Westlife left the stage in 2012 and there was only one certainty; that the boys would be back! The band announced the 20 tour and then changed the message to 20 years of Westlife. That leaves room for more to come and already there are rumours about Cork next year.

Diarmuid has been a fan from the start so that means that I’ve seen all the concerts too. We bought him three Westlife tickets for Christmas. He started a chart of the people that might get to go with him to the concert.

I didn’t feature in that list but as the date grew closer, Diarmuid knew he had to have a driver! His long-standing friend, David was chosen for the third ticket. He and David met in primary school 26 years ago.

The trip

We set out at lunchtime. The two men were very excited; happy and giggling as they have done since they were little boys. Listening to the radio, we learned that there were five concerts in Dublin that night. Consequently, traffic was heavy. I was also reminded that Queen played Slane on that day 33 years ago. Tim and I had attended that concert. I remember the late Freddie Mercury strutting around the stage in his white suit. That music has all been brought to life again brilliantly in the recently released film Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s well worth watching.

In Slane, Queen started out with the song One Vision. I had one vision; to get my two men to Westlife in Croke Park. They are two very easy lads to travel with. Did they have the tickets or know where the tickets were? Not at all, that stuff was left to mother! Life for Diarmuid and David could be very boring but for the people in their lives that enable them to lead fulfilling lives.

The Dublin streets were manic at close of business. There were bikes everywhere criss-crossing traffic lanes with cyclists in all kinds of strange and colourful attire. We had a plan; park, buy t-shirts, go to the loo, get food and be seated for 7pm. We parked in Clonliffe College and walked over to Croke Park.

Cartoon by Clyde Delaney

Impatient society

Once inside, we queued for the t-shirts. The two lads would be there yet if I left them alone as people kept pushing past them. I could feel myself getting angry at a society who considers itself to be inclusive but doesn’t really get it.

Vulnerable people need people to be patient so that they can buy a t-shirt, get a burger and so on. In crowded situations these simple opportunities become impossible.

With all our bits done we headed to our seats. We were high up in the stand. We came off the steps and the rows stretched up above us. David froze, clung onto the railing saying “I’m scared of heights, I’m not going up!” My heart stopped.

Meanwhile, Diarmuid was climbing at a gallop. I told David I’d be back and rushed after Diarmuid. Once he was settled I came back down the 20 rows to David. We talked it out and holding onto me, we made the journey up to Diarmuid. It took him about 20 minutes to relax. I was very conscious of the trust that David had in me to keep him safe.

People sometimes wonder why disability services cost so much. It is because it takes a lot of co-workers and staff to support people with disabilities to avail of work, life and leisure opportunities.

More importantly, it takes time to build that trust necessary to overcome fears and difficulties. Next time, I will buy four tickets so that I will have back up.

The brand works

Seven years on, the Westlife fans have grown up considerably. – there were no screeching teenagers. So too have Westlife, but still they dazzled with their many costume changes and thrilled fans with their old hits. They did fine renditions of several Queen numbers and even launched into Grease Lightening to the delight of my men. Diarmuid’s favourites are Uptown Girl, World of Our Own and When You’re Looking Like That. The brand of Westlife works and as the four singers found out in Dublin, it still resonates and they’d be fools to change it. CL