost with it any desire to add to the overwhelming grief which consumed me with her passing. Years later I would return to my own childhood experience but without her support, my Artane memories would have to remain buried and unwritten.But here we have it; one boy's account of his traumatic childhood growing up in one of Irelands most notorious gulags for children, Artane Industrial School, Dublin, Ireland. Not since reading "Suffer the Little Children" have I been so vexed to read of the horrors perpetrated by a sadistic religious order know as the `Irish Christian Brothers' upon innocent children given into their care. Already forsaken by families, themselves desperately reduced to abject poverty, these children were incarcerated in institutions in what can only be described as 'empires of iniquity' - unbridled evil in a land of saints.To know their suffering, one must first walk in their shoes and who better to walk you through their childhood experience and pain than - Danny Ellis, the boy who became a man fashioned in the furnaces of hell on an anvil which still beats with the sound of 800 voices, captive children of the Irish Gulags for Children. This book is raw, humorous, gut wrenching, with a purity of memory recall but above all else, very candid.So you see, Danny, in some strange way has done me a great service - he has written my story and I remain eternally grateful for it. Perhaps now I can look to the heavens and in my quite moments alone with my wife I can say. Well honey, the deed is done, and Danny's done it for us.I invite you now to walk in Danny's shoes as I have done.Read the book, hear and feel his pain--and 'yes' laughter. Then get his ' 800 Voices-CD' - and be equally moved by this unique talent - Danny Ellis - "Boy at the Gate"Ron