Art has its special place in every era

Double Vision with Charlie Adley

Magic moments don’t come often in life, so when the memory of one rises, I indulge myself in the glory of it. I was reading about how the students of Manchester University chose to remove Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’ from their Student Union walls.
The university’s Liberation and Access Officer, Sara Khan, said: “We believe that Kipling stands for the opposite of liberation, empowerment and human rights…”
My eyes blurred over the print, my mind filling with memories from 2006.
I was in the front passenger seat of a Foróige minibus, looking back at my squad of ten teenage Traveller boys. We were about to participate in the World Cup Five-A-Side competition.
Sixteen youth squads from projects around the country were heading for Drom’s fantastic facilities, each representing a World Cup nation.
We were Portugal, and weeks before we’d managed to source the Portuguese national strip for the lads. They were thrilled to see the famous burgundy shirts.
“Can we wear them tonight, Charlie? Can we wear them now? Go on Charlie? Can we? I’m putting mine on any feckin’ way.”
“Oi. Leave those shirts alone. You’ll be playing three games on the day, ‘cos it’s a group stage, so those strips have to last and look good ’til at least the third game.”
“Til the feckin’ final!”
“Yes, Thomas, we’ll see. First though we need to train. Right, heads up lads, look forward. After me: We are Portugal. We play for Honour.”
“We are Portugal. We Play For Money!” they chorused in return, as always collapsing into giggles.
I knew that on the big day they’d be excited, nervous and slightly over-heated. If I played my cards right I could harness that excess energy and help them apply it to create a great experience, but what would captivate them? What might make them feel calm, strong, unified and confident?
There could be some at the competition prejudiced against them and unafraid to voice their feelings. What could I do or say that would make these economically-deprived teenage boys from east-side estates think before they acted?
Words. That’s my way.
Immediately I thought of ‘If’, printed it out and practiced reading it carefully. I was dry mouth nervous. This was a gamble. There was a distinct possibility this sudden diversion into the world of poetry might be a colossal disaster. Maybe they’d snort in mystification and think me a pretentious wanker, but as I looked at Kipling’s words, I felt confident he was talking their language. The word ‘classic’ can be applied, when a poem written in 1909 can speak to Traveller lads in 2006.
Before we drove out of the Community Centre car park in Ballybane, I turned around in my seat and faced them.
“Right lads. Listen up. I’m going to read you something.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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