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The Boy at the Gate: A Memoir Hardcover – Illustrated, September 3, 2013

by Danny Ellis (Author)

4.6 583 ratings

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The Boy at the Gate: One Man's Journey Back to a Lost Childhood in Ireland
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Danny Ellis is a survivor, strong and resilient. An acclaimed singer/songwriter, he is proud of the way he handled his difficult past: poverty in the 1950s Dublin slums and the brutality of the Artane Industrial School. He felt as though he had safely disposed of it all, until one night, while writing the powerful song that would launch his highly-praised album, 800 Voices ("A searing testament." —Irish Times), Danny's past crept back to haunt him. Confronted by forgotten memories of betrayal and abandonment, he was stunned to discover that his eight-year-old self was still trapped in a world he thought he had left behind.

Although unnerved by his experience, Danny begins an arduous journey that leads him back to the streets of Dublin, the tenement slums, and, ultimately, the malice and mischief of the Artane playground. What he discovers with each twist and turn of his odyssey will forever change his life. Elegantly written, this is a brutally honest, often harrowing, depiction of a young boy's struggle to survive orphanage life, and stands as an inspiring testament to the healing power of music and love.

Print length

376 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Arcade
Publication date

September 3, 2013
Dimensions

6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1611458927
ISBN-13

978-1611458923
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Abandoned by his mother at age eight at the notorious Artane Industrial School in Dublin, Ellis lost his childhood. Decades later, the professional musician begins to recover his past by recording the album 800 Voices about his experiences, and this powerful memoir gracefully tells that story. A gifted writer, Ellis is effective at presenting abuse and neglect from the young boy’s perspective, without the elaboration of hindsight, the pathos of the memories only unraveling fully later. The tale is as rough as his tweed trousers and hobnail boots, rough as the cold showers and stinging leather straps he was forced to endure. Ellis is at his most poetic when writing about the power of music to protect and motivate him. The neglectful parents, the cruel Christian Brothers, and the scrappy orphanage boys are fully drawn, without mercy but equally without demonizing them. The rare moments showing kindness and courage in those surrounding him sparkle against a relentlessly grim backdrop. Filled with both winks and tears, this book proves that goodness can shine even in the ugliest places. --Bridget Thoreson

Review

[Danny Ellis] moves fluidly between present and past, exploring a hard early life and its aftereffects with a mischievous tone.”
—Shelf Awareness

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arcade; 1st edition (September 3, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1611458927
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611458923
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,177,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,044 in General Ireland Travel Guides
- #1,123 in Solo Travel Guides
- #13,363 in Historical European Biographies (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 583 ratings

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Danny Ellis
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Danny Ellis, Irish singer/songwriter releasing his debut memoir about his life growing up in one of Ireland's most abusive orphanages. Beautifully written, and suprisingly humourous as he navigates his way through the mayhem of 8 years amongst 800 lads. Triumphant, and healing as he takes you on the journey back to rescue the 8 year old boy he left behind.
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Danny Ellis
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4.6 out of 5

583 global ratings

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Julianne Day-Evers

I was left cheering through a flood of tears...

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2013

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The Boy @ the Gate is, in a word, Brilliant! Danny's story unfolds before us through his eyes as a child, full of innocence & stunning honesty. From the first few lines `... where the rats, emboldened by my poor marksmanship would saunter over to the rug beneath the table &, finding no crumbs again, would dine where they left off the last time: on the rug itself. ... ' I was quickly drawn into a world of starvation, hardship & cruelty as unimaginable as many of the horrendous things I witnessed as an ER nurse in Harlem, N.Y. or as a psychotherapist in private practice. I was mesmerized by this child's unique way of seeing things & swept into his world by the beautiful imagery as lyrical as a song.

Not only is this book, flat out, a great read; it is also an incredible journey of a boy's struggle from sheer self preservation to self awareness. Buoyed by the healing power of music & his discovery that in the truest sense, be it religion, spirituality, philosophy ... at the core of it all, is LOVE. Danny was able to find & reintegrate all the shattered, scattered parts of himself into one loving and gentle soul.

With every sentence I was right there, drawn directly into the moment, beside this little scrapper of a boy. A boy who was full of wit & wisdom & the tenacity to beat any odds as well as any grown 'fightin Irishman' I've ever known. I laughed and cried and found it very hard to tear myself away from reading `just a bit more ' each time I knew I had to stop and get much needed sleep!

This is a story of survival, healing & triumph that left me cheering through a flood of tears, full of joy, wonder and deep admiration. Bravo, Danny Ellis! Bravo!

AND: If you have not heard the music that is at the heart of this journey, by all means buy Danny's magnificent 800 Voices CD. I gave it along with The Boy at the Gate to my entire family & @ least 20+ friends for Christmas & have received countless words of praise & gratitude such as, "One of the finest presents I've ever been given."

Julianne Day-Evers, RN, MA, Certified Psychosynthesis Psychotherapist

17 people found this helpful

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Penpusher

Mega holes in my heart,

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2013

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I'm struggling to get past the first page of prologue, not because the writing is not beautiful but because I am an institution child, abandoned, abused, and living in an orphanage. Someone who knows my story said buy it and read it. I'm well into this story and not even up to Artane, but know this is my story on every page, though mine was a nurturing orphanage and a safe place. Abandoned children nobly want their mama, never mind how she is constituted. A three year old has no clue about why's and wherefores. And like Danny, one predawn sleep was ripped open as "she" came roaring at me, enraged that I had held her under, stifled and pleading to breathe and with torrents of things to say, for seventy years. Once out, she kept me writing my own story nonstop for three years. shaping a memoir is no easy trick. Nearly every page of The Boy At the Gate overwhelms me. I pick it up, put it down, marvel at how the mind demands recovery and release, and I rejoice that this gifted man finds his heart's expression in the universal language of music, and grasps the importance of writing down what others cannot possibly know without experiencing this particular form of exquisitely excruciating pain. Abandoned children come to their lives seriously impaired. But they often undertake the task with true grit, incredible tenacity and a shocking ability to park it all until the day when that lost child demands to live. I, too, suffered the awful realization that I had abandoned myself. That is a relentless agony. I'll comment further when I've finished this, for me, riveting book. Thank you, Danny for all of us who have lived this experience.

36 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Amazing HumanSpirit

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021

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It is quite q riveting story of neglect & betrayal , & how music really was the door to freedom & final healing.

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014

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I first heard of Danny Ellis three years ago when he performed two songs at one of David Wilcox's Thanksgiving concerts in Asheville, NC.Those songs were from his cd " 800 Voices" which tell the story through song of Danny's life at the infamous "Artane Industrial School for Boys " in Ireland from age 8-16. Those two songs affected me deeply and I soon bought the cd, and it is an amazing album. Wonderful writing and gorgeous music. Get it.
Then, last year I heard that Danny had written a book about his life before and during his time at the school. I bought a copy and started reading. Just as a lot of other reviewers have said, it is hard to put down. It grabbed me right away and didn't let go. His writing is awesome and the stories of the boys and Danny's experiences had me alternately tearing up and laughing throughout the whole book. All of us in this life have experienced traumas, most of us not as severe as Danny did, and I think that we all would choose to heal the scars. Danny's tale is one of pain, sadness ( with a lot of joy and laughter too!) healing and redemption. It's a wonderfully written story that offers hope in the oftentimes painful human condition of this life. By the way, I also believe that this will make a great motion picture. Until that happens, buy the book and get ready for a great read. You will love it.

3 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Wonderful!

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2021

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Thank you, Danny Ellis, for sharing your story.
You have truly become an amazing musician and songwriter despite your difficult childhood.
When you discussed how you did not know how to act in the “outside world”, it reminded me of my grandmother who grew up in a Catholic orphanage. I never before realized how hard it must have been for her to be out in the world by herself as a teenager.
God bless you! You have touched many lives!

6 people found this helpful

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PollyMary

Danny is our friend and his is a story of survival you should know

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2021

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I originally became acquainted with Danny through music. I strongly recommend you listen to his CD, 800 Voices, several times before reading his heartfelt book.

Danny survived Ireland’s most abusive industrial school (orphanage) from the age of 8 to 16.

He came out of it to become the friend I know. Kind, gentle, uplifting. The book is a journey few of us would survive.

YouTube Danny Ellis: Tommy Bonner

13 people found this helpful

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Pat

Sad

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2022

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This was well written but just picturing the boy at the gate was overwhelming to me. I'm glad I read it but it was an awful subject.

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Top reviews from other countries

g..g..

Amazing Memoir

Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2023

Verified Purchase

I absolutely loved this book. I read a lot and am certain that this is the best book I read this year (2023). You will laugh and cry while reading this as the author takes you through his horrific experiences, starting as a young child at the Artane Industrial School for boys, run by the Christian Brothers. The school ran in Artane, Dublin, Ireland from 1870 to 1969

Ron4uok

"Boy at tyhe Gate"

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

"Boy at the Gate" by Danny Ellis
Danny'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

7 people found this helpful

Pete Austin

WOW !! ... NEVER have I read a book that so moved me!!

Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2015

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WOW !! ... NEVER have I read a book that so moved me!! ... and never have I been moved enough to even review a book before either. But WOW.

I'm a 57 year old "hard-knocks" sort of man, and I’ve been through plenty in life, so I'm telling you straight when I say there's not much that brings me to tears, but the raw honesty in this (true) memoir actually moved me to tears.

I also "laughed my ass off" at many points in the book. As the anecdotes of the young lads and how they dealt with each other, and the infamous Christian Brothers' cruelties, is sometimes hilarious. (I swear to "Jaysus", you'll likely bust your sides at the hard loaf of bread on the dorm-room floor story).

This is not just a story of cruelties, struggles and survival, (though it is assuredly that, and plenty inspiring too), but the story (somehow) remains generally, and genuinely positive, as it details horrific cruelties against young boys who were (inadvertently or otherwise) abandoned by parents/society and left in the "care" of the (Christian?) Brothers. God help their precious souls.

Though I grew up in a similar time and culture as the author, (there were Christian Brothers’ abuses aplenty in our hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada also), I believe that virtually any adult (or young person) can relate to this superbly written account of a time and circumstance that most turned a blind eye to, and that some would just as soon forget.

This very important work, and Danny's heartfelt, and heart-wrenching music, (DannyEllisMusic.com) will likely bring much peace and some badly needed hope to thousands of survivors of orphanage-life. I think it can fairly be compared to the age-old and inspiring movie entitled "Oliver", about orphans in an earlier time who endured and survived through lives of hunger, hurt and physical abuse. Like Oliver, the story exposes the beauty and resourcefulness of those young souls, as they were being severely tested in their lives of hurt and abandonment.

This is not a book that deals directly with the sexual abuses and the aftermath of legal battles, corruption and convictions of the criminals etc., so you won’t be horribly shocked or “grossed out” when reading The Boy at the Gate. (if you're looking to read about those harsh realities I strongly recommend “Unholy Orders“, by Michael Harris. A brilliant Canadian author/journalist/activist, and a wonderful soul also).

The Boy at the Gate, is a true memoir, written from the heart of a young boy as he went through some hellish realities, while growing up hard and fast, with almost no support from family, friends or state. Everyone (in my opinion) should read this book. From world leaders to the average Joe/Jane. It should be read and reviewed in class, by teachers, as there are hugely important examples of human nature, (good and bad) that will serve to illustrate how humanity can and should “get along”.

May God (goodness) continue to bless you Danny. How the heck you came through all of that and today remain such a positive and inspiring human being is certainly a valued lesson to us all.

To anyone reading this review: If you’re pondering as to whether to buy and read this one... I advise you to “Just do it”. Your soul cannot help but be enriched by the experience. Mine sure was and is.

Cheers and good reading! 

10 people found this helpful

Clarke Crutchfield

A lyrical, powerful memoir

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2012

Verified Purchase

As one of the many American fans of the singer and songwriter Danny Ellis, I ordered a copy of his memoir from Amazon UK right away instead of waiting for it to be published in the States. I'm glad I didn't wait. "The Boy at the Gate" is timely and timeless. It's timely because this account of his poverty-scarred childhood in Dublin, and his eight years at the Artane Industrial School, an orphanage for boys, bear witness to a scandal. The boys' caretakers in the Christian Brothers order "battered our childhoods away," as Ellis has put it. News accounts of the abuse inflicted on hundreds of Artane boys are still emerging. Ellis' harrowing experiences are also the subject of the songs on his CD "800 Voices," hailed by musicians and critics as a masterpiece.
"The Boy at The Gate" is unique. Surely no other literary memoir of this breadth and depth has a musical counterpart - certainly not of the quality of "800 Voices." At the same time, the book stands on its own and is full of its own music.
If you're a fan of "800 Voices," and you should be, you'll be pleased that some of the vivid and funny characters he sings about have been given added dimension in "The Boy at the Gate." Say, whatever happened to the angel-voiced Tommy Bonner after he left Artane, and where did Kelly go after he'd gone missing? Then there's Danny's buddy Rasher the cardsharp, that larcenous, generous genius of the schoolyard. (I hope he's now a riverboat gambler.)
Ellis knows, as Wordsworth does, that the child is father of the man. On one level, "The Boy at the Gate" is about an artist uncovering his nature. Danny joins the Artane Boys Band. "Whatever's going on in that fighting Dublin heart of yours, put it down that trombone," Brother O'Connor tells him. So he does. What does he get back? Discipline and artistry, solace -- and rescue.
The book is also the story of a man befriending his younger self. To do so, Ellis shows us, is to heal. And the joys of childhood are indelible. One freezing day, the Artane boys, having poured water on the ground, go sliding across the ice. The rough-and-tumble turns into a small war, and "although there isn't a lad who's not bleeding somewhere ...there isn't a face that's not grinning."
You'll never forget that boy in rough orphanage tweeds, skating in hobnail boots, flying to himself. Part of what's timeless about this book lies in Danny's joy as he discovers something in himself that can't be beaten down. "The Boy at the Gate" is full of flowers and iron, the lyrical insights and hard-won truths of a gifted author.
Clarke Crutchfield

2 people found this helpful

Ruftara

Beautiful portrayal of an extraordinary man's childhood

Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

I never realized how lucky I was until I read this haunting story of a young boy's struggle to find his true self in a brutal uncaring environment. I cried when I read Angela's Ashes. I sobbed when I read this book. The description of the Industrial School's environment and atmosphere screams terror, child abuse, both mental and physical and absolute cruelty all under the auspices of the Catholic religion. No wonder so many young people lose their 'Faith' so rapidly. I must thank the author for baring his soul to his readers. This book should be a must read for all our over privileged youth of today.

3 people found this helpful

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