GAA Books for Christmas

Howdy folks,
Was just looking through the MASSIVE array of GAA books out there for Christmas and trying to decide what to get for who. Obviously can't read them all so was just wondering if anyone had any particular favourites they could recommend?
I've read a couple myself lately, Cody's book and this other one called Around The World In GAA Days. Thought Cody's was a little dry and almost felt impersonal in a way. Was expecting more, but maybe I over hyped it to myself slightly!
But the second one about the GAA outside Europe was pure class. Basically it's about this guy who travelled all around the world and played with and met lads in all these GAA clubs in Dubai, China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, San Fran, Chicago, New York etc. Really a cracking read, and something completely different to everything else out there. Defo recommend it to anyone, couldn't put it down and finished it in a day and a half!
All the same, anyone else got anything good they can recommend for myself or the brother or the aul fella this Christmas??!!

Howdy Allston - welcome to GAATipster

i started to read Codys book but found it a bit boring, i am currently reading Mickey Hartes book but i am not too sure it would be a great interest to anyone either its a bit like Codys

Hi Allston,
Welcome to Tipster!
Mickey Harte/ Donal Ógs books could be worth a read.
I know it is not newly published but Oisin McConvilles book The Gambler is good too.

Shinners wrote:Hi Allston,
Welcome to Tipster!
Mickey Harte/ Donal Ógs books could be worth a read.
I know it is not newly published but Oisin McConvilles book The Gambler is good too.

Andy Goram (ex Rangers keeper) has one out, though i doubt very much if GAA is mentioned in it

Tadgh Kennelly has one out too

Howya Allston and welcome!

I think the GAA 125 years one will be the best seller this Xmas. Launched two weeks ago and some of the photos etc are excellent - it will become the GAA coffee table book I reckon. There are so many GAA ones around that I am gonna wait and see what the general consensus is before buying!

Two older ones not to buy - Micko's (with Breheny) - woeful and Misunderstood by Mr Geraghty - he just doesn't get it at all .......

Interesting stuff, and it really is a small aul world! I know the guys that published the McConville book (Ewan McKenna ghost writer, right?) also did that Around The World In GAA Days book. I've flicked through The Gambler alright, seemed to be a fair few mistakes in it with dates etc though, but to be fair prob should give it another go. It's amazing to see how many GAA books there are out there, but have to say I think Denis Walsh set a bar that's gonna be hard to reach, although Donal Óg's is certainly bringing something different to the table! I think the guys that did Harte's book also did Cody's (Liam Hayes maybe?). Should be a little better than Cody's though I reckon. Think that's the one thing i got outta that GAA Days book though is how everyone knows everyone else in one way or another. Fascinating chapter in it e about the relationship between McAnespies in Boston and the Cormac McAnallens club in Sydney for example. They apparently played a challenge game against one another in Tyrone early last year, picture of Chris Lawn and Brolly at that game togged out in McAnallens gear! Gotta say I love the site, just signed up today so fair play lads!

Allston wrote:Interesting stuff, and it really is a small aul world! I know the guys that published the McConville book (Ewan McKenna ghost writer, right?) also did that Around The World In GAA Days book. I've flicked through The Gambler alright, seemed to be a fair few mistakes in it with dates etc though, but to be fair prob should give it another go. It's amazing to see how many GAA books there are out there, but have to say I think Denis Walsh set a bar that's gonna be hard to reach, although Donal Óg's is certainly bringing something different to the table! I think the guys that did Harte's book also did Cody's (Liam Hayes maybe?). Should be a little better than Cody's though I reckon. Think that's the one thing i got outta that GAA Days book though is how everyone knows everyone else in one way or another. Fascinating chapter in it e about the relationship between McAnespies in Boston and the Cormac McAnallens club in Sydney for example. They apparently played a challenge game against one another in Tyrone early last year, picture of Chris Lawn and Brolly at that game togged out in McAnallens gear! Gotta say I love the site, just signed up today so fair play lads!

i think Breheny has done Harte's book this time - Kieran Shannon done his previous one. I recall that match in Tyrone alright Allston - funny how sport can make the world seem such a small place - must have a look for that book sounds a good read.

I believe Liam Dunnes book is very good. Haven't gotten round to reading it yet.
There are so many different sports autobiographies out there - Ronan O'Gara, Stephen Gerrard, Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Paidi O'Sé etc; etc;
Davy Fitzgeralds Passion and the Pride is a personal favourite and Mike Mac's Raising the Banner evoke happy memories of childhood holidays in Clare in the late 1990s.

Glad you like the site Allston, feel free to throw your tuppence worth in wherever you see fit!

I just meant it was the same independent publishers that did both Cody's and Harte's if I'm not mistaken. Yeah Liam Dunne's is a cracker alright, a fair honest man that lad! Wild as a cut sanke too! I think the autobiography marketplace is a little overcrowded in recent years though to be fair, very few people offering a genuine insight, and thus they all become a bit 'same-same' – with the possible exception of maybe Paul McGrath and Donal Og. Can't believe O'Gara's book, good and all as it was, won Sports Book of the Year last year! I mean come on, the idea of book awards is to reward genuine insight and creativity, opening people's minds and introducing them to a perspective they'd never considered before. Think that was a cop out, big time, in my opinion. Tadhg's book is certainly interesting, although really terribly written. Why in God's name would you get an Aussie to write the thing anyway? The ghost writer wasn't even at the All-Ireland final for crying out loud!! Got to give him props though, gotta be the first person ever to be misquoted in their own autobiography!! Not sure how we're expected to believe anything else that's in it if the only excerpt the public have seen was a 'misquote' and 'out of context'...

Kenneally f***ed himself over in a too late bid to get his reputation back and thus rendered 'his' book a complete joke.

If you are a Gaelgoir I believe Sean Og De Paor's book is excellent - sports books in general, I would recommend a biography of Robin Friday titled 'The Best Player I Never Saw' - otherwise its gotta be Jayo Cluxton's autobiography - now serialised in this parish ...

I have all the aforementioned books and as soon as I learn how to read I will tell you all about them.

I'm gonna go ahead and guess you're a fellow Dub Jayo?! Sounds like a fascinating read, the story of a Dublin footballer who's half-goalkeeper, half-corner forward, with half an All-Ireland medal??!! Yeah Kennelly has really made an eejit of himself, he'll be back in Sydney by the end of November, or so the word on the ground over here in Sydney is saying... He's due here next week for his book launch, so don't be surprised if he just doesn't come back home again... Been meaning to pick up Sean Óg's book alright, think his sister wrote it for him? That sound about right?

Allston wrote: Been meaning to pick up Sean Óg's book alright,

Allston, when you pick it up make sure he's not standing behind you ........

Didn't mean that as an insult man, just meant his sister Aoife ghost-wrote most of it for him as far a s I know... Fair play to him putting a book out as Gaeilge though, obviously not in it for the money anyway!!

Allston wrote:Didn't mean that as an insult man, just meant his sister Aoife ghost-wrote most of it for him as far a s I know... Fair play to him putting a book out as Gaeilge though, obviously not in it for the money anyway!!

Sorry A - getting my Ogs mixed up!!!!!!!!!! De Paor's book is a fine read I believe and the fact that it is as Gaeilge is good too.

Allston wrote:Didn't mean that as an insult man, just meant his sister Aoife ghost-wrote most of it for him as far a s I know... Fair play to him putting a book out as Gaeilge though, obviously not in it for the money anyway!!

Pity others wern't so blatantly writing books just for the money. They should, literally, take a leaf out of Sean óg's down to Earth, no BS approach and stop manufacturing controversies just to increase sales

I know what you mean, but sadly that's the nature of the media game these days. That's why forums like this are so important in getting people to read the books that actually mean something and make a difference in people's lives. Donal Óg's certainly is doing that, Paul McGrath's was open and honest and didn't come across as deliberately controversial, not sure many others can say the same thing. Even that GAA Days book i've been on about brought to light the fact that there are people working their bo**ox off trying to promote our games around the world, something that offered an insight and drew attention to something that should be supported and applauded as opposed to something that is merely gonna ruffle a few feathers and sell a few extra copies...

mossbags wrote:

Allston wrote:Didn't mean that as an insult man, just meant his sister Aoife ghost-wrote most of it for him as far a s I know... Fair play to him putting a book out as Gaeilge though, obviously not in it for the money anyway!!

Pity others wern't so blatantly writing books just for the money. They should, literally, take a leaf out of Sean óg's down to Earth, no BS approach and stop manufacturing controversies just to increase sales

I've said it many times before, "No hurling at the dairy door" by the late Billy Rackard is the best GAA book of the past 20 years.
Filled with triumphs, tradegies, success and failure in equal measure it if reflective of ane era before commercialism, GPA, the general plethora of hangers-on and money merchants attaching themselves to the game today.
Welcome Allston, enjoy yourself here although given your county allegiance you're in for many a beating.....

I bought the book recently "GAA a peoples history". Haven't started to read it yet but it has loads of photographs and plenty of articles to keep you reading for hours.

I also heard a review on the radio of a book brought out by a sports producer on RTE, seemed interesting.

clash-of-da-ash wrote:I bought the book recently "GAA a peoples history". Haven't started to read it yet but it has loads of photographs and plenty of articles to keep you reading for hours.

I also heard a review on the radio of a book brought out by a sports producer on RTE, seemed interesting.

Cahill gave the people history book a dogs review over on his site there a few days ago

mossbags wrote:

clash-of-da-ash wrote:I bought the book recently "GAA a peoples history". Haven't started to read it yet but it has loads of photographs and plenty of articles to keep you reading for hours.

I also heard a review on the radio of a book brought out by a sports producer on RTE, seemed interesting.

Cahill gave the people history book a dogs review over on his site there a few days ago

I read the review and he only seems to talk about one chapter where there is one line that criticises interet message boards. Maybe a more indepth review of the entire book might have been better.

I was at the launch of the People's History in Croke Park and they had all the major silverware there on the night - it was the nearest I got to Sam in years! One of the authors, Mark Duncan missed the gig as he is a selector with Kilmacud Crokes and the launch happened at the same time as their replay with Ballyboden!