That sounds like a recently discovered Maeve Binchy novel.Colin Farrell in the lead role as Claridge.I can see it now.Skip would be his trusty one eyes sheepdog that he rescued from certain death in the movie.

I was thinking Skip must have a dark secret that outs between the semi and final - maybe its more to do with a relationship with a one eyed sheepdog than being that sheepdog. As it reads like the down on their luck County team is Antrim then would say its more in the Fantasy genre than Binchys post-war Irish Fiction.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 27/11/2015 10:36:14    1810199

Two books I re-read once a year are Hurling: The Revolution Years by Denis Walsh, and Hooked by Justin McCarthy. Absolutely brilliant. Out Of Our Skins by Liam Hayes is excellent too.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2553 - 28/11/2015 20:27:59    1810388

I get Season of Sunday's for my Dad each Christmas. I never thought about it but the lady in the shop in Maynooth told me they sell more of them when Dublin win. Makes sense I suppose, a good memoir for a great year for them.

Jimmy McGuinness's book was one that interested me. I read some excerpts from it and thought he was good on interviews after the book was launched. Not just the GAA stuff but his personal stories and the Celtic job makes it sound a good read. It was reduced by €3 in the shop so mustn't be selling too well but maybe in that shop alone? Is it worth buying?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 08/12/2015 09:54:56    1811911

I really enjoyed McGuinness' book (read in in one go) but then i might be a bit biased. I'm going to read Kavanaghs now to see it from the players perspective.

mhaith_fear (Donegal) - Posts: 75 - 08/12/2015 11:08:41    1811939

I was at an event where Oisin McConville was the keynote speaker recently. He's a very interesting character. Has anyone read his book? If so would you suggest getting it?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 08/12/2015 11:27:10    1811945

I read O McConvilles book years ago.I really enjoyed it.I'm gambling on football a long time now so was interested in how his gambling spiralled out of control.He is a stand up man.No bull****.Good sense of dark humour also.As a GAA pundit he is up their with the best.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/12/2015 12:15:32    1811961

I agree icehonesty.The Revolution Years was probably my favourite.Hooked was a good read.Ger Loughnane's Raising the Banner was good too.A fair amount of pretty average/boring player books also.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/12/2015 12:28:37    1811967

I got speaking to him after the event and he's a funny man. What i liked about him is that he's very honest and open. He didn't shy away from any questions I asked him. Very interesting man and I could have spent another 5 hours talking to him.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 08/12/2015 13:59:27    1812002

Good to hear it gotmilk.That's exactly how he comes across on Tv & radio.I'd like to shoot the breeze with him myself.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/12/2015 14:21:22    1812008

Just finished reading Dub Sub Confidential by John Leonard. A really insightful book with drugs sex rock and roll. I would highly recommend it.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 471 - 11/12/2015 11:30:38    1812621

Ulsterman- I've just finished reading Ó Sé's autobiography on the Kindle. TBH I thought it was a fairly dry and lacked insight or revealing passages about the Kerry teams he played on, which I imagine is what a lot of people buying the book would be interested in. Also, he writes the book as he talks, so the style comes across as a little unpolished. Shame really as I like him as a TV pundit.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 11/12/2015 14:21:35    1812667

House of Pain out for a while now they could put out a pt 2 at this stage.

theduke66 (Dublin) - Posts: 334 - 11/12/2015 20:18:49    1812708

House of Pain out for a while now they could put out a pt 2 at this stage.

theduke66 (Dublin) - Posts:109 - 11/12/2015 20:18:49 1812708

Not really practical at this stage Duke, what with most books coming out in the couple of months before Christmas. The sequel would become dated by the time Sam lands in Castlebar next September ;)

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 12/12/2015 17:32:18    1812765

Did John Leonard's book not win the award this year?

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 12/12/2015 21:31:54    1812802

Good man Gleebo I love it. U could have a great competition for the title of the book.

theduke66 (Dublin) - Posts: 334 - 14/12/2015 20:34:35    1812949

Has anyone picked up and read The GAA and Revolution in Ireland, 1913-1924?

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 15/12/2015 16:18:43    1813034

John Leonards Book won Setanta Sports book of the year award.

tedd (Galway) - Posts: 57 - 15/12/2015 18:52:09    1813060

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is the same it has been incorporated here.

BigJohn.6_8
Posts: 459
Galway
22/12/2015
11:06

Good new GAA books

As the title says ...Can anyone sugest recent enough GAA books as presents as usual I'm running late !!!

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2274 - 22/12/2015 11:21:06    1813859

Got both DL books from Santa. Read 'Until Victory Always' in a day and thought it was very good. It gives an insight into the life events that made the man but you really get the sense that McG is a deeply enigmatic character who has complete control over what he wants us to know. I think there is much more there that goes unsaid. That being said, I can understand why he wants to remain distanced from the reader. This is a man on a mission. There is a lot more he wants to achieve; we are only scratching at the surface here. I think he has another book in him, when he's at the end of his career that will be more forthright, less guarded.
Rory's book is an antidote to Jim's. It is so honest and it feels as if it has barely been edited (in a good way. It is not in the least bit haughty); Liam Hayes has allowed the reader to hear Rory's voice and he comes across as an eminently likeable person. I am almost finished it. It wasn't as gripping, less complicated but not in the least bit circumspect and therefore refreshing. That makes for a thoroughly good read.
Reading both together has been interesting too, to get both points of view on the same events.
Rory Kavanagh & Jim McGuinness come across as two very different personalities.

Glynners (Donegal) - Posts: 109 - 04/01/2016 12:49:27    1814412

I received John Leonard's book at Christmas but didn't get around reading it until last night.I started at 11pm and only expected to read a few chapters,but ended up reading the whole book in over,five hours,finishing up at 4.30am.I just couldn,t put it down.It was,possibly,the best GAA book i've ever read.John Leonard pulls no punches,and certainly doesn't sit on the fence and water things down.
I could relate to his succumbing to Dublin's hedonistic lifestyle down through the years.I clubbed in the same clubs like the Ormond,and drank in lots of the same pubs like the Sunnybank,Sackville,Club M and Temple Bar.I ended up in the notorious Chancery early house a few times also,and just about lived to tell the tale.Even if i was propositioned by a transexual who paid 10 grand to remove his/her crown jewels.I'm sure there's Dubs' on here that did the same.Leonard's brutal honesty,tinged with sadness,regret,anger and,downright,depression,makes for a compelling read.Lying in the dark with my little head-torch for company,i let out many roars of laughter into the early hours,and at other times,i found myself crashing like the author himself.It's far more than a GAA/sports book.Its life itself.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/01/2016 13:03:02    1815283