“TRAVEL WITH A GAVEL” REVIEW BY DR DESIE O’REILLY
Willie McCarney grew up in
and around the townland of Loughmacrory in Co.Tyrone. He lived in a rented
house with no electricity, no flush toilets, no running water. The only
employment available for adults was working for the District Council and, in
those days, the concept of a minimum wage had not been discussed. The family
never went hungry, but there was little money for anything else. There was
never enough money to pay for books that Willie needed, or money required for
expenses incurred in sport activities or social outings.
Willie’s father offered
education as the way to break free from poverty and build a better future. The
primary school principal, Mr Sheerin, convinced him that he had the ability to
go all the way. He passed the 11+ in its inaugural year and won a scholarship
to the Christian Brothers Grammar School in Omagh and, in due couse went on to
win a scholarship to train as a teacher in St Joseph’s Teacher Training College
(better known as Trench House) in Belfast.
In his early years Willie
ventured no farther than the houses of his relatives with the occasional visit
to the local village of Carrickmore. He was 19 before he first set foot in
Belfast when he went to enrole in Trench House. This reluctant traveller could
never have imagined that the road to Belfast would be the start of so many
journeys in years to come.
During his years in Trench
House listening to the views of different lecturers he developed his own ideas
of what education was all about. He considered that he was supported in his
views by the writings of classical philosophers and the teachings of St
Augustine. He viewed his mission as the awakening of the dormant abilities of
each child. He believed that it is the role of the teacher to identify skills
which the children already have and help them develop those skills to the
maximum.
When he qualified as a teacher he chose to teach under achieving boys in
secondary schools where he could test his theory of education. After 13 years
he got the opportunity to return to Trench House to train future teachers how
to work with disaffected youth. Drawing on his own background and his teaching
experiences he argued that while not every child has an equal talent or an
equal ability or an equal motivation, they all have an equal right to develop
what talents they have in order to make something of themselves. Every child
should be given a fair chance to be educated to the limit of his/her talents.
His concern for the welfare
of children led to his appointment as a Lay Magistrate in the Belfast Youth
Court and the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. His reputation extended far
beyond these shores travelling the world on behalf of the United Nations
Development Programme, UNICEF and the Council of Europe, training judges in the
use of international instruments concerning the rights of the child. He
uniquely found himself as Chair of the Northern Ireland Juvenile Courts
Association and The British Juvenile and Family Courts Society at the same
time.
He was appointed as
representative of Northern Ireland at the World Congress of the International
Association of Youth and Family Judges & Magistrates (IAYFJM) in Rio De
Janiero, Brazil in 1986. This opened up contacts not only with South American
Countries but also with the United States and Canada.
Due to the success of his endeavours within the IAYFJM, Willie was elected as
its President at the World Congress in Melbourne, Australia, in 2002 and served
in that role until 2006.
A World Apart
This final chapter on the
state of the world regarding the human rights of the child is very disturbing.
It outlines the many ways in which the lives of children and young people are
exploited. The details provided in this travelogue show the appalling state of
the problem from the abuse of children, not just in the brothels of Bangkok,
the train stations of Moscow, the truck routes of Tanzania to the sidewalks of
Manila. The sexual abuse of minors is an historical phenomenon which can be
found in every society. It affects every corner of the world, from the richest
countries to the most impoverished.
Travel
The limitations on travel
while living at home in Loughmacrory must have generated a desire to see other
places in the world to compensate. In effect he composed in this travelogue a
politico-geographical account of almost all of the countries he visited. In
many respects his accounts provide more information than available in tourist
brochures. He also has given exceptional details of the bird life in each
country and the remote sanctuaries within them.
Conclusion
This travelogue of Willie Mc
Carney is extraordinary in every sense of the word. It is extraordinary in that
a person of humble beginnings from the heart of Co. Tyrone should be elevated
to the centre of power in many capital cities in every continent. It is also
extraordinary in that one person could ever claim to visit so many capital
cities in every continent and survive the many testing circumstances that often
prevailed during his stay. Ably assisted by his sister Una and son Liam, he
prevailed against difficulties of climate, language, customs, religion, health
issues and politics of the host country. His success in overcoming the
challenges of adjusting to new countries, new peoples and new cultures, Willie
won the friendship of the other participants who were in his company during the
various seminars, meetings and visitations associated with the visit. He
succeeded after 37 years in his role as an advocate for the protection of the
rights of the child. His praise from all quarters is exemplified in the number
of past associates who keep in touch and who share his desire for all children
to be protected from harm.
At this point I am feeling
kind of breathless, wondering how Willie managed to cope with all the
travelling. Has he done his sums right? Is he sure he only visited 75
countries?
Take my word for it.
This is a “must read” book.
No of words 1,037
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