Read Ireland Book Reviews
Issue 432
Remembering Mayo’s Fallen Heroes compiled by Michael Feeney
Large Format Trade Paperback; 35 Euro / 48 USD / 26 UK; 330 pages
This wonderful book is reflective of all those commemorated in the new Mayo Peace Park, Garden of Remembrance, from World War One, Spanish Civil War, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, and those who died with the Irish Defence Forces whilst serving on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
It is a very interesting read, full of articles, stories and facts, with serious contributions from a number of national & local authors. It has a comprehensive list of the names & details of those who died in those wars and conflicts. It is a very important historical book, for students of Local history in Ireland. It was written & produced in Mayo by the author Castlebar man Michael Feeney.
Great Irish Houses with Forewords by Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin, The Honourable Desmond Guinness and Photography by Trevor Hunt
Hardback; 55 Euro / 80 USD / 40 UK; [Add To Basket]
With more than 200 beautiful colour photographs by Trevor Hart, one of Ireland’s leading photographers, and forewords by Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin and President of the Irish Georgian Society, and The Hon Desmond Guinness, Great Irish Houses will take the reader on an extraordinary journey through the centuries that ends with the renaissance of Ireland’s historic homes in a vibrant and modern nation.
Featuring many of these estates and houses for the first time, and allowing a peek inside many well-known fine houses, this illuminating book reveals how, with the help of the Irish Georgian Society and the commitment of their owners, these houses now stand as a fantastic showcase for Irish architecture, design and craftsmanship.
Doorways of Ireland by Michael Fewer
Large Format Hardback; Publishers Recommended Price: 22 Euro. Read Ireland Special Price: 16 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 130 pages, with full colour photographs throughout
We all relate readily to doorways - the possibilities they open up, their romance. The doorway tells us much about a building, its purpose and its occupier; and it has, throughout the ages, attracted the art of the designer and the skill of the craftsman perhaps more than any other architectural element. Michael Fewer takes a relaxed and imaginative look at how the idea of the entrance to a building has been dealt with by the builders, designers and craftsmen of Ireland from the earliest times until the present day. He considers function, style, composition, components and materials, together with design influences. The doors he examines range from the humblest to the most impressive, and from the architecturally significant to the whimsical, from the Seefin cairn at Kilbride, County Wicklow, dating from 3000 BC, to the eighteenth-century doors of Merrion Square, Dublin, and, coming right up to date, the doors of the National Gallery Millennium Wing. Describes and illustrates 54 doorways all over Ireland, from Neolithic times to the present day Provides a unique slant on the colourful history and architecture of Ireland By a knowledgeable and popular author
Bird’s Nest Soup by Hanna Greally
Paperback; 10 Euro / 14 USD / 8 UK; 135 pages [Add To Basket]
This title contains new introduction by Dr. Eilis Ward, National University of Ireland Galway. 'Mentally well, but unclaimed' - this sums up the horrendous situation in which Hanna Greally found herself for the best part of twenty years. She saw what she anticipated was a short rest in the Big House, St. Loman's psychiatric hospital in Mullingar stretch and stretch as it became clear to her that none of her relatives surviving after her mother's unexpected death had any intention of applying for her release.In those days, there was no way out for an unclaimed patient. She knew herself to be unwanted, fully conscious of her position and acutely observant of her surroundings, in an atmosphere calculated to bring about steady degradation of her personality. She survived this Kaf ka-esque situation, emotionally and physically whole, and when a more enlightened system was introduced regained her freedom through a rehabilitation institute in 1962. Here is a remarkable story, told with reticence and naturalness which makes it all the more moving.
Touching Greatness: Memorable Encounters with Golfing Legends by Dermot Gilleece
Trade Paperback; 14 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 310 pages, with an 8-page photo insert
This work includes tales of golfing stars and memorable moments from Ireland's best-loved golf correspondent. In almost thirty years as Ireland's leading golf journalist, Dermot Gilleece has met and interviewed numerous heroes of the game. Join Dermot on the course as he looks back over many wonderful years of golf with the greats - from Jack Nicklaus' first game on Irish soil, to sympathetic accounts of the declining skills of iconic golfers such as Seve Ballesteros. Packed with stories and insights about legends from Gene Sarazen, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods to, of course, 'Himself', Christy O'Connor Snr, "Touching Greatness" offers highlights from Dermot's much-loved column in the "Irish Times", as well as more recent observations on the game.There are unmissable insights into illustrious characters from the amateur game, women's golf, Irish involvement in major team competitions like the Ryder Cup, and the history of Irish golfers in the Open, including the double Open and PGA Champion, Padraig Harrington. At turns moving and funny, and always beautifully written, Dermot's tales bring you right onto the fairway as you soak up the very best stories from inside the world of competitive golf.
The Republic of Ireland: International Football Facts by Dean Hayes
Large Format Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 424 pages with full colour photographs throughout [Add To Basket]
The essential guide to the Republic of Ireland's national soccer teams, this unique, in-depth history contains enough facts, statistics and trivia to give Republic of Ireland fans an unrivalled reference book. It includes: History of the FAI from 1921 and formation of the national team; Profiles of every player to represent Ireland, over 450, featuring their positions, clubs, cap dates and goals they scored. Get the facts about the Black Pearl, Brady, Dunphy, Giles youngest to score for Ireland, Charlie Hurley, Noel Cantwell, Peter Farrell and many more; Complete match-by-match record from 1926 to 2008, including the full player lists, clubs they played for, match results and goal scorers; Profiles and records of the Republic of Ireland s 11 managers, starting with Mick Meagan in 1969; Match reports for the 25 most famous games, including Ireland V Austria, Dalymount, 1963, 40,000, five pitch invasions; Statistics for the team record in World Cup matches, European Championships, the top goal scorers, and record number of appearances; Did you know? fun facts and trivia throughout; Photos of players, managers and memorabilia.
Boss Cat: Roy Keane’s Epic First Season as a Premiership Manager by Nick Barnes
Trade Paperback; 19 Euro / 27 USD / 13 UK; 190 pages [Add To Basket]
After their momentous rise from the foot of the Championship to the top of the table on the final day, Keane and Sunderland’s next challenge was the Premiership. In this book the author tracks Keane’s first season as a Premiership manager, recording a litany of last-gasp winners and courageous displays at the Stadium of Light.
Hurling: The Warrior Game by Diarmuid O’Flynn
Hardback; 25 Euro / 34 USD / 17 UK; 340 pages, with photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Hurling is Ireland s greatest national game, but great hurlers are not born naturals. All agree Ring and Mackey had it. Most agree DJ Carey had it. What is it? What are the key elements? In this review of Ireland s finest spectator sport, Diarmuid O Flynn goes in search of the key elements of hurling greatness. He interviews current and former greats from each position, managers and coaches. The result is an analysis of player positions and the qualities needed in each. People who played the game at every level, Dónal Óg Cusack, Pat Hartigan, Seán McMahon, Martin Storey, Ray Cummins, Nicky English, Liam Griffin, Henry Shefflin and others, discuss the finer points and skills that make the perfect player. They also recall great performances, great protagonists, tricks, tactics and humorous anecdotes, and openly offer advice. The result is a must-read for every hurling fan, a handbook for coaches, and insights for those who want to understand this ancient game renowned for its sportsmanship and the kinship of those who play it.
Blood Brothers: The Inside Story of the Cork Hurlers, 1996-2008 by Michael Moynihan
Trade Paperback; 17 Euro / 24 USD / 12 UK; 238 pages, with a 16-page full colour photo insert [Add To Basket]
In 1996 the Cork senior hurlers suffered a record loss to Limerick in the first round of the Munster hurling championship; three years later they were All-Ireland champions. Three years after that title they were the first GAA team to go on strike; three years after that they had won two All-Ireland titles in a row.
Along the way they blazed a trail for GAA players by standing up for their rights; they revolutionised tactics in the game of hurling and they have given Irish sport some of its most unforgettable characters and moments. Through strikes and stand-offs, controversies and collisions, departures and disappointments, they have been the most fascinating GAA team of the last twenty years.
This is their story. Players, managers, selectors and backroom staff involved with Cork for the last decade have co-operated with journalist Michael Moynihan to give their side of events, with some speaking out for the first time in a series of interviews conducted specifically for this book.
The Best of the West: GAA Greats of Connacht by John Scally
Hardback; 25 Euro / 34 USD / 17 UK; 244 pages [Add To Basket]
Paying homage to great games and great heroes, John Scally celebrates top GAA players from Connacht since the 1930s. While footballers form the majority, great Galway hurlers also feature. All were proud wearers of county colours, men of passion and dedication, some winning All-Ireland medals, others not so lucky. Stars interviewed range from Jimmy Murray, who captained Roscommon in the 1940s, through to legends like Mayo s Paddy Prendergast, Leitrim s Packy McGarty, Galway s John Connolly, Sligo s Eamon O Hara, and TV pundits, Martin Carney and Kevin McStay. All have a compelling story to tell. New insights into management styles and competence, referees decisions, Mayo s failures, and controversial incidents of recent decades emerge, such as the tunnel incident in the 1983 All-Ireland Football Final, the Keady affair , and the Mayo-Meath melee in 1996. This engrossing and entertaining mixture, with amusing anecdotes and frank opinions takes readers behind the scenes into the drama of Gaelic games with famous sons of Connacht.
Sam, Liam, Strikes and Schemozzles: How Well Do You Know Your GAA? By JP Corkery and Ciaran Loughran
Paperback; 13 Euro / 20 USD / 10 UK; 220 pages [Add To Basket]
The annual quest to win the Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy Cups inspires great action on Ireland's GAA playing fields. Followers of the national amateur games of hurling, camogie, handball, Gaelic football and ladies football are renowned for their fanaticism and detailed knowledge of the sports. This engaging collection of 1,500 questions sets out to inform, entertain and test all GAA fans. The questions are not simple one-liners but rather interesting ones which make you want to know the answer, e.g. Who was about to be substituted by Clare in the 1995 All-Ireland hurling final, scored the winning goal, and was promptly taken off? Each round of questions covers a specific aspect of the GAA and the chapter order takes the reader through the history of Gaelic games, the matches, the stars, the referees, GAA politicians, super subs, strikes and hurlers on the ditch. Find out how much you really know about the who, what, why and where of the GAA. Guaranteed to test the most experienced quizzer and a must have for all GAA fans.
Final Whistle: The Paddy Russell Story by Paddy Russell
Trade Paperback; 12 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 286 pages [Add To Basket]
Tipperary native Paddy Russell has been one of the leading referees in the GAA for the past 30 years. His story is a remarkable one, following his rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of two All-Ireland finals. Inspired by the late, great John Moloney, Russell took his first steps in refereeing in 1976. He quickly emerged as a leading light and rapidly worked his way to the top of his profession. Russell has enjoyed a successful career but it is also one laced with drama, most notably that arising from the 1995 All-Ireland senior football final between Tyrone and Dublin.Russell later took charge of the tempestuous National Football League clash between Dublin and Tyrone in 2006, which became known as 'The Battle of Omagh', and the stormy showdown between Leinster rivals Dublin and Meath in April 2008. Just two months later, Russell was in charge of the Munster senior football championship tie between All-Ireland champions Kerry and Clare when Kerry captain Paul Galvin slapped the referee's notebook from his hands, earning a three-month suspension. In "Final Whistle", Russell reflects on his eventful journey, including these controversial matches, and describes vividly the stresses and strains of refereeing modern-day Gaelic games.
Munster: 2008 Champions of Europe from the Irish Examiner
Hardback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 156 pages, with full colour photographs throughout [Add To Basket]
Munster had the toughest possible draw; first they were pitched into a Pool that included the defending Heineken Cup and English champions London Wasps; the new powerhouse of French rugby ASM Clermont Auverge; and Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets who had beaten them in the quarter final in 2007. Back to back wins in Stradey Park and crucial losing points in Coventry and Montferrand saw them emerge Pool winners only to face the prospect of away games in both the quarter-final and semi-final. They became the only team in the history of the Heineken Cup to win quarters and semis away from home, defeating Gloucester and Saracens.And finally, there was the never to be forgotten 24th May at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, when they defeated Toulouse, the most successful team in the history of the tournament, to become champions of Europe for the second time in three years. Roared on by the Red Army, this extraordinary panel of players and their backroom and coaching staffs have brought Irish rugby to an undreamed pinnacle. "Munster Champions of Europe" recalls this triumphant progress in over 200 stunning photographs as well as contemporary match reports from "The Irish Examiner".
Ronan O’Gara: My Autobiography
Hardback; Publishers Recommended Price: 27 Euro. Read Ireland Special Price: 21 Euro / 28 USD / 15 UK; 320 pages, with three 8-page colour photo inserts [Add To Basket]
Ronan O'Gara is quite simply one of the greatest sportsmen Ireland has ever produced. A brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime orchestrator of play from the out-half position he has made his own, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby, the list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on. He was the leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, and one of the top ten in the world. He was the leading points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup. He was the first ever points and try scorer at the home of Gaelic sports, Croke Park. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes, including the glorious year of 2006, when his tactical prowess and will to win first helped guide Ireland to the Triple Crown in the Six Nations championship, then Munster to a memorable Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.O'Gara kicked a perfect five out of five in the 23-19 win that glorious May day, as Munster lifted the coveted trophy for the first time, sparking wild celebrations heard all the way back in Limerick and Cork. Two years later, he was no less instrumental as Munster won the cup for a second time, beating Toulouse. Yet in any sporting career there are setbacks as well, and O'Gara does not shy away from addressing the darker days, most notably at the 2007 World Cup. He tells the inside story of Ireland's disappointments in France, and responds to the allegations about his personal life that made front-page news that autumn. "Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography" is the story of an Irish rugby hero, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.
Axel: A Memoir by Anthony Foley
Hardback; 22 Euro / 30 USD / 15 UK; 260 pages, with two 8-page full colour photo inserts [Add To Basket]
On 20 May 2006, Anthony Foley held aloft the European Cup for Munster and cemented his position as a legend of Irish rugby. With a father who played for Munster and Ireland and who was a member of the team that conquered the All Blacks it was no surprise that the young Anthony took to the game and he has shone on every team he has played for from the St Munchin's Junior Cup team to the Irish national side. He was part of the Shannon side that dominated the 1990s, winning four All-Ireland league titles in a row and played in all forty-eight games in that amazing record. In a memorable debut for Ireland, he scored a try against England in 1995 and went on to gain over sixty caps and captain his country. But it is with Munster his true band of brothers that Anthony is most identified. He is the provinces most capped player, holds the record for the most tries in all competitions and he has led the Red Army to glory in the Celtic League, the Celtic Cup and, of course, the European Cup. In Axel, Anthony looks back at his outstanding career and lets us in on what makes one of the last, great amateur players tick.
Princes of Pigskin: A Century of Kerry Footballers by Joe O Muircheartaigh & TJ Flynn
Large Format Trade Paperback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 408 pages, with full colour photographs throughout [Add To Basket]
Kerry played in 52 football All-Irelands and won 34, making it the most successful county in Gaelic football. It has a long history and many heroes. This collection of interview-based essays surveys Kerry footballers since 1903, their first All-Ireland success. Featured are 100 proud wearers of the green and gold, some amongst the most successful, others who weren t lucky enough to bring home an All-Ireland medal. Current stars interviewed include Colm Gooch Cooper and Kieran Donaghy while names from the past range from Joe Barrett and John Joe Sheehy to Mick O Connell. All represented Kerry with distinction and have a story to tell. There are long-forgotten tales and unknown gems of cycling, gun-running, gambling and drinking; some tell of troubled times and civil war; others are amusing and controversial anecdotes of recent training styles and successes. All have helped shape Kerry football.
Our Name is On the Cup: The Stories of Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire by Sean Meaney
Paperback; 13 Euro / 18 USD / 9 UK; 174 pages, with black and white photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Although the names Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire are well known when it comes to the respective All Ireland Trophies played for in Croke Park every September, little is known about the men and how they came to have such prestigious cups named after them. This book is written to make sure that these two heroic men are placed on the history books. They are no longer the forgotten sons of Ireland and here we chronicle why they deserve their place in Irish history. Ironically both the Liam MacCarthy Cup and the Sam Maguire Cup are named after London GAA men Their contribution to the infant days of the GAA in London is immeasurable but they achieved so much more with their inspired involvement with organisations like the IRB and the Gaelic League. Michael Collins relied on their friendship, their funds, discretion and work ethic when coming back and forth from Ireland to England. Much more is known about Liam MacCarthy because he had, and still has, many relatives in London, but sadly very little is known about Sam Maguire as Sam never married and has no known relatives. One thing for certain, their names ring out every year as the trophies are lifted by the winning counties of Ireland. At least once a year their cup still overflows.
Three Kings: Cork, Kilkenny & Tipperary: The Battle for Hurling Supremacy by Ralph Riegel
Hardback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 240 pages, with two 8-page full colour photo inserts [Add To Basket]
The old rivalries between these three counties are around as long as the GAA itself, and as hard-fought and intensely felt now as any time over the past hundred and twenty years. This book honours that great tradition and celebrates the wins and losses that brought excitement, pain and intensity to the followers of these three counties. The book also examines how it is that these three kings rise to the top year after year. These hurling moments live on in the imagination and in conversation, forever being honed and revisited. The book recounts the best sporting moments in the lives of hurling player and followers. The careers of the star players Ring, Doyle, Keher, Carey, Barry-Murphy, O hAilpin, Shefflin, and more are followed here in loving detail. This is the full story of these three amazing counties the highlights, rivalries and the greatest matches are explored in all their fervour and desperation. It is illustrated with action-packed photos.
Sonia O’Sullivan: My Story
Trade Paperback; 16 Euro / 22 USD / 11 UK; 226 pages, with an 8-page full colour photo insert [Add To Basket]
Sonia O'Sullivan is one of the greatest sporting figures Ireland has ever produced. In a career which saw her competing at the highest international levels for over a decade, she turned in world-class times in events ranging from the 1,500 metres to the marathon, capped by World Championship gold in the 5,000 metres in 1995 and Olympic silver in the same event in 2000. But her performances on the track are only part of the story of this passionate, sometimes fragile, and always compelling athlete. Now, "Sonia" tells the full story of her life for the first time - from her childhood in Cobh, County Cork, through her early successes on the track, to the highs of 1995 and 2000 and the low of the 1996 Olympics. Whether in triumph or in tears, Sonia has always been a uniquely fascinating - and mysterious - figure. This frank autobiography takes us behind the scenes of international athletics and behind the mask of a brilliant, vulnerable sportswoman.
Robert Dunlop: Life and Times of a Legend by Jimmy Walker
Hardback; 20 Euro / 28 USD / 14 UK; 180 pages, full colour photos throughout [Add To Basket]
Robert Dunlop's death in May 2008 shocked the entire road-racing community. The manner of his death, echoing that of his elder brother, Joey, in 2000, seemed a particularly poignant coincidence. Robert Dunlop was a road-racing legend. His first major victory was in the Cookstown 100 250cc race in 1985. Two years later he won the man-of-the-meeting award, taking the 125cc, 350cc and 1000cc races. More victories followed in the succeeding years. But in 1994 Robert had a major accident at the Formula 1 TT in the Isle of Man. Receiving terrible injuries, he was lucky to escape with his life. Most people believed that his career was over, and his long convalescence meant that he did not appear on a race track again until early 1996. He raced on until the end of the 2004 season, fighting the pain and disability left by his injuries.In 2005 he was elected to the Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and then he made a dramatic return to motorcycle racing the following year when he notched a record-breaking fifteenth win at the North West 200 meeting. This book is a celebration of Robert's life and career in more than two hundred photographs, taken at all the major circuits at which he competed: the Isle of Man TT, the Ulster Grand Prix, the North West 200, the Cookstown 100, the Skerries 100 and others. The photographs are augmented by a biographical essay from Jimmy Walker, the distinguished Belfast journalist.
Please note: Prices were correct at time of original posting but are subject to subsequent change without notice.
Gregory Carr, Independent Bookseller
Read Ireland
392 Clontarf Road
Dublin 3
Ireland
Tel + Fax: +353-1-853-2063
Customer Services Comments, Criticism and Questions
Subscribe to Read Ireland Book News - Our Free Weekly Email Newsletter