the best GAA autobiography i've ever read was Liam Dunne's,he went through hell with the drinkin but eventually got through it,thought Dessie Farrel's book was good,wasnt to fond of little Davy Fitzgerald's book,Graham Geraghty's book was good but I still reckon he wrote it to early in his career,never read Sean Boylan's book but it's still on my to do list.Best book the GAA brought out was the GAA encyclopidia,would advise anyone to get Dominic Williams's book Cuchulainn's son,it's a biography about Nickey Rackard,the best Dvd I ever seen has to be ''DJ'',fantastically made,Ringy was good aswell,pity there's barely any football DVD's bar the season review DVD's

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 02/04/2009 12:43:39    246274

Justin McCarthy and Mickey Harte's books, both done with the assistance of Kieran Shannon, were excellent, as was Tom Humphreys "Green Fields". Pat Comer's video about Galway's 1998 football win was very interesting. I don't think it was ever released on dvd.

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 02/04/2009 12:49:03    246283

Thought Geraghty's book was awful... A great player but a painful read and an insight into why he got into so much controversy. The guy never once thought he was in the wrong about anything!

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 02/04/2009 12:56:21    246294

I was meant to get Mickey Harte's book aswell but when ya think about it he's got along way to go,I failed to mention Jack O'Connor's book but I thought he was gone from Kerry football fullstop after his book (but i think he did say he ''could'' go back to the kingdom hotseat in the book)

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 02/04/2009 13:00:56    246299

nicky english's and ger loughnan's books are very good.

good bit of contaversy in both!!

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 02/04/2009 13:29:46    246324

''A year till Sunday'' for the best DVD and Mick O'Dwyers book i taught were very good. the DVD is not just because it was about galway, but because it had everything in it, training in winter, matches played that season, player and manager interviews, fans & pubs reactions, half-time footage, etc.
the book because of the success and storis moicko convaded in a great period of GAA......

pridengalway (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 02/04/2009 13:35:50    246327

DVD - A year til Sunday.
Book - Lá An Phaoraigh by Seán Óg de Paor.

And yes, I am from Galway.

Wests_Awake (Galway) - Posts: 877 - 02/04/2009 14:06:31    246365

have to say kings of september is best football book iv read. it was obviosly about offaly in 1982 but its fascinating to read the stories from the kerry side aswell. a great read.
liam dunne's book is very good,very personnall. didnt like dessie's farrells or mickey hartes.mickeys book will be great in 20 years tho.

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 02/04/2009 14:29:37    246405

I was interested in getting Sean Og De Paor's book but I cant find it anywhere in the sunny south east (Its well worth its name today I tell ya what)

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 02/04/2009 15:25:53    246501

con houlihans book of sporting essays is brilliant. not solely about GAA but all sport involing ireland and his experiences. very good read. dessie's book was pretty good also.

jaffacake (Meath) - Posts: 720 - 02/04/2009 17:42:11    246698

Liam Dunne's book is the best GAA one I have read, followed by Liam Hayes' effort. Dunne talks about the depths he hit and is very honest in talking hurling, life and drink.
Hayes book was unique in a way as most GAA books at the time were flat, while he brought his life story and the sorrow his family had endured into the book.
There have been some terrible efforts in recent years - real slap them together and make a killing in the Christmas market, but Hayes and Dunne were certainly not in this category.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 480 - 02/04/2009 17:57:52    246727

Mickey hartes kicking down heavens door ...

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 02/04/2009 17:58:11    246728

theres a great book that came out last november called ''bible of wexford gaa'',it has the history every single person who played for Wexford,even the lads who played for the county in frongoch during the rebellion,and the history of the club championship

I believe all 32 counties should have something like that no matter how successful or not so successful they are

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 02/04/2009 18:30:35    246764

Oisin Mc Convilles is meant to a good read, he reveals all about certain men who have marked him, and their unsporting behaviour.

Niamh (Derry) - Posts: 2397 - 02/04/2009 18:38:27    246773

Sam's for the Hills. Deals with Donegal football from the early 80's to 2004. Mainly focused on 1992 obviously but a great read about making a team and what has to be done to be successful.
Mickey Harte and Justin McCarthys books are other great reads. Liam Dunne another great read.

donegal_insider (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 02/04/2009 18:43:20    246774

Liam Dunnes was definitely the best. Brain Corcoran's and Oisin McConville's books are good too

mondred (Wexford) - Posts: 872 - 02/04/2009 19:36:46    246803

mickos book

what a legend

JohnGrace1989 (Donegal) - Posts: 472 - 02/04/2009 21:39:18    246913

paidi o se's autobiography was brilliant. definitley the best.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 02/04/2009 22:22:45    246954

over the bar-breandan o heithir.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 02/04/2009 22:38:32    246972

Have to agree that Liam Dunne's book was great and he was not afraid to confront his demons! Fair play to him. So honest and to the point. A real sporting icon, Read Brian Corcoran's book and what struck me about his book was the huge dedication and detail that the entire Cork team put into their prepararation. Incredible.

I also thoroughly enjoyed a book by Martin Codd of the 1950's Wexford team. A superb social history plus a tremendous perceptive analysis of change that took the country by storm during the 50's. Really a great read. You would have to be made of stone not to like it!

Ger Loughnane's tome also a good read as his honesty shone through. Charlie Carter's effort at writing was really disappointing. Not much 'substance' in it.

All the work by Brendan Fullam was good and what about Charlie Keegan from Carlow who wrote a lovely book on Kilkenny and their 3-in-a- row! A nice 'warm' read.

D.J Carey's video is superb and is a great record of how great he was. Absolutely fantastic.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1881 - 02/04/2009 23:11:22    247007