“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.
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