Review: Cake - Shane Curran's autobiography is the business
October 07, 2014
St Brigid's Shane Curran celebrates a late goal.
Where do you start when reviewing Shane Curran's autobiography? If ever there was a book that epitomised the character of a person, this is it. Ghost writer Tommy Conlon has captured him perfectly and it makes for a fascinating read.
Growing up in Castlerea, Curran decided at a young age that studying wasn't for him (partly due to dyslexia) but school would be about fun and having the 'craic'. There was certainly plenty of that - from exploding windows in a chemistry classroom to that famous penalty that he took in the 1989 Connacht MFC final.
Tales of football with Roscommon, Athlone Town, Castlerea and St Brigid's abound. Curran is outspoken on nearly every topic and never dull in his views. In an age when sports people have perfected saying little of interest, Curran is a breath of fresh air.
His professional life goes from a milk run and shoe sales, to selling €2m worth of roof tiles a year. There's a venture that ended in liquidation and the story of his new company, a global flood defence business, that has brought him all around the world.
It's hilarious, honest and brave, but best of all it's a damned good book.
Published by Penguin Ireland, 'Cake' is available in all good book stores for €16.99.
