Feile Fever (3 page)

A
ll that week at school Danny hounded Todd to come training for the Crokes, but Todd wasn’t having any of it.

Danny couldn’t work out this new lad at all. Todd wasn’t exactly the easiest person to make friends with, but Danny Wilde wasn’t going to give up on him, and so, even though he couldn’t persuade Todd to join his football team, he at least managed to get him to agree to come to a barbeque at his cousin Jonathon’s house.

Splinter was going too, and he had cracked a joke to Todd about how the Aussies were the Kings of Barbeques and said that Todd just couldn’t refuse to go. So after some resistance,
Todd agreed to tag along, if only to get Splinter and Danny off his case.

Just as Danny had been totally gob-smacked by Jonathon’s house the very first time he set eyes on it, Todd Bailey strolled around the immense gardens of number ten Aylesbridge Close with his eyes wide with amazement.

He had been to many barbeques back home, but never in such grand surroundings.

It was Saturday, May 2nd and the bank
holiday
sun was splitting the stones.

Larry was in tremendous form. When he wasn’t working hard as a barrister or playing golf, he loved nothing more than to entertain and show off his lovely home and gardens.

It didn’t take very long for Danny to suggest that he and Jonathon show Splinter and Todd the tennis courts hidden in the far garden through the rose arch.

Jonathon’s older sister, Lowry, was playing a game with her best friend, Trinity – the girl who Danny had a bit of a soft spot for.

‘Who’s the bird with the long blonde hair?’ asked Splinter.

‘That’s Trinity,’ answered Jonathon. ‘The other one is my sister, Lowry.’

‘She’s eye candy, lads,’ laughed Splinter. ‘What do you think Todd?’

Todd raised his brows in agreement. ‘I reckon she’s a beauty, alright!’

Danny wasn’t impressed.

‘Shut up will yiz, and let’s watch the game!’

The four pals sat down and watched the two girls playing for a while.

‘They’re not bad,’ observed Splinter, just as Trinity hit a winning pass; Splinter put his
fingers
to his mouth and whistled at her.

Trinity and Lowry looked over toward the steps where the boys were sitting. They hadn’t noticed them there up until Splinter’s outburst.

Lowry made a sort of
get moving or else
gesture
at Jonathon, but Trinity just smiled.

She liked the idea of sideline admirers, and Todd had really caught her eye. He was different. Bronzed, blond haired and
blue-eyed
.

‘I think she was smiling at you, Todd,’ said Splinter.

Jonathon noticed Danny’s head dropping a little.

‘No! You’re wrong Splinter,’ argued Jonathon. ‘I think it was Danny she was smiling at. Trinity likes Danny.’

Danny’s face went as red as a tomato.

‘Is that right, Danny?’ giggled Splinter. ‘You dark horse! You never told me that you had a girlfriend.’

‘Get
lost
, Splinter,’ growled Danny. ‘She’s not my girlfriend.’

‘That’s not what Jonathon thinks!’

Danny scowled at his cousin. Then, to make things worse for Danny, Todd didn’t hesitate to express his interest in Trinity.

He said, ‘Well, I reckon she’s class, boys. I wouldn’t mind her being
my
girlfriend.’

At that moment, Mick came running through the rose arch.

‘Danny!’ he called.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Danny.

Mick Wilde burst out laughing, and all the boys immediately joined in even though they didn’t know what was so funny. Mick’s laugh had that effect – it was infectious.

Mick finally caught his breath and said,

‘You better get a hold of Heffo before your uncle Larry finds him. He’s after eating all of Larry’s steaks for the barbeque, and poor Regina is in floods of tears. Sorry, Jonathon,’ apologised Mick. ‘I’m not making fun of your mammy.’

Jonathon smiled. He could see the funny side of Mick’s story, but Lowry wouldn’t and she was marching out of the tennis court.

Mick and the four boys – Danny, Splinter, Jonathon and Todd in fits of laughter –
disappeared back through the arch before Lowry caught up with them. While Danny hid Heffo in Larry’s garage, Mick seized the
opportunity
to have a chat with Todd about joining the team.

When Danny caught up again  with his dad, it was apparent from his long face that Mick had failed to persuade Todd to join the team.

‘No luck?’ asked Danny.

Mick shrugged his shoulders at Danny and shook his head.

‘I tried, son. He’s a tough nut to crack.’

Danny tried to stay out of Larry and Regina’s way for the rest of the day. It had been his idea to bring Heffo to the barbeque and he didn’t make things better for himself when he told his aunt Regina that the only reason Heffo hadn’t eaten the sausages as well as the steaks was because he only liked the good, expensive, organic ones.

As Danny sat quietly in the front seat of the car on the way home, he reflected on the things
that hadn’t really gone to plan for him that week.

Todd still wouldn’t join the team, and to make matters worse, the new boy from down under had caught Trinity’s eye, and that really worried Danny.

T
uesday couldn't come quick enough for Danny. It was the morning of the trip to Croke Park.

As the coach pulled away from the school gates, thirty loud and slightly over-excited pupils cheered with their hands above their heads. It was only a thirty-minute drive to Croke Park, but to Danny it felt like eternity. This was a huge experience for him. He had been to Croker many times to watch games with Mick, but now he was actually going on a tour of the stadium, and that meant getting to see areas he would not normally see. He was looking forward to it so much that he could
hardly sit still in his seat.

Todd was sitting behind Danny and Splinter. There wasn't a peep out of him for the whole journey until the coach turned down Russell Street, heading for Clonliffe Road and he saw the enormous, magnificent stadium.

‘WOW!' he gasped.

Danny jumped up on his seat and turned to Todd.

‘It's savage! Isn't it, Todd?'

‘I reckon!'

As the coach turned off Clonliffe Road and into St Joseph's Avenue, all thirty boys were looking in one direction only – upwards! The colossal size of the stadium was breathtaking.

Danny felt a tingling sensation rush through his entire body.

It must be amazing for the players
, thought Danny.
I'd feel like a gladiator arriving at the Coliseum if I was going to play here.

Danny's thoughts were rudely interrupted by Splinter's left elbow.

‘Wake up, Danny. We're getting off now.'

As Principal Dunstan and Mr Breen tried to organise the boys, Billy Stapleton caught everyone's attention by announcing that a train was passing by – they were right beside the railway line.

This was to Danny's great disappointment.

‘Are you off your head, Billy?' he laughed.

‘What? It's the train!'

‘A train!' repeated Danny. ‘Forget about the train will you, and turn around and look at what's in front of you.

Not only Billy, but every single boy in Danny's class turned around and looked straight ahead.

‘That's the best stadium in the world lads, and it's ours and all you're interested in is a train. Get real will yiz. Over there to the right is Hill 16, and–'

Danny probably would have given the whole history of Croke Park if Principal Dunstan hadn't interrupt him.

‘Very good, Mr Wilde. If all fails you could lead the tour today.'

Danny just grinned and calmly followed the others from the back of the line. He had made his point and everyone had got the message.

There were two men sitting behind the
counter
in the reception area. One was fairly young and the other older. As the class from
Littlestown
piled in through the doors, the two men looked at each other and smiled as if to say,
here we go!

The tour was arranged for eleven, but it was only a quarter to now, so everyone was given a small booklet of the museum floor plan, and Principal Dunstan told them that they could have a little look around at the ground level while they were waiting.

At once, everyone split up into their small groups of friends. Todd stuck close to Danny and Splinter. Billy Stapleton, however, didn't bother sticking with a group. Billy was well known for enjoying his own company.

‘Horses make better company than people,' Billy often said.

‘Look at all those medals!' said Splinter, pointing over to a glass case on a wall in the reception.

The three pals pressed their noses against the glass, gazing at a big display of county and
all-Ireland
medals that a player called Jimmy Doyle had won.

‘D'ya know this bloke?' asked Todd.

Splinter shook his head and turned to Danny expectantly.

‘Nope!' answered Danny. ‘He was a hurler for Tipperary. ‘Not my game, Todd.'

The rest of the class had scattered far around the museum, but Danny wasn't in such a frenzy. He wanted to take it all in. He was well impressed with the set up. There were large projector screens showing films of football matches, as well as small television screens
slotted
into the walls.

He didn't mind if he didn't get to see
everything today.
Sure my da can bring me another time,
he thought.

Just before eleven, Principal Dunstan and Mr Breen started rounding up boys from all corners. The tour guide – the older guy from behind the desk – introduced himself. He seemed to be a nice man – not grumpy or sour faced, but friendly and enthusiastic. He led everyone out of the museum and into a cinema area.

‘I'm going to show you all a short film, lads. It's called
A Sunday in September
, but before I turn it on, you're probably wondering what these chairs and microphones are for?' Then he smiled, ‘This is also where the disciplinary board meets!'

Splinter looked at Danny.

‘What?'

‘You know when you make it onto the Dubs' team?' smiled Splinter.

Danny nodded.

Splinter just laughed, then nodded toward
the seats with the microphones.

‘Get lost!' laughed Danny. ‘I'll never end up in here.'

The film only lasted for about ten minutes. It was clips of two All-Ireland finals in 1997. Kerry versus Mayo in football, and Clare versus Tipperary in hurling.

Although there was great atmosphere and great play in both matches, Danny kept looking over toward the guide as if to say,
When are we going to see the Dubs?

Splinter giggled a little, and nudged Danny.

‘Look at Todd,' he whispered.

Todd was getting into the film in a big way. For the first time since Danny and Splinter had known him, they were now getting to see a different Todd – one who was really
enjoying
himself and letting himself be enthusiastic.

Todd was leaning forward in his seat and clenching his fists. He didn't care what teams were playing. He just loved the whole exciting
game that was unfolding in front of him, and when the play suddenly slowed down and a loud heartbeat noise pounded from the
speakers
all around the cinema, Danny thought Todd was going to keel over.

After the film, the guide led them out through a door and into a huge concrete tunnel.

‘This is the service tunnel,' he said. ‘I need everyone to keep to the far right as we are
walking
. There are quite a few vans and cars in today, so please be careful.'

Principal Dunstan backed that up with a stern look at each and every pupil.

‘Are we going out to the pitch?' Danny asked. He couldn't wait to get out there.

The guide nodded. ‘We'll get there. We've a few things to see first.'

As Danny walked in line along the walls of the tunnel, he wondered why they were being brought this way. It was kind of boring.

What's so special about this?
he thought.

His answer came quickly.

The guide stopped at a corner of the tunnel, and pointed into another tunnel.

Danny could see the pitch!

‘Animal!' he announced.

‘Every corner tunnel that leads into the pitch has a name,' said the guide. ‘This one is the Mohammed Ali tunnel.'

‘But he's a boxer!' laughed Splinter.

Principal Dunstan gave a terrifying growl at Splinter. Splinter stepped in behind Todd.

The guide told them that Mohammed Ali had fought in Croke Park in 1972, and that was the tunnel that he walked through into the arena.

Danny got the message. The tour had already started in this concrete service tunnel!

The next corner tunnel was named after U2 because they played the first concert in Croke Park.

The tour was starting to get better as the guide led them into the player's lounge, to show them the famous Waterford Crystal
Chandelier. Danny would never have thought he could be interested in a chandelier, but this one was made of thirty-two crystal footballs and seventy-two crystal sliotars – he even thought he wouldn't mind having something like it in his own house!

Todd turned to Danny and Splinter.

‘You Irish really take this GAA seriously!'

Danny nodded with pride. Todd was starting to get the GAA bug. Danny just knew it.

As they were led back out of the player's lounge and into the concrete tunnel again, Danny couldn't hold back any longer.

‘Are we going out to see the pitch?' he hounded the guide.

The guide laughed.

‘I bet you're going to be an all-star,' he said. ‘You have only one thing on your mind. Sign of a great player.'

Danny was well chuffed.

The guide led them over to a yellow door with DR-1 written on it in large black print.

‘Don't you want to get into the player's dressing rooms?' he asked, looking over toward Danny.

Danny's head nearly fell off.

‘Savage!'

The door was unlocked and everyone barged into the dressing rooms. It was a spectacular moment. Every county's jersey was hanging up in the dressing room. Danny's eyes fixed on one jersey and one alone. The blue jersey with Áth Cliath on it. It was an emotional moment for Danny. This was his dream. He just couldn't believe that he was standing in the very dressing room where his heroes prepared
themselves
for battle.

Mr Breen organised all the boys into a tight huddle around the Dubs' jersey – to fit them all in he had to get most of them to sit or lie on the floor – and took a picture for the school's wall of memories.

After the dressing room, they passed through
a warm-up area. It was amazing – a big, white room with artificial grass on the floor and
netting
along the ceiling. This was where the teams practised before going out to a match.

Danny's stomach was starting to churn. He knew that the moment was close.

The guide led them back out of the dressing room area and through a short green tunnel. Finally! They were pitch side!

All the boys cheered. Danny Wilde was the loudest of all. Even Todd Bailey let out a roar of appreciation at this wonderful place.

As everyone followed the guide up to the trophy presentation area – where they were shown the President's seat, number 21, Danny, Splinter and Todd remained pitch side.

‘Why isn't that corner over there covered with a stand?' asked Todd.

‘History,' answered Danny.

‘History?' repeated Todd.

Danny told Todd the story of Hill 16 and the Dubs and the tale of how the rubble from the
1916 Rising was used to make the Hill.

‘That's sacred ground, Todd,' said Danny.

‘Yeah!' agreed Splinter.

‘D'ya think you're ever gonna play for the Dubs, Danny?' asked Todd.

Danny turned to Todd.

‘It's my dream, man. I know I'm going to play for them. And some day, up there where all the lads are standing, I'm going to lift the Sam Maguire Cup.'

Todd smiled.

‘I wouldn't mind a bit of that action too.'

Splinter looked at Danny, then at Todd.

‘Then you know what you have to do, don't you, Todd?' laughed Splinter.

To everyone's disappointment, the tour of the stadium was nearing its end. The guide led them all up into a VIP area, then up several escalators and showed them around the
media centre. Danny got one last glimpse of the pitch, before they were led back down loads of sloping paths, where they ended up back in the concrete tunnel, were the tour had begun.

With the turn of key, a door was opened and they were back in the museum again.

Principal Dunstan thanked the guide, who was nipping off for a well-deserved cup of tea, then told everyone that they could have a few minutes more to have a look around the upper level of the museum before their departure.

Even though everyone was instructed to keep quiet and orderly, the mood upstairs in the museum was chaotic. All the boys were rushing around to catch a glimpse of this and that. Danny ushered Splinter over to section number twenty-nine.

‘Look Splinter. The real Sam Maguire Cup.'

Splinter looked at Danny with a bewildered expression.

‘What do you mean the real one?' asked Splinter.

‘That's the real one,' insisted Danny. ‘It was put up here in 1988, and a replica was made then.'

‘Nice one!' said Splinter.

‘Where's Todd?' asked Danny. ‘I have to show him this.'

Danny found Todd in section twenty-five – the internationals area.

Todd was looking at an Australia versus Ireland international compromise game.

‘Did you play much Aussie rules, Todd?' asked Danny.

Todd didn't turn around. He just kept staring at the screen.

‘All the time, mate,' he answered.

‘Do you miss it?'

Before Todd had a chance to answer, Splinter came rushing around the corner. He was hyper!

‘Come on! Yiz are missing all the fun!'

Splinter dragged them up to sections thirty and thirty-one. All the other boys were there
and there was great banter going on. It was an interactive games area.

‘Savage!' said Danny.

There were two kinds of green areas, leading up to two yellow and orange walls, about ten metres away.

There was netting separating the two play areas.

The right side area was for hurling.

You had to hit a sliotar at the wall and your speed was then shown above the wall.

Danny had little or no interest in this except for the fact that Mr Breen was boring the pants off a few poor unfortunates as to how to hold a hurley properly.

Not for Danny Wilde!

All the good action was in the left play area – the football area.

There were two holes in the top corners of its wall, and the trick was to kick the ball into one of the holes. It required great precision and GAA skill.