Mondays Book Talk - The Boy at the Gate

Written by Ben Kesp

The Boy at the Gate by Danny Ellis

On completing the book, the words “Beautifully Written” came instantly to my mind. “The Boy at the Gate” is a memoir written by Danny Ellis who has beautifully captured his life in Ireland’s notorious Artane Industrial School that was run by the Irish Christian Brothers. Ellis is a touring singer/songwriter, teacher of voice and song writing workshops. He is currently living in North Carolina. 

Having received the book as a present I must admit I was a somewhat apprehensive in reading, believing it would be depressing, exploring a dark period from 20th century Ireland however I was very much mistaken. Ellis’s witty and humorous writing details his life growing up in the slums of inner city Dublin and the factors leading to him being placed in Artane Industrial School. The book is written through the eyes and innocence of a child, perhaps showing a side of these institutions that is rarely heard of and yet never hiding the underlying fear and brutality that co-existed within the school walls. Ellis holds nothing back exposing his own vulnerability and highlights even further the treatment of these abandoned children by Church and State. 

Artane Industrial School was established in July 1870 with the purpose of caring for orphaned, neglected and abandoned boys. However this grand concept soon changed when the enormity of the task was realised. It closed in 1969. The Irish Government has since published the Ryan’s Report detailing the abuse carried out by the Catholic institutions. Due to lack of cooperation from the Catholic Orders the report took nine years to complete. The positive thing to arise from Artane is the Artane Band that is still active today and performs at football matches and state occasions. It was through the music of the Artane Band that Ellis writes was his refuge on surviving the institution that was Artane. 

His acclaimed Album “800 Voices: My Life in an Irish Orphanage” brought about the writing of “The Boy at the Gate”. The Album “800 Voices” can be downloaded from www.dannyellismusic.com.