I am trying to buy for a friend who has just started to read GAA books. He has only read Dessie Farrells and Mick O' Dwyer's autobiographys to date but has really become interested in GAA books. Has anyone got any recommendations? What are the best GAA books out there? I heard Christy O' Connor's book is good and that Darragh Ó Sé's autobiography is worth a read. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 21/12/2011 14:21:01    1086773

Life, Death & Hurling by Michael Duignan. Super read

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 21/12/2011 14:42:04    1086791

Yeah 'The Club' from Christy O'Connor is probably the best GAA book I've ever read.

Apart from that the Keith Duggan Mayo book 'House of Pain' is very good. The Michael Duignan book this year was great as was 'Screaming at the Sky' from Tony Griffin.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 21/12/2011 14:44:27    1086794

Presence is the Only Thing by Mickey Harte - it's a great read. Also, Micheal's GAA Odyssey by Micheal O'Muircheartaigh is full of the types of storied you'd expect to hear from Micheal.

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 21/12/2011 14:49:34    1086795

Go raibh maith agaibh lads. That Michael Duignan book has only come out. I hear its a good read all right. Are those other books House of Pain and Screaming from the Sky old books? I was looking in Reads of Nassau St the other day and there wasn't many GAA books there. Are they easy to get?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 21/12/2011 14:50:52    1086796

The Club is excellent as is the Gambler by Oisin McConville

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 21/12/2011 14:53:30    1086797

Faire play squareball. Mcheál's book could be a gem all right. What's Mickey Harte's book about? Did he not write an autobiography, Kicking Down Heaven's Door, a good few years back? Is it a continuation?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 21/12/2011 14:54:11    1086799

unlimited heartbreak story of limerick hurling an excellent read. as is the book where damien lawlor followed the waterford footballers for a year to see what life is like for a minnow, cant think of the name of the book

Kenlim (Limerick) - Posts: 864 - 21/12/2011 15:34:06    1086824

the book bout the waterford footballers is called working on a dream

Kenlim (Limerick) - Posts: 864 - 21/12/2011 15:36:17    1086825

Kings of September about the '82 final is a great read even if it hurts

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 21/12/2011 15:58:02    1086840

Read both Mickey Harte's and Darragh's books Mickey Hartes was a very good read and I really enjoyed it, Darragh's book is also very good but you feel that he is holding back a bit and does not give the real gorey details of events, but in saying that it is also an excellant read

A book that is getting very good reviews is "Think you can Manage" by Tim Healy. This is the "Coaching Bible" by all accounts if your mate is into that side of the game. Unfort i have not been able to get my hands on a copy yet so cannot vouch to how good bad or indiffferant it actually is... think santa is bring me one?

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 21/12/2011 16:15:58    1086847

dublin vs kerry by tom humphries is a great read for both football and the inside story to the two teams from a private point of view. some sad stories in there as well as the good times. the limerick heartbreak is another very good read as it goes back to the 30s.

topofthetown (Carlow) - Posts: 64 - 21/12/2011 16:26:22    1086858

The Club is the best book I've ever read by far. Jack O'Connors keys to the kingdom was excellent aswell. I know it's not GAA related but Eddie O'Sullivans autobiography is fantastic. Anyone have an opinion on This is Our Year? Was thinking about getting it.

square_ball_69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 826 - 21/12/2011 17:49:21    1086892

Ireland's Professional Amateurs is written by an American journalist who caught a game on his holidays in Ireland and then takes time off work to travel with teams and see how this 'professional amateur' system works. Great read.

Padraig_Dub (Dublin) - Posts: 100 - 21/12/2011 17:55:25    1086894

Micky Harte two books are very good.Finished Joe Kernan's book thought it was fantastic really enjoyed it.Mick O Dwyer and Brian Cody book are on my wish list for this year !!

Grattonboy (Monaghan) - Posts: 143 - 21/12/2011 20:37:02    1086950

To Grattanboy

Micky Harte two books are very good.

Is Micky Harte's second book a continuation of his autobiography, Kicking Down Heaven's Door?

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 21/12/2011 20:47:45    1086955

As mentioned by other posters The Club is a great read. Deffo my favourite over the years. I thought Dara O'Se's wasn't great to be honest. Jack O'Connors was also a fine book as was Mickey Hartes. Read Liam Hayes a good few years ago and I enjoyed it. Oisin McConvilles was interesting as well. Dessie Farrells was a good read. Dan Shanahans was ok. I was surprised with Kings of September because I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Donal Ogs I enjoyed but maybe its because I'd be familiar with a lot of the 'characters' in the book.

Favourites - The Club, Micky Hartes, Jack O'Connors and Donal Ogs
Worth a read - Kings of September, Biran Corcorans, Liam Hayes', Oisin McConvilles, Dessie Farrells
Mediocre - Big Dans, Dara O Se's

I've read a good few more but they are the ones that spring to mind.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 21/12/2011 21:07:05    1086960

Míle buíochas do gach duine for your recommendations. I found, by accident, a list of books on this website. To anyone interested there is a good list here http://hoganstand.com/BookReviews.aspx. If anyone can think anymore keep on posting

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 21/12/2011 21:08:54    1086961

The Jimmy Doyle book is excellent.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 22/12/2011 08:21:47    1086974

I couldnt finish Mickey Hartes autobiography it felt like i was being preached to everytime i read a chapter.

Id like to get a read at the Waterford footballers book it sounds interesting and also Oisin McConvilles book.

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 22/12/2011 08:46:09    1086977