National Forum

Any Good GAA Books?

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Ban:  "Read Philly McMahon's book recently. It's not your bog standard GAA autobiography. I found it an interesting read. Lots about growing up in Ballymun and the challenges that brought, including his brothers battle with drug addiction.
Makes you appreciate the simple things in life which I too often overlook!"
Have they a Belfast link? Wouldn't mind reading that.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2168 - 16/12/2024 23:23:14    2583809

Link

Replying To Saynothing:  "Have they a Belfast link? Wouldn't mind reading that."
Yeah, his father was from there.
It's a book written by a GAA player, as opposed to a GAA book. Well worth a read IMO.

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 504 - 17/12/2024 13:16:59    2583845

Link

Replying To Saynothing:  "Have they a Belfast link? Wouldn't mind reading that."
I read it too. I thought Philly came across as a bit self righteous. More obsessed with fame and fortune than his own half brother.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2580 - 21/12/2024 17:18:16    2584245

Link

Replying To Afinestick96:  "Is Joe Cannings book any good ?"
Am reading it at the moment. It is ok. A bit boring. No real scandals tbh. Interesting to see how close he was to choosing Rugby as a career. He was apparently waiting for the call to play AIL rugby, but no club in Limerick wanted him. So he stuck with hurling. I make the point on here that Rugby is a huge threat to GAA. It is not their friend. This book confirms it.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2580 - 21/12/2024 17:21:43    2584246

Link

Joe C also said he felt a sense of anti climax after the 2017 final. He went to his hotel room early the night of the win. I can relate to that.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2580 - 21/12/2024 19:56:23    2584252

Link

Replying To galwayford:  "Am reading it at the moment. It is ok. A bit boring. No real scandals tbh. Interesting to see how close he was to choosing Rugby as a career. He was apparently waiting for the call to play AIL rugby, but no club in Limerick wanted him. So he stuck with hurling. I make the point on here that Rugby is a huge threat to GAA. It is not their friend. This book confirms it."
Does it?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7702 - 21/12/2024 20:50:56    2584254

Link

Replying To galwayford:  "Am reading it at the moment. It is ok. A bit boring. No real scandals tbh. Interesting to see how close he was to choosing Rugby as a career. He was apparently waiting for the call to play AIL rugby, but no club in Limerick wanted him. So he stuck with hurling. I make the point on here that Rugby is a huge threat to GAA. It is not their friend. This book confirms it."
Huge threat in what sense? There are four professional teams in this country, approx 160 players, of those at least 10-15% are South Africans, NZ, Aussies, there's another cohort of maybe 20% whose body shape wouldn't suit football or hurling, props, some second rows, vast majority come through private school system where invariably Gaelic is not played so they've given up football or hurling from age of 12. Not sure rugby is a threat, attractive career for a talent in the code but how many have been lost to the GAA?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1946 - 21/12/2024 21:49:17    2584260

Link

Replying To galwayford:  "Joe C also said he felt a sense of anti climax after the 2017 final. He went to his hotel room early the night of the win. I can relate to that."
Great hurler but outside of what he achieved on the pitch personally I cannot think of any interview he has ever given in which he has said anything that's even remotely interesting.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1965 - 22/12/2024 01:04:04    2584263

Link

Replying To galwayford:  "Am reading it at the moment. It is ok. A bit boring. No real scandals tbh. Interesting to see how close he was to choosing Rugby as a career. He was apparently waiting for the call to play AIL rugby, but no club in Limerick wanted him. So he stuck with hurling. I make the point on here that Rugby is a huge threat to GAA. It is not their friend. This book confirms it."
Rugby is living rent free in your head. Chill out. That zealotry only serves to push people away. From what I've read, the way he was treated by people from his own county left a lot to be desired. I've no doubt a lot of them would be regarded as "true gaels" or that other old chestnut "good hurling people"
Those zealots are a bigger threat to the GAA than any other sport. People won't put up with that nonsense anymore. Lots of choice now. As it should be.

ThePowerhouse (Leitrim) - Posts: 144 - 22/12/2024 06:51:26    2584264

Link