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The Boy at the Gate: A Memoir
Danny Ellis is a survivor, strong and resilient. An acclaimed singer/songwriter, he is proud of the way he handled his difficult 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.
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.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
132 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Danny Ellis
12 books18 followersWith over 50 years experience in music, as a songwriter, composer, arranger and performer, Danny is the consummate musician. With a career that started in the orphanage band, then Ireland’s top showbands , a session singer at Abbey Road studios, and touring with Graham Parker, as well as the Foundations, his songs seamlessly blend his Celtic heritage as well as rock, pop, country and blues. His stunning lyrics earned him the JPF lyricist of the year award for his highly acclaimed 800 Voices CD. Danny is also a much sought after vocal coach working with professionals and amateurs.
His newly released memoir, "The Boy at the Gate", details his life growing up in the poverty of the Dublin slums, and then his journey through the infamous Artane industrial school after being abandoned by his mother. A book more about healing and redemption, and the need to go back and rescue the child he left behind. The book never allows you to sink into the darkness since it's bouyed with equal measures of humour and the incredible insights that permeated Danny's life along the way, along with the saving grace of the music that has filled his life since then.
His newly released memoir, "The Boy at the Gate", details his life growing up in the poverty of the Dublin slums, and then his journey through the infamous Artane industrial school after being abandoned by his mother. A book more about healing and redemption, and the need to go back and rescue the child he left behind. The book never allows you to sink into the darkness since it's bouyed with equal measures of humour and the incredible insights that permeated Danny's life along the way, along with the saving grace of the music that has filled his life since then.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 13, 2013
The Boy at the Gate is a deeply personal memoir. It speaks to the lost child in every soul by channeling a boy's confused, innocent, desperate voice to convey the story, then weaving an adult's wisdom and perspective into the book to fill in the gaps and contemplate the life lessons that can be drawn from such a harrowing childhood.
This review is not without bias: I consider its author, Danny Ellis, a friend--mostly because we share a common experience of having our personal journeys palpably affected by the music and life of David Wilcox. We have only met on two occasions--once at a vocal workshop a couple of years ago and more recently at a house concert where I bought this book. But Danny's open and gentle spirit makes it easy to feel he is your friend even after single meeting. He has also been in my house (virtually) on a number of occasions as he gave vocal lessons to my wife via Skype. The reading of this book helps me understand and appreciate more fully the depth of his insights into vocal technique through his decades-long study of the breath.
I have given very few books five stars on Goodreads and I give this five-star review not because Danny is someone I know, but because The Boy at the Gate is an amazing example of memoir done right. Were I to have done a similar review of the CD 800 Voices on which this book was based, I would probably have given it a three- or four-star rating. Despite my affection for singer-songwriters and story songs, I never quite got into Danny's CD, though I loved the openness he displayed in sharing his songs about his experience of being abandoned by his "Ma" and left in the oppressive and abusive environs of the Artane Industrial School in Dublin, Ireland. Now, having read his remarkable account, I look forward to revisiting that CD and taking those songs in with new appreciation.
The Boy at the Gate is Danny's gentle and forgiving telling of what can only be described as a heart-wrenching, soul-crushing and physically abusive childhood. Danny grew up in a home of neglect in Dublin and then, in 1955, was thrown into a Lord of the Flies world with more than 800 other boys from ages six to sixteen. The Artane Industrial School was even worse than being lost on an island with a bunch of boys because there was adult supervision - supervision in the form of severe physical abuse and emotional neglect handed down by a staff of just forty members of the Christian Brotherhood. The abuses of Artane have been well documented by the Ryan Report.
It is also the story of the redemptive power of music and how Danny was able to survive the trauma of the Artane prison by pouring himself into the Artane Boy's Band. Music keeps him grounded and gives him hope. Music gives him a constructive place to push his energy, his anger, his cries of anguish. Music gives him a future--something that many of the sixteen-year-old graduates of Artane were unable to find as the perverse social skills (really, survival skills) they developed on the desolate playground of Artane prove utterly ineffective outside the schoolyard walls.
I found many aspects of this book remarkable: Danny elegantly captures the voice of his little boy self. We see the streets of Dublin through his child eyes and hear it described through his voice of innocence in the truest sense of the word innocent. Even as he recounts his childhood criminal escapades of stealing food for himself and his two younger sisters and twin baby brothers, you understand how limited is his comprehension of the events he witnesses and the emotions he feels.
Danny effectively moves back and forth between his child voice and his own adult voice as he tells the story of how these experiences ultimately unleash a torrent of emotions and memories that quickly take the form of a collection of songs--his 800 Voices CD and, still later, this memoir. The echoes of that young voice resonate with the voice of his adult self and the co-mingling of these distinct voices is a tribute to Danny's gifts as a musician and arranger. That he is able to accomplish this same richness in prose--his second language--as in music is a thing to behold.
I broke my habit of night-time reading to finish the last 25 pages this morning. The closing revelations were truly surprising and moving. His Epilogue, Author's Notes and Acknowledgements appending this memoir were not afterthoughts; they complete the story by adding important context and perspective to the emotional portraits and landscapes he lovingly crafted in the prior pages. Those final pages also demonstrate the remarkable writing abilities of the adult-voiced Danny. The contrast of the early pages with the latter reminded me of experiencing a Monet retrospective; I was dutifully appreciative of Monet's impressionistic works, but came to see them on an entirely new level once I saw his earlier works that included lushly detailed paintings. I was able to see that his Impressionism works, like Danny's childhood recollections, were not lazily slapped together, but were deeply artistic and telling communications of the essence of the captured moment.
Perhaps what was most remarkable to me was the redemption he creates in the telling of it all. He leaves me wanting to be that same spirit--one who understands the human condition and stands ready to forgive and receive forgiveness from others and from myself.
This review is not without bias: I consider its author, Danny Ellis, a friend--mostly because we share a common experience of having our personal journeys palpably affected by the music and life of David Wilcox. We have only met on two occasions--once at a vocal workshop a couple of years ago and more recently at a house concert where I bought this book. But Danny's open and gentle spirit makes it easy to feel he is your friend even after single meeting. He has also been in my house (virtually) on a number of occasions as he gave vocal lessons to my wife via Skype. The reading of this book helps me understand and appreciate more fully the depth of his insights into vocal technique through his decades-long study of the breath.
I have given very few books five stars on Goodreads and I give this five-star review not because Danny is someone I know, but because The Boy at the Gate is an amazing example of memoir done right. Were I to have done a similar review of the CD 800 Voices on which this book was based, I would probably have given it a three- or four-star rating. Despite my affection for singer-songwriters and story songs, I never quite got into Danny's CD, though I loved the openness he displayed in sharing his songs about his experience of being abandoned by his "Ma" and left in the oppressive and abusive environs of the Artane Industrial School in Dublin, Ireland. Now, having read his remarkable account, I look forward to revisiting that CD and taking those songs in with new appreciation.
The Boy at the Gate is Danny's gentle and forgiving telling of what can only be described as a heart-wrenching, soul-crushing and physically abusive childhood. Danny grew up in a home of neglect in Dublin and then, in 1955, was thrown into a Lord of the Flies world with more than 800 other boys from ages six to sixteen. The Artane Industrial School was even worse than being lost on an island with a bunch of boys because there was adult supervision - supervision in the form of severe physical abuse and emotional neglect handed down by a staff of just forty members of the Christian Brotherhood. The abuses of Artane have been well documented by the Ryan Report.
It is also the story of the redemptive power of music and how Danny was able to survive the trauma of the Artane prison by pouring himself into the Artane Boy's Band. Music keeps him grounded and gives him hope. Music gives him a constructive place to push his energy, his anger, his cries of anguish. Music gives him a future--something that many of the sixteen-year-old graduates of Artane were unable to find as the perverse social skills (really, survival skills) they developed on the desolate playground of Artane prove utterly ineffective outside the schoolyard walls.
I found many aspects of this book remarkable: Danny elegantly captures the voice of his little boy self. We see the streets of Dublin through his child eyes and hear it described through his voice of innocence in the truest sense of the word innocent. Even as he recounts his childhood criminal escapades of stealing food for himself and his two younger sisters and twin baby brothers, you understand how limited is his comprehension of the events he witnesses and the emotions he feels.
Danny effectively moves back and forth between his child voice and his own adult voice as he tells the story of how these experiences ultimately unleash a torrent of emotions and memories that quickly take the form of a collection of songs--his 800 Voices CD and, still later, this memoir. The echoes of that young voice resonate with the voice of his adult self and the co-mingling of these distinct voices is a tribute to Danny's gifts as a musician and arranger. That he is able to accomplish this same richness in prose--his second language--as in music is a thing to behold.
I broke my habit of night-time reading to finish the last 25 pages this morning. The closing revelations were truly surprising and moving. His Epilogue, Author's Notes and Acknowledgements appending this memoir were not afterthoughts; they complete the story by adding important context and perspective to the emotional portraits and landscapes he lovingly crafted in the prior pages. Those final pages also demonstrate the remarkable writing abilities of the adult-voiced Danny. The contrast of the early pages with the latter reminded me of experiencing a Monet retrospective; I was dutifully appreciative of Monet's impressionistic works, but came to see them on an entirely new level once I saw his earlier works that included lushly detailed paintings. I was able to see that his Impressionism works, like Danny's childhood recollections, were not lazily slapped together, but were deeply artistic and telling communications of the essence of the captured moment.
Perhaps what was most remarkable to me was the redemption he creates in the telling of it all. He leaves me wanting to be that same spirit--one who understands the human condition and stands ready to forgive and receive forgiveness from others and from myself.
August 26, 2017
I loved this book. Writing through his child's eyes half a century later, musician and songwriter Danny Ellis relives the pains and joys of his early childhood in Dublin in the 1950s, and his betrayal and abandonment at the age of eight to an orphanage, one that already has an ominous reputation among Dublin children: the Artane Industrial School for Boys, run by the Irish Christian Brothers. Ellis's indomitable spirit is amazing, his story one of abuse and survival, of suffering and crushing disappointment, but ameliorated by friendship and inner resources: a good heart, an eye for beauty, and a childlike faith. Music, which he discovers at Artane, becomes his saving grace and, not surprisingly, is also expressed in the lyrical quality of his writing. The Boy at the Gate fleshes out the story told in a song cycle that Ellis released on a CD in 2009: "800 Voices: My Childhood in an Irish Orphanage." Writing the songs had been cathartic for him, and the book seems to have completed the catharsis. I would add that the language used by the boys at Artane is, well, realistic. While it lends authenticity to the narrative, some may find it offensive. But it does not prevent me from highly recommending this rich and deeply moving book.
November 28, 2013
At the age of eight, Danny Ellis was separated from his siblings and dropped off at the most notorious orphanage in Ireland. The Artane Industrial School housed over 800 orphans and delinquents that nobody wanted—a noisy, ragtag bunch of “humanity’s lost children.” His ma said, “I’ll be back for you at Christmas.” He saw her briefly one more time, then never again.
“Boy at the Gate” is the poetic prose version of singer/songwriter Ellis’s “800 Voices” CD. Some of the lyrics are interspersed in the memoir. The book is not a sad sack of tales, rather an introspective and often amusing look at bad times and colorful characters. It is a story of resiliency. The book is written in present tense, transporting us to the rough city streets of 1950s Dublin, returning occasionally and briefly to the grown-up Ellis musing in retrospect. The Irish brogue is sweet and strong, the language street-smart and salted to taste. The prologue alone is gripping, the writing evocative, rising above the grit and grey. A soul-satisfying epilogue and an overview of the orphanage history end the book. This is a tender, bruised story that will take you through the gate and back out with hope.
“Boy at the Gate” is the poetic prose version of singer/songwriter Ellis’s “800 Voices” CD. Some of the lyrics are interspersed in the memoir. The book is not a sad sack of tales, rather an introspective and often amusing look at bad times and colorful characters. It is a story of resiliency. The book is written in present tense, transporting us to the rough city streets of 1950s Dublin, returning occasionally and briefly to the grown-up Ellis musing in retrospect. The Irish brogue is sweet and strong, the language street-smart and salted to taste. The prologue alone is gripping, the writing evocative, rising above the grit and grey. A soul-satisfying epilogue and an overview of the orphanage history end the book. This is a tender, bruised story that will take you through the gate and back out with hope.
January 21, 2015
Harrowing, sad, funny, enlightening, an 'unputdownable' book. What more can I say .... everyone should read this.
February 9, 2014
Wonderful writing, moving story, best I have read in awhile.
March 1, 2014
When your mother abandons you, your father is working in another country, and you've been thrown into an orphanage run by an order of Christian Brothers who are infamous for harsh treatment and abuse, you need something to hold onto.
Danny Ellis, a young Dublin lad, found that something in music, and it has served him well ever since. He learned to play trombone at the Artane Industrial School, and was good enough at it to make a living in various bands throughout Ireland.
He now lives in Western North Carolina, where he has used his childhood experiences to seed both his music (he is a singer-songwriter) and this memoir. The book is well-written and for me, at least, makes one want to hear the music inspired by the experiences.
Danny Ellis, a young Dublin lad, found that something in music, and it has served him well ever since. He learned to play trombone at the Artane Industrial School, and was good enough at it to make a living in various bands throughout Ireland.
He now lives in Western North Carolina, where he has used his childhood experiences to seed both his music (he is a singer-songwriter) and this memoir. The book is well-written and for me, at least, makes one want to hear the music inspired by the experiences.
April 2, 2014
I loved this book. It is at once heart wrenching, achingly poetic, and heart rendering. In the voice of young Danny Ellis, abandoned at age 8 to the care and "keeping" of the Irish Christian Brothers at the Artane Industrial School in Dublin Ireland, a story of unspeakable cruelty, redemption and healing is told effortlessly and even with humor. Music is Danny's savior. One wonders what saviors, if any, the other young boys found?
I wish I had been able to attend an event held here in Fernanadina Beach last month, and heard Mr. Ellis speak. His writing in this memoir has been compared to the "lyric and melody" of his music, which I will be certain to seek out. Thank you Danny Ellis, for sharing your story.
I wish I had been able to attend an event held here in Fernanadina Beach last month, and heard Mr. Ellis speak. His writing in this memoir has been compared to the "lyric and melody" of his music, which I will be certain to seek out. Thank you Danny Ellis, for sharing your story.
March 8, 2014
Very interesting book about the life of an eight year old boy who has just been sent to a Christian Brother's School because his mother can no longer care for him. As an adult he has tried not to remember this time in his life, however it comes back to haunt him. A professional song writer as an adult, it comes back to him in the form of a song.
April 10, 2021
Memoirs are so hard to rate.
I gave this one 3 1/2 Stars, because it left me with many questions. One was why was Danny’s father in the American Service being from Ireland? They said later in the novel that he left Ireland for work. Why couldn’t he take his family with him to the US? Why couldn’t he find work in Ireland? Why didn’t he send the money he made home to his family? Was he an alcoholic as was the mother, too? At the end of the book it alluded to that being the case, but that amongst other things weren’t quite clear.
It seemed to me that the book had an underlying light hearted, airy quality to it, which I guess is either a good thing if the supposed trauma he endured didn’t effect him that much in later life, or it’s bad if he still can’t deal with what happened to him. I don’t know, and it’s only my opinions.
I was looking for something different in this memoir, something deeper that I didn’t find here.
3 1/2 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
I gave this one 3 1/2 Stars, because it left me with many questions. One was why was Danny’s father in the American Service being from Ireland? They said later in the novel that he left Ireland for work. Why couldn’t he take his family with him to the US? Why couldn’t he find work in Ireland? Why didn’t he send the money he made home to his family? Was he an alcoholic as was the mother, too? At the end of the book it alluded to that being the case, but that amongst other things weren’t quite clear.
It seemed to me that the book had an underlying light hearted, airy quality to it, which I guess is either a good thing if the supposed trauma he endured didn’t effect him that much in later life, or it’s bad if he still can’t deal with what happened to him. I don’t know, and it’s only my opinions.
I was looking for something different in this memoir, something deeper that I didn’t find here.
3 1/2 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
February 15, 2021
I again picked up a book thinking it was about something else. It's a memoir of a singer and songwriter named Danny Ellis, whom I've never heard of! He had a very hellish childhood, and was eventually sent (?) to the Artane Industrial School which was run by the Irish Christian Brothers. This "orphanage" was notorious for physical and sexual abuse. Danny buried much of his memory and only upon disclosure in the media of abuse many years later, did he start to remember his formative years, before, during and after Artane. How tragic. All these places where vulnerable children were taken, to be cared for, whether it be the US, Canada, Dublin, and I'm sure countries all over the world, and in the name of Christianity changed these children's lives forever. Makes me ill. Mr. Ellis' book is not sensationalized, and he sounds like a wonderful caring man.
June 5, 2021
Based on a true story and well worth the read. This should be a sad story of tragedy, loss, desperation, and abandonment but the author does such a good job or making this be about resilience and camaraderie too. Humans can be cruel and callous but they can also find forgiveness and compassion. The brutality of both poverty and of the institutions tasked with caring for the orphaned and abandoned children is all too real. The strength and courage of the children in this book is an inspiration. I know many will find this book unrealistically forgiving but to me that hopefulness is the message.
November 6, 2019
Danny has taken the reader through a journey that puts them totally in the mind of the young Danny and orphaned Danny. The sorrow and hurt of abandonment, again and again, the leather strap and threat of, in some instances, brought tears to my eyes. The memoir reveals cruelty while leaving room for some good even in an environment where choices have been eliminated. A must-read. It will keep one wondering if that one thing is around the bend. While researching the author, I listened to the 800 voices music CD, which tells the story through song. Excellent. I suggest reading the book 1st.
September 18, 2021
Emotional and eye opening memorirs of an Orphanage opererated by "Catholic Brothers". Danny Ellis endured physical punishment for some of the poorest excuses. The Brothers of this orphange should be ashamed and punished! My husband was taught in Canada by Brothers in 1950, they were very strict and dealt physical punishement at will! Makes a lasting impression on a 6 year old. Hubby's one fault was being a "lefty" and was knuckle wrapped to change hands!
June 18, 2024
I found this book fascinating mainly because with everything that Danny Ellis endured he did not grow bitter and twisted. Many children in his circumstances would have. Both parents were useless and should never have had children. It is a story of immense loss, cruelty endured in the notorious Artane Boy's School but of great character in the badly treated boy. I thought it was beautifully written and enjoyed it very much. I would thoroughly recommend.
May 27, 2018
Good read
Starting this book I was prepared for a book similar to Angela's Ashes. Really no comparison but I learned of the orphanages which I had not been aware of. Enjoyed the book and can recommend it. Happy that Danny Ellis found a happy life in spite of his difficult childhood.
Starting this book I was prepared for a book similar to Angela's Ashes. Really no comparison but I learned of the orphanages which I had not been aware of. Enjoyed the book and can recommend it. Happy that Danny Ellis found a happy life in spite of his difficult childhood.
Want to read
December 23, 2021I can't wait to read the boy at the gate because I live within a mile of the old artane boys idustrial school .Not many people know that it had its own grave yard.And as a young boy saw the young boys made to collect fire wood in the depths of winter among other things/so hoping this book is as good as it sounds
August 5, 2022
A very touching memoir about an 8 year old boy from Dublin who is abandoned by his mother and put into Artane Industrial School, an infamous Irish orphanage in the 1950’s. He is beaten and abused, but ultimately saved by his love of music and his involvement in the school band. The power of music is beautifully conveyed.
The book prompted me to listen to Danny Ellis’ music—wonderful!
The book prompted me to listen to Danny Ellis’ music—wonderful!
March 21, 2021
A truly wonderful tale of love and pain and courage. Danny Ellis strives to find himself as he's rescued from a punishing environment, buoyed by the music he loves. Often funny, often terribly sad. A lovely read.
July 11, 2021
Mr. Ellis tells a painful story with enough humor and grace that, through crying spells, I could not put this book down. Thank you for sharing your story. Book Club wants to know what happened to everyone, and are thankful that Mr. Ellis was able to reconnect with so many from his past.
June 19, 2018
The author tells a fair story. No whining, no self pity. Human and humane.
August 18, 2019
Enjoyable read.
May 2, 2020
Very fascinating and emotional..
March 18, 2021
Heartwarming and heartbreaking. A remarkable memoir told in lilting, visceral voice. Absolutely loved this book.
Read
April 14, 2021Awesome book, but very, very sad. I had trouble putting it down!
May 29, 2021
Amazing story and Tea
It's a powerful story about an abused child and the boarding school that abused him and his recovery and redemption.
It's a powerful story about an abused child and the boarding school that abused him and his recovery and redemption.
June 30, 2022
Great memoir that pulls on your heartstrings! Sad that anyone had to live like this! Great read!
January 2, 2023
A hard, truthful read.
October 9, 2024
Well written and poignant.
June 29, 2025
Wonderful (true) story of heartbreak, redemption and ultimately triumph. And the author now lives in Asheville.
October 25, 2025
Equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. How these kids survived is miraculous in itself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews