Irish Sport Books

by Davy Russell

€11.99

'An outstanding insight into the life and career of one of the greatest National Hunt jockeys. The bad days, the good days, the passion - it's all there' - Rachael Blackmore 'Davy Russell's story has been the most fascinating of racing journeys, Donn McClean its classiest chronicler. It makes a National winning combination' - Brough Scott 'Davy Russell is one of the most interesting characters in racing and one of the most successful National Hunt riders of our time. This is a superb book, one of the best sports books I've read' - Eamon Dunphy From Davy Russell's early life in Youghal to his winning ride on Tiger Roll in the 2018 Grand National, this book has it all. Capturing the highs of an incredible career as a top jockey, from the adrenaline rush of winning the Grand National twice, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, it also dwells on the devastating blows that Davy experienced through injury and shows his huge resilience and strength of character. In the book, Davy tells of his years on the point-to-point scene, his big move to England and his first Cheltenham victory in 2006, his experiences at Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud as the number one rider, working with Gordon Elliot, his charity work with Hurling for Cancer Research, and his retirement. It is a truly remarkable journey written by the most entertaining jockey in the business.

by Peter Bills

€12.99

'An entertaining and whimsical search for "the soul of Irish rugby"... Peppered with astute observations' Irish Times 'Triumphs, Trophies and Troubles has got Irish rugby just right in this the 150th anniversary season of the IRFU' Willie John McBride FOREWORD by former Ireland fly half Ollie Campbell 'In a world going all too fast, Peter Bills has the time, the wit and the attention to detail for stories that would otherwise be lost. His is an easy style, a remembering of times and values not just of the Saturday internationals past but of the grassroots members who keep rugby alive to this day.' Keith Wood In late 2024 Ireland, with a population of just 7 million people, stood at the top of rugby union's world rankings. Ireland's rise to such an exalted position has been the great triumph of rugby's professional era. For a nation that fought tooth and nail to keep the game amateur, their progress since 2000 has been extraordinary. The trophies, once so rare in Irish rugby hands, have become almost commonplace. Six Nations Championships, Triple Crowns, Millennium Trophies have all stood in the IRFU offices in Dublin. But that is the top tier of the game. What is the health of the sport at other levels all around Ireland? In this book award-winning international rugby writer Peter Bills seeks to take the pulse of the game at every level - schools, clubs, provinces - as well as the fast-expanding women's game. For if rugby at grassroots level withers, the decline will affect everyone. And how can rugby learn to live side by side with the ubiquitous GAA? Featuring interviews with some legendary names of Irish rugby, such as Keith Wood, Willie John McBride, Tony Ward, Bill Mulcahy, Gordon D'Arcy, Trevor Ringland, Nigel Carr and Tommy Bowe, we also hear from men and women from junior and club rugby, at clubs like Dingle, Kinsale, Monkstown, Boyne, Westport, City of Derry, Donegal Town, Omagh and Oughterard. All of them are doing stirring work behind the scenes for their local clubs and communities as Bills goes in search of the soul of Irish rugby.

by David Gillick

€18.49

The Race offers an exhilarating, behind-the-scenes look at the cut-throat world of elite athletics. With vivid recall, David Gillick, one of Ireland’s most celebrated 400m sprinters, describes the sacrifices, triumphs and devastating setbacks that define a life spent chasing greatness. From the punishing grind of training camps to the mental anguish of injuries and the darker side of athletics, this memoir captures the intensity of a career defined by fractions of a second. As an Irish athlete competing against the odds, Gillick recalls the unique challenges of representing a small nation: limited resources, enormous expectations and the constant push to prove you belong among the world’s best. But The Race is more than a story of sport. It’s an exploration of human resilience and the fight to find balance in a life consumed by the pursuit of perfection. It’s about enduring heartbreak, overcoming burnout and discovering who you are when the race is over.

by Ciarán Murphy

€16.99

Hurling is Ireland’s national game – a source of fascination and pride, even to people who have never played it. Ciarán Murphy, a lifelong club footballer, used to be one of those people. Then he spent a summer trying to play hurling with a tiny club in the West Waterford Gaeltacht. Along the way he embarked on a quest to understand the history, geography and mystique of this extraordinary sport. Old Parish is the club of Ciarán’s father, a club where relatives of his are still deeply involved, and possibly the only place brave (or stupid) enough to take on a forty-one-year-old newcomer to the game. Predictably (and at times hilariously), Ciarán finds out just how difficult a sport hurling is to pick up when you’re in your sporting dotage, up against men who’ve played it since childhood. Ciarán also explores why hurling is played in only half the country; he investigates the origins of hurling clubs’ antipathy to football and the difficulties of establishing hurling in new areas; he looks into the mysteries of hurley-making; and he seeks to understand why, when a hurling legend refers to the sport as ‘the greatest game ever played by any man’, he has to be taken seriously. Anyone who has ever watched hurling knows that it is something unique and extraordinary. Old Parish explains why.

by Martin Breheny

€22.99

Pulse of the Nation is a celebration of the GAA's 140 years at the centre of Irish life, from its foundation in November 1884 to the present-day institution that has expanded massively at home and abroad. It zones in on the greatest players in football and hurling, ranking them one-to-ten, accompanied by profiles, in each of the fifteen positions in both codes. The 'greatest day' for all 32 counties is explored, along with a trawl through the various competitions, from the All-Ireland championships with their 'Heartbeat of the Irish Summer' billing, to those that were once popular but are no longer in place. Controversies are explored, the changed managerial environment is assessed - including the impact of some of the biggest names from Kevin Heffernan to Mick O'Dwyer, from Brian Cody to John Kiely - and the covers are lifted on the GAA's role in Ireland's social and cultural history, including the growth in popularity of camogie and ladies' football. Written by award-winning sports journalists Martin Breheny and Donal Keenan, this is the ultimate publication for the GAA's 140th anniversary.

by Conor Niland

€10.99

The Racket is the story of pro tennis's 99%: the players who roam the globe in hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments. It brings us into a world where a few dozen super-rich players - travelling with coaches and physios - share a stage with lonely touring pros whose earnings barely cover their expenses. Painting a vivid picture of the social dynamics on tour, the economics of the game, and the shadows cast by gambling and doping, The Racket is a witty and revealing underdog's memoir and a unique look inside a fascinating hidden world.

by John Scally

€12.76

Here are Irish Rugby's most legendary, celebratory and brilliant moments from the 1940s to today. 110 Great Irish Rugby Moments is a unique celebration of the sport's most significant moments. Featuring: - Grand Slam Glory for both Irish Men and Women. - A first Series win in New Zealand. - A drawn Series in South Africa. - European glory for Ulster, Munster and Leinster. - Connacht winning the Pro 12. - Ireland women achieve double defeat of mighty New Zealand. These epic moments are based on exclusive interviews with the game's biggest stars and most colourful personalities including Fiona Coghlan, Peter Clohessy, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Willie John McBride, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara and many more of the great and good of Irish Rugby. Enjoy a host of brilliant anecdotes and remarkable insights into the controversies, epic matches, thrilling contests and pivotal events on and off the field which shaped these 110 GREAT IRISH RUGBY MOMENTS. 'This is an informative, insightful and impressive account of Irish rugby's greatest moments from the pre Jack Kyle epoch to the post Johnny Sexton era. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.' Ollie Campbell

by Barry Flynn

€16.99

Did You Know? On 6 February 1961, Danny Blanchflower became the first, and only, person to refuse to appear as the subject of This is Your Life when he turned down Eamonn Andrews live on BBC TV. From 1882 until 1931, international teams representing the Irish Football Association wore sky blue jerseys rather than green ones. In February 1963, when football grounds in England were unplayable due to the 'big freeze', Manchester United played three of their games in Ireland. The Little Book of Irish Football is a compendium of fascinating, obscure and entertaining stories about the Beautiful Game on the Emerald Isle. It brings to life some of the long-lost tales about how the game grew and thrived across the island. It also explores the division of football in Ireland and the famous players and teams that have stolen the headlines over the decades. The various chapters bring to life the highs and lows of Irish football, telling tales of glory and strife amid adversity.A reliable and quirky guide, this little reference book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the fascinating history of association football in Ireland, as well as the many characters and fans who have brought the game the life over the decades.

by Richie Hogan

€21.99

Richie Hogan is one of the all-time greats of hurling, winner of seven All-Ireland senior hurling medals and multiple individual awards. His epic career brought him both immense joy and incredible heartache. This success did not come about by accident: Richie's complete focus on hurling success meant every decision he made revolved around hurling, from education to career to lifestyle choices. He grew up with Kilkenny hurling in his blood and from a very young age worked towards goals rather than dreams. Hyper-focused and determined, there wasn't a day in his life where he didn't think about what he needed to do to get to the highest level of the sport he loved and what he needed to do to stay up there. Now, in Whatever it Takes, Richie tells the story of his dazzling career, from his obsession with maintaining high standards in the Kilkenny team, to the stand-out moments on the pitch and the challenges he encountered along the way that threatened to derail everything. This frank and forthright account takes us inside one of the greatest hurling teams of all time as never before.

by John Scally

€12.76

This delightful book will be enjoyed and cherished by GAA fans old and young. - Dermot Earley Gaelic Games have a unique capacity to lift the spirits but they also have created many extraordinary moments. In the GAA world the truth is stranger than fiction and often funnier. This book celebrates the extraordinary moments in the GAA's long and distinguished history. Representing all counties, it features Gaelic football, hurling, ladies' football and camogie. Read about the star player who grabbed Ger Cunningham's balls; Seán Boylan's experience in the maternity ward; what happened when Pat Spillane took the DART; Ger Loughnane and the night life in Amsterdam; Paidì Ó'Sé and the tractor; the Galway icon who did not wear his socks; the Meath legend's love affair; Clare's sex scandal; the tender affection to a top pundit; the man who silenced Joe Brolly; the Dublin star who runs like a chicken; Garret Fitzgerald's flirtation with hurling; Jack Lynch's inspiration; and the GAA and Lady Diana. An uplifting must-read for all sports fans and lovers of Gaelic Games.

by Zach Tuohy

€22.19

Whether it's committing to a tackle, being a dad or writing a memoir, if Zach Tuohy goes in, he goes 'all in' During his childhood in County Laois, Zach Tuohy's first love was Gaelic football. But when an Australian football club came knocking with a professional contract, the then-seventeen-year-old leapt at the opportunity to travel across the world and come to grips with an oval ball. Despite a rocky start navigating a Carlton Football Club in disarray and becoming a father at twenty-three, Zach went on to become one of the greatest success stories of the 'Irish Experiment'. A move to the Geelong Cats made him a star rebounding defender and cult favourite player, and in 2022 he reached the pinnacle of his adopted code, winning a Premiership medal. In 2023, Zach set a new record for the number of AFL games played by an Irish player, passing the effort of the great Jim Stynes. With characteristic devil-may care attitude and determination, Zach writes candidly about his time as a minor league Gaelic football player, and his experiences in Australia, recounting the good, the bad and the downright hilarious. He has plenty to say about the relationships between the indigenous codes of GAA and the AFL, and what needs to change secure the future of Irish and Australian footballers alike.

by Pat Smullen

€17.99

Pat Smullen was one of the greatest Irish jockeys ever. In a career laden with success, his position as one of the country's best ever flat jockeys was long established. And yet, despite being a nine-time champion jockey, his humility defined him.   It was this strength of character that sustained him when, in March 2018, Pat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There was never any self-pity. He just dealt with it. And more than that, he brought it centre stage: raising funds and awareness, and channelling his energies into helping others. Pat was a champion in all aspects of life, no matter what setbacks were thrown at him. Tragically, his life was cut short far too early in September 2020.   Written in the months before his death, with the assistance of Donn McClean and completed by Pat's wife, Frances Crowley, Champion is the inspirational story of the jockey whose legacy lives on.     'From incredible highs to devastating lows, the championship battles and mental turmoil, the Derby winners and cancer heartbreak, Pat has left more than a legacy. Read this and you will agree with me - he is iconic.' Ruby Walsh   'Pat tells his story with the same honesty and humility that defined him as a person. He was a remarkable man and his is a compelling story.' Sir Anthony Mccoy   'Pat was an amazing man, a man of dignity who went about life with a smile on his face. He is an example to all of us.' Frankie Dettori   'Inspiring, heart-breaking and unforgettable.' Brough Scott

by John Scally

€14.99

As we mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the GAA, this book is a celebration of the greatest treasure in its long and illustrious history: its people. In a fast-changing world, the GAA has given us a fixed point in our lives and Gaelic games have given us so many truly extraordinary people. Each of their unique stories in some way offers a revealing snapshot of the GAA, as we salute the great and the good of Gaelic football, ladies' football, camogie and hurling - along with some less obvious and surprising choices - featuring John B. Keane, Rena Buckley, Brian Cody, Eamonn Cregan, Brian D'Arcy, Mickey Harte, the 2 Johnnies, Shane Lowry, Paul Mescal, John O'Donohue, Martin O'Neill, Hannah Tyrell and many more. And with fascinating revelations like Séamus Mallon's personal memory of the Good Friday Agreement, the superstar who kneeled before Jimmy Magee, John O'Mahony's late evening and Ger Loughnane's big regret, this is the perfect way to celebrate the extraordinary people of the GAA.

by Hayley Kilgallon

€23.99

After first emerging in the 1920s, ladies Gaelic football was soon sidelined; breathless women chasing after a football was just too unladylike for the powers that be. Despite this resistance, the sport became a popular novelty act at local carnivals. And when the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) was founded in Tipperary in July 1974, fifty years of extraordinary growth were set in motion. From writing the rule book to a membership of nearly 200,000, the earliest All-Stars to game-changing partnerships, this definitive history captures that unstoppable journey to becoming a national sport and so much more. Lavishly illustrated and drawing from national, club and personal archives, UNLADYLIKE is for the players, the fans, the kit-washers, the sandwich-makers and the supporters alike, and confirms the best is yet to come.  

by Johnny Sexton

€11.99

'Sexton will go down as Ireland's greatest ever player' Gordon D'Arcy, Irish Times No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win. The Sexton era was marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams), a series win in New Zealand, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world, and the World Player of the Year award. Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his seemingly inauspicious early experiences in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game. Obsessed is more than just a brilliantly detailed account of a legendary playing career. It is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties. Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby. 'The best ever Irish player to play the game' Andy Farrell 'Sexton is on that rarefied plane of athlete where even his mere presence can feel quietly decisive.' Jonathan Liew, Guardian

by Liam O'Callaghan

€14.36

Liam O'Callaghan's revelatory Blood and Thunder shows that the rise of Irish rugby is inextricable from the tensions, debates and divisions - of politics, religion and class - that have defined modern Irish history. Despite the political partition of the island, Ireland competes at rugby internationally with an all-island team - and with a bespoke anthem that nobody loves but everyone tolerates. Ireland has become a leading rugby nation despite its tiny population and the fact that the sport is only the fourth most popular team game on the island by participation. In Blood and Thunder, O'Callaghan traces the dramatic evolution whereby a rugby nation that was deeply attached to amateurism has made such a dramatic success of professionalism. From the sequence of events that led Ireland's private Catholic secondary schools to embrace rugby, to the controversies and crises that have shaken Irish rugby - including the Northern Troubles, the Belfast rape trial, and the rising toll of head injuries - Blood and Thunder tells the rich and fascinating story of Irish rugby. Blood and Thunder is more than a social and political history of Irish rugby. It is also a shadow-history of modern Ireland, rooted in brilliant original research and packed with terrific stories.

by Bernie Collins

€12.99

‘Bernie is not only a great strategist, but also a great team player and competitor’ - Sebastian Vettel THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Race-winning team strategist shows how F1 really works. Welcome to Bernie Collins’ world. Formula 1 drivers are the public face of Grand Prix racing but behind every driver is a team of several hundred people sharing the same passionate desire to win. On race day it’s the Team Strategist who calls the shots, working under immense pressure to make split-second and crucial decisions. Through her eyes and experience as a Performance Engineer and Head of Race Strategy, Bernie takes you behind the scenes of a Formula 1 team — both in the factory and at the races — to uncover what it takes to put two Formula 1 cars on the grid and go racing. How to Win a Grand Prix gives incredible insight into the entire process from design and construction, through pre-season testing, and how a team prepares for each Grand Prix. For race weekend itself, Bernie recreates it hour-by-hour to plunge the reader behind the pit wall and see what it’s actually like to get from grid to podium.

by Liam Brady

€12.76

The perfect Father's Day sports book gift 'A brilliant insight into Liam's life in football' - Kevin Moran 'Insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining. I loved it' - Roddy Doyle 'One of our country's great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful' - John Giles After being expelled from school for playing football for his country, fifteen-year-old Liam Brady travelled to London to join Arsenal, and soon became an indispensable part of their glorious 1970s team. Rightly considered one of the Republic of Ireland's best-ever footballers, he went on to enjoy successes with Juventus, Sampdoria and West Ham, as well as managing Celtic and Brighton and Hove, and becoming assistant manager of his national team. Today he is best known for his much-respected TV punditry and searingly intelligent insights into the game he adores. Full of honest insights, amusing anecdotes and recollections of extraordinary times, Born to be a Footballer delivers a compelling story of a fifty-year career that is unparalleled in Irish sport. Born to be a Footballer was shortlisted for the Eason Sports Book of the Year Award at the Irish Book Awards on 22nd November 2023

by Eimear Ryan

€13.56

'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán Murphy What is it like to be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay. And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls? In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport. Praise for The Grass Ceiling 'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times 'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times 'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner 'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish Times

by Ciarán Murphy

€12.76

A provocative look at how grassroots GAA interacts with life in Ireland, from the wittiest Gaelic games pundit at work today The GAA is Ireland's largest civil society organisation, woven into the fabric of families and communities - and yet most books about Gaelic games focus on the greatest players and inter-county teams. This is the Life is a book about the 99%: a witty and provocative look at grassroots GAA from the most intelligent and interesting Gaelic games pundit at work today. Ciarán Murphy - of Second Captains and the Irish Times - has an unmatched feel for the timeless elements of this world and a finger on the pulse of change. He looks at the plight of rural clubs that are losing their players to the cities - and he does so not only as a journalist but as a footballer who made the same move himself. He writes about working as an assistant in the clothing shop owned by the family of Jarlath Fallon - both Ciarán's sporting hero and the local postman. And he looks a things we usually prefer not to talk about, like the role of social class in the GAA. This is the Life is a book about the places the GAA comes from, the places it can take a person, and the things that make a local club worth fighting for. 'There is a deep understanding of the way the GAA works at every level … a brilliant read from start to finish' Paul Rouse, The Irish Examiner

by Siobhán Doyle

€24.95

The GAA is a part of the Irish consciousness and plays an influential role in Irish society that extends far beyond the sport itself. In popular imagination and experience, the GAA is often evoked in terms of its objects: medals passed down from generation to generation, jerseys worn in All-Ireland finals, Michael Cusack’s blackthorn stick, a pair of glasses damaged during the events of Bloody Sunday. The objects of the GAA range from the informal to the formal and are key to the construction of both personal and official histories. This book repositions a range of objects, originating from the GAA, into the expanded field of Irish history by placing them as central to our understanding of past ideas and experiences. A History of the GAA in 100 Objects acts as a signpost to significant moments in GAA history, offers fresh perspectives on a previously overlooked area of enquiry and presents new ideas not available elsewhere.

by Roddy Collins

€13.99

The hilarious memoir from the funniest man in football! Roddy Collins is a football man - now in the sixth decade of a career as a player (at sixteen clubs), manager (twelve clubs) and commentator. And he is a funny man: an unequalled raconteur with a sharp eye for the absurdities of the professional game and spectacular recall. He has made friends wherever he has gone, along with some high-quality enemies. When John Delaney said he could get Roddy a job if he'd just stop criticising him, Roddy replied that he'd 'rather dig holes in the road'. Now, with the brilliant Paul Howard, Roddy puts it all down on paper for the first time - the adventures, the rows and the craic - in what is not only one of the funniest but also one of the most eye-opening books ever written about professional football.

by Kellie Harrington

€11.99

THE PHENOMENAL MEMOIR OF A NATIONAL TREASURE After Kellie Harrington won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, the Irish public recognized her as not merely a sporting hero, but a deeply inspirational human being. Now, Kellie tells the story of her unlikely journey to the top, and of the many obstacles and setbacks she overcame along the way. Growing up in Dublin's north inner city, Kellie was in danger of going down the wrong path in life before she discovered boxing. The local boxing club was all-male and initially wouldn't let her join, but she persisted. She was not an overnight success. For years she struggled in international competition. At times she felt unsupported by the national boxing set-up. More than once she considered giving up the sport. But some spark of ambition and love for boxing kept her going, and gradually she made herself world class. Writing with Roddy Doyle, the award-winning author of The Commitments, Kellie tells the story of her unlikely rise to greatness and her continuing dedication to living a normal life - which has involved remaining an amateur boxer and keeping the job she loves, at a Dublin psychiatric hospital. She shares exceptionally vivid and revealing details about being a woman in a historically male sport, and about how she manages her body and her mind. It is a vastly inspiring look inside the life and psychology of a woman who is both brilliantly ordinary and utterly exceptional.

by Dan Martin

€11.99

'This is Dan Martin's long-awaited autobiography, full of 'the warmth, sharp insights and vivid colour of his 14-year career' Guardian Known, thanks to his racing style and attitude, for being one of road cycling's last romantics, Dan has always shied away from revealing too much about himself and his story. Now, having retired at the end of the 2021 season aged 35 and no longer bound by the constraints of the racing circuit, Dan feels the time is right to tell his story in the same forthright and honest manner that he rode his bike. This book reflects Dan's generous and outspoken spirit, his resilience to pain, crashes, bad luck and, finally, his acceptance of destiny. Each chapter's title has a sub-title based on a typical cyclist's fear: the fear of losing a race, the fear of retiring from the sport, the fear of mountains or downhills, the fear of doping and, ultimately, the fear of death. Dan also discusses every aspect of the professional cyclist's life - food, discipline, money, dreams, friendship and betrayal. Dan is unashamed when it comes to exposing these dark feelings, his weaknesses and how he tried to deal with them, his attitude exemplifying Mark Twain's quote: 'Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear'. Written with his long-time friend and best-selling author Pierre Carrey, this is the story of a rider who never sought to conform to modern cycling's norms and someone who, in many ways, embodies an age in cycling which has long since disappeared. This is the celebration of a true cyclist's career, which will appeal to anyone who's embraced the weekend ride whilst dreaming of the mountains. '[Chased by Pandas] is not a conventional study of wins, losses and conquering mountains but overcoming the mental challenges of a sport into which he was seemingly born' The Times 'Records the brave and tough journey of 'one of road cycling's last romantics' Irish Independent 'Chronicles the former Irish road champion's journey through the ranks of professional cycling' Cycling Weekly

by Keith Earls

€10.43

Irish Sports Book Award 2021 Winner! Fight Or Flight: My Life, My Choices is the autobiography of Irish rugby legend Keith Earls. Keith Earls started out in senior rugby as a teenage star and during the course of his long career has become one of the most admired and respected players of his generation. A British & Irish Lion at the age of 21, he is now closing in on his 34th birthday and still playing at the top of his game. He has won 93 caps for Ireland and played over 180 games in the famous red of Munster. He started every match of the 2018 Six Nations campaign that culminated in an Irish Grand Slam victory. A lethal finisher blessed with a sprinter’s speed, Earls is the second-highest try scorer of all time for his country. With Munster he is one try short of the all-time total and looks set to break that record next season. Yet, Earls has achieved these milestones whilst being racked by private battles with his mental health for most of his career. A number of crises brought him to the brink of voluntary retirement from the game. A native of Limerick city, Earls grew up in one of its most socially disadvantaged housing estates. Moyross was blighted by crime and violence and he did not escape unscathed from the surrounding fear and trauma visited upon his beloved community. His natural talent brought him into the privileged bastion of elite rugby union. His autobiography tells the story of his long struggle to reconcile the world whence he came with the world opened up by his brilliance with an oval ball. Earls has maintained a low profile throughout his career. For the first time he will talk in depth and at length about the inner turmoil that went unseen by team-mates, friends and fans. It is a confessional, intimate and courageous story of the pain that was a constant companion to the glory. Earls says: “It’s not me at all to be doing anything remotely like an autobiography. I don’t like talking about myself, I don’t like bringing attention to myself. And I guess that’s one reason why I am doing it. We’re supposed to get out of our comfort zone. I’ve learned enough along the way to know that much. It’s where your progress and growth happens. I hope if I can share some of my life experiences here, it might inspire others.”

by Mickey Harte

€11.59

A moving and lyrical memoir about life, love and loss, from a true giant of Gaelic games.In a frenetic seven-year spell at the outset of his senior managerial career, Mickey Harte led Tyrone to four Ulster Championships and three All-Irelands. It was a run that shifted football's balance of power, changed the way the game would be played for over a generation, and cemented his reputation as one of the most transformative figures in GAA history.Then, in January 2011, the visitation of a shocking tragedy changed everything: Mickey's daughter Michaela was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius, and the Harte family, grief-stricken, awoke to find themselves at the centre of an international news story.Devotion, the product of a collaboration between Mickey and author Brendan Coffey, is many things. The story of a family's decade-long struggle to come to terms with an almost unimaginable loss. A meditation on the ways in which faith, community, and sport can sustain us in our most difficult moments. And, finally, a portrait of one of Irish sport's true icons, as he brings one legendary era to a close and steels himself for a final assault on the history books

by Stuart Barker

€12.76

With a foreword by Carl Fogarty 'A worthy and fitting tribute to the King of the Roads' - Irish News Joey Dunlop's story is one of towering triumphs and desperate tragedies in almost equal measure. Born poor - dirt poor - with no running water, no electricity, he was the definition of the everyman hero, in what must be considered one of the world's most extreme sports - motorcycle road racing. He remains the most loved and most successful road racer of all time. Joey Dunlop won the hearts and minds of millions during his thirty-one-year career, culminating in the year 2000 at the Isle of Man TT when, grey-haired and bespectacled, he cemented his reputation as the greatest TT rider in history by regaining the F1 crown for the first time in twelve years. But in road racing, tragedy is never very far away. Joey lost his life in an accident in July of 2000. It was just weeks after his final TT victory. More than 60,000 people attended Joey's funeral. Over twenty years on, the sport has never truly recovered. Every motorcycling lover knows the legend of Joey Dunlop but now, for the first time, they can get to know the man himself. This definitive new biography is by turns hilarious, triumphant and tragic; it is Dunlop's story as it has never been told before - by those who were part of it.

by Roy Keane

€12.76

'ENDLESSLY ABSORBING' Mail on Sunday 'MASTERPIECE' The Times 'RUTHLESS' Daily Telegraph 'INCOMPARABLE' Sunday Mirror 'SEARINGLY HONEST' The Sun The No.1 bestselling memoir of Roy Keane, former captain of Manchester United and Ireland In a stunning collaboration with Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle, Roy Keane gives a brutally honest account of his days as a player, the highs and lows of his managerial career and his life as an outspoken ITV pundit. As part of a tiny elite of football players, Roy Keane has had a life like no other. His status as one of football's greatest stars is undisputed, but what of the challenges beyond the pitch? How did he succeed in coming to terms with life as a former Manchester United and Ireland leader and champion, reinventing himself as a manager and then a broadcaster, and cope with the psychological struggles this entailed? THE SECOND HALF blends anecdote and reflection in Roy Keane's inimitable voice. The result is an unforgettable personal odyssey which fearlessly challenges the meaning of success.

by Rory Best

€18.85

'Extraordinary . . . great fun' Barry Egan, Irish Sunday Independent 'A wonderful story . . . vivid and comprehensive.' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times ''Throughout it all though there is a feeling of warmth for the sport and for others. Above all there is a sense of achievement . . . Best was never one of the glamour boys, but he deserves star billing.' Daily Telegraph Rory Best is widely-regarded as one of Ireland's greatest ever captains. Entrusted by Joe Schmidt to lead the side that looked on the wane following the 2015 World Cup, Best's inspirational leadership skills and abrasive qualities proved to be the foundation stones for the most successful period in Ireland's history. His first year in charge saw Ireland complete a hat-trick of victories against the southern hemisphere 'Big Three', including leading his side to a first ever victory over world champions New Zealand in Chicago, a feat that etched Best's place in Irish sporting folklore and ended the All Blacks' record-winning streak of 18 Test victories. Ireland's annus mirabilis under Best's captaincy would come in 2018 however, when he led the side to only their third Grand Slam title, culminating with a famous victory over England at Twickenham, and a record-breaking run of 12 successive Test victories. When he stepped down as Ireland captain at the age of 37 following the World Cup in Japan, his fourth tournament, history will no doubt also judge Best to be one of their greatest forwards. A hugely-popular figure across the game, Best finished his career as Ireland's most capped forward, behind only Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara in the all-time records, and also made over 200 appearances for his province Ulster.

by Paul O'Connell

€12.75

The revelatory autobiography of a rugby colossus: Paul O'Connell. WINNER OF THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR There has never been a rugby player quite like Paul O'Connell. He is synonymous with passion, heart and determination; but he is also the thinking man's rugby player, a legendary student of the game. As the heartbeat of Munster, British and Irish Lions captain in 2009, and captain of the first Ireland team to defend a Six Nations championship, O'Connell has emerged as perhaps the most beloved of the golden generation of Irish rugby players. In an autobiography as intense as its author, he tells the story of his remarkable career. 'The years of O'Connell and O'Driscoll were as close to a golden age as ever Ireland will get and O'Connell's book tells you how it all happened ... It should be mandatory for every Irish squad member to read O'Connell's book to better understand what it takes to make a team' David Walsh, Sunday Times 'O'Connell has emptied the tank here. ... What has come out ... is a psychological profile that is almost shocking at times in what it reveals about the bloody single-mindedness of the competitive gene' Hilary A. White, Irish Independent 'The intense physicality of his rugby upbringing is an abiding theme ... along with humour, the craic and an extensive knowledge of how teams work' Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph 'I found The Battle entrancing' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times 'Excellent ... [an] eye-opening account of the never-ending battles he fought' Rugby World 'Revelatory ... Unflinchingly charts his personal evolution ... He is not at all easy on himself' Keith Duggan, Irish Times

by Ronan O'Gara

€12.75

Ronan O'Gara has been at the heart of Munster and Irish rugby for the past fifteen years. Now, as he comes to the end of a glittering playing career, it is time for him to reflect on those many successes and occasional failures with the straight-talking attitude that has become his trademark. Never one to shy away from the truth, the result is Ronan O'Gara: Unguarded. Packed full of anecdotes and analysis of the teammates O'Gara has been proud to share the shirt with, and of the coaches he has played under - often in controversial circumstances - this is the definitive record of an era when Munster rose to triumph in Europe, and Ireland to win the Grand Slam, before crashing down to earth again. It is simply the must-have rugby book of the year.

by Anna Deacon

€17.39

What makes the perfect swim? It's all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe ... and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake. Whether you're a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer. From the dramatic Atlantic bays to cascading waterfalls and secret pools, the rugged Causeway Coast to the secluded loughs of the Wicklow Mountains, locals who know the secrets of their patch share over 100 spectacular swim spots across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Now they are yours to explore too.

by Joe Canning

€19.99

"Joe Canning: My Story" – Autobiography The youngest of seven children in a legendary hurling family from Portumna, Joe Canning was hailed as a prodigy from his first moments on the pitch. Could he live up to the immense expectations? The answer was a resounding "yes" when, at just 19, Joe Canning made national headlines by scoring an astonishing 2-12 for Galway, almost single-handedly leading them to victory over Cork. From that day on, Canning's brilliance was undeniable. Yet, despite his consistent excellence, it would take nine long years before he finally lifted the coveted Liam MacCarthy Cup. In Joe Canning: My Story , this deeply personal and highly anticipated autobiography, Joe reflects on his remarkable career's extraordinary highs and challenging lows. He shares what it was like to shoulder immense expectations, cope with the pressures of performance, and navigate personal struggles off the field—particularly his parents’ battles with cancer, which offered him profound perspective amid his pursuit of greatness. For years, Ireland asked: would Joe Canning be remembered as the greatest hurler never to win an All-Ireland medal? In his heartfelt memoir, Canning recounts the overwhelming joy of winning the All-Ireland and the priceless moment of seeing his parents' pride as he fulfilled his lifelong dream. He also reflects on his decision to retire and how he found peace in stepping away from the game that defined him. This is more than a sports autobiography; it’s a story of resilience, perseverance, and the human spirit behind one of Hurling’s greatest icons.

by Martin O'Neill

€15.08

Martin O'Neill has had one of the most incredible careers in football - winning European Cups, captaining his country at a world cup, and decades as a hugely successful manager. On Days Like These tells his fascinating story in his own words for the first time. 'Entertaining . . . An extraordinary career' - The Guardian A key part of Brian Clough's legendary Nottingham Forest team in the '70s and early '80s, Martin also represented Northern Ireland more than sixty times and led them at the 1982 World Cup. As a manager he took Leicester City to two League Cups, Celtic to seven trophies, and the Republic of Ireland to the European Championship in 2016. Martin tells of his exhilarating highs and painful lows; from the joys of winning trophies and promotion to making the difficult decision to retire as a player, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and being fired. Written with his trademark forthright honesty and humour, On Days Like These is a must-read for any fan of the beautiful game. 'You'll never get your head out of this . . . The stories are fantastic' - John Motson, legendary football commentator

by Richie Sadlier

€14.99

Winner of the An Post Irish Sports Book of the Year Award, longlisted for The William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. When a career-ending injury saw former Ireland and Millwall striker Richie Sadlier retire from football at age 24, his life spiraled out of control. Without structure or a sense of purpose, and fueled by a dependency on alcohol, he spent years running from the dark memories and feelings that had haunted him since childhood. Until one day, he hit rock bottom and decided to confront his demons. Now a successful soccer pundit, psychotherapist and mental-fitness teacher, Recovering is about a life shaped by efforts to escape, and how it is possible to rebuild a life, piece by piece, with the right help. Inspiring and groundbreaking, it is an important reflection on the need to move away from perceptions of shame in our discussions about mental health, sex, relationships and addiction.  'Not only the sports book of the year, the book of the year.' Paul Howard 'Unputdownable,' The Last Word, Today FM 'You'll go a long way to find a better autobiography. It's raw, unfiltered honesty from start to finish, a captivating account of one man's story that will resonate with so many more.' The Irish Independent 'The bravest book I've read in a long time. A really quality read written by a man who happened to be a footballer rather than a book necessarily about football.' Damien O'Meara, RTÉ  'Storytelling of the highest calibre. Richie Sadlier's autobiography is a judiciously layered and thoughtful examination of how to live a life and develop as a person despite everything. It's also relentlessly entertaining. A rare and precious example of a sports book that has both story and stories in abundance.' Malachy Clerkin, The Irish Times 'The kind of book to stop you in your tracks.' The Irish Farmers Journal

by Oisin Murphy

€23.99

A gripping and searingly honest account of a year in the turbulent life of a professional jockey, and the personal cost of success in the high-stakes world of horseracing. From four-time champion Oisin Murphy. 'A GRIPPING AND INCREDIBLY HONEST INSIGHT INTO OUR SPORT, FROM ONE OF RACING’S MOST EXCITING TALENTS' FRANKIE DETTORI ‘AN ASTONISHINGLY HONEST ACCOUNT OF WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY' DAILY TELEGRAPH THE THRILLING AND SEARINGLY HONEST MEMOIR FOLLOWING A YEAR IN THE WORLD OF HORSE-RACING, FROM FOUR-TIME CHAMPION JOCKEY OISIN MURPHY. Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy’s life has always been one of struggle. From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle. Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing’s most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport has required a high-wire dance that continues to push his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite four champion jockey crowns, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours have overshadowed his racing. Fast paced and searingly honest, Sacrifice lays bare Oisin’s personal struggles and immerses readers in the daily life of a jockey throughout an entire season. From the countless unseen hours of horse work to the psychological turmoil of racing, the private agony of wasting, and the vital community of the weighing room, it pulls back the curtain and examines the fine line between elite performance and personal destruction in a sport that demands nothing less than total obsession. Part-autobiography, part-diary written in real-time, this incredible and immersive memoir charts Oisin Murphy's year in the saddle, laying bare the pressures of life at the pinnacle of horse-racing.

by Eric Haughan

€19.99

In late August 2014, Donegal's footballers smashed and grabbed an All-Ireland semi-final victory from Jim Gavin's seemingly unstoppable Dublin team. It would be the last Championship game the Boys in Blue would lose for 2,540 days. Their hearts hardened by that chastening experience in the old stadium, a merciless Dublin would run roughshod over the Gaelic football landscape for the next six seasons. Along the way, their footballing artistry reached heights unimaginable to even the most romantic Hill 16 disciples. Journalist and GAA nut Eric Haughan tells the story of Dublin's seven years in footballing nirvana.

by Pat Spillane

€23.99

Pat Spillane is one of the best-known sportspeople in Ireland. Selected for the GAA’s Team of the Millennium and winner of eight All-Ireland senior football medals, he is one of the greatest Gaelic footballers ever. Yet that isn't half of the Spillane story. He has also been one of the most controversial GAA pundits of all time, driving the agenda on The Sunday Game and in The Sunday World for thirty years. His analysis and criticism have been headline news everywhere Gaelic football is discussed, and the terms he coined, such as ‘puke football’, have entered the Irish lexicon. Here, Pat reveals the sadness of his childhood when his father died; his dazzling football career and encounters with other immortals, from Mick O’Dwyer onwards; the reality of life as pundit under pressure from managers; and the huge stress of dealing with the machinery of government in the aftermath of his spell with CEDRA, the state advisory group on rural affairs. Like the man himself, In the Blood is uniquely frank, witty, honest and revealing – and a must-read for GAA fans everywhere.

by Pat Healy

€22.49

For four decades HEALY RACING has photographed the world of Irish horse racing. Delving into an archive of thousands of images, photographer Pat Healy and sports journalist Donn McClean selected over 200 golden Irish jump-racing moments. Their book captures the last decade of thrills and spills (2011-2020) - the sheer spectacle that is the Irish horse-racing scene. The sport's biggest personalities, and their horses, are celebrated through the lens: JP McManus, Michael O'Leary and Gigginstown House Stud, Rich and Susannah Ricci, Willie, Patrick and Danny Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Jessica Harrington, Jonjo O'Neill, Henry de Bromhead, Nina and Paul Carberry, Ted, Ruby and Katie Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Davy Russell, AP McCoy, Paul Townend, Jack Kennedy, Rachel Blackmore, Bryan Cooper, Robbie Power, Jamie Codd, Lisa O'Neill and so many more. For every leap of victory and fist pump, there is a crunching fall or a win that almost was: HEALY RACING has captured it all.

by Mark Tighe

€12.76

THE NO.1 BESTSELLER! 'I read it in one sitting, it's a superb book' Eamon Dunphy, The Stand 'An astonishing exposé' Martin Ziegler, The Times Over the course of fifteen years, John Delaney ran the Football Association of Ireland as his own personal fiefdom. He had his critics, but his power was never seriously challenged until last year, when Mark Tighe and Paul Rowan published a sequence of stories in the Sunday Times containing damaging revelations about his personal compensation and the parlous financial situation of the FAI. Delaney's reputation as a great financial manager was left in tatters. He resigned under pressure, and the FAI was left hoping for a massive bail-out from the Irish taxpayer. In Champagne Football, Tighe and Rowan dig deep into the story of Delaney's career and of the FAI's slide into ruin. They show how he surrounded himself with people whose personal loyalty he could count on, and a board that failed to notice that the association's finances were shot. They detail Delaney's skilful cultivation of opinion-formers outside the FAI. And they document the culture of excess that Delaney presided over and benefited from, to the detriment of the organization he led. Champagne Football is a gripping, sometimes darkly hilarious and often enraging piece of reporting by the award-winning journalists who finally pulled back the curtain on the FAI's mismanagement. ____________ 'Excellent' Irish Sun 'A jaw-dropping story ... brilliant' Irish Times 'Essential reading' Irish Daily Star 'Astonishing ... Side-splittingly hilarious' Guardian 'A damning account' Sunday Independent 'An instant classic, one of the all-time great Irish sports books' Alan English 'Excellent ... includes staggering detail' Daily Mail 'A cracking read ... [An] incredible amount of jaw-dropping detail' Matt Cooper 'One of the most hotly-anticipated sport books of the year' Brendan O'Connor 'A masterpiece' Tommy Martin 'At last, the truth of his ruinous reign has been rigorously and painstakingly exposed' Irish Daily Mail 'An absolutely extraordinary book' Eoin McDevitt, Second Captains 'Remarkable. The desperate story of Irish football but also a book about how Ireland works. Outstanding' Dion Fanning

by Peadar Thompson

€28.99

'After the massacre, the GAA became even more important to us as a real sense of identity. It's difficult to explain but we could cling to it in a sense, and say this is ours, this is us.' - Clare Rogan, wife of Adrian Rogan, killed by the UVF in the 1994 Loughinisland massacre.  The GAA has long been at the heart of Irish life, nurturing our culture and communities and fostering powerful social bonds. However, as sectarian conflict intensified in the North, the GAA became the object of animosity and surveillance by loyalist paramilitaries and Crown forces. Clubhouses and pitches were occupied by British forces, fans were security checked and harassed on their way to and from games, and over 150 members were killed.  Lost Gaels is the first comprehensive account of the devastating impact of the Troubles on the GAA, providing a platform for bereaved family and friends to pay homage to their lost loved ones. Capturing the deep connection between the GAA and the everyday lives of Irish people, this is a poignant and powerful tribute to the lives of lost Gaels.

by Mike Cronin

€20.69

This history of Gaelic games and the social world around them has been an outstanding success. From how and where Gaelic games were played and watched to their impact on Irish communities at home and abroad, politics, women in the GAA, music and much more, this history sets the GAA experience against that of a changing Irish society. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and original historical documents, this is a book with absorbing insights into a world that is both uniquely Irish and global.

by Brendan Fanning

€22.79

Ireland went to the 2023 Rugby World Cup as the number one ranked team in the world. They had a unique Test series win in New Zealand on their list of achievements; they were the reigning Grand Slam holders; and still they came home early. Getting to the last four has become an obsession. But is this the only measure of success? This ambition is a country mile removed from the awfulness of Irish rugby as the game went from amateur to professional during the nineties. We were all over the shop, and the men behind the counter were lost and disgruntled. But by the arrival of the Six Nations in 2000, pain gave way to change. There were real signs of growth. From Eddie O'Sullivan, who kicked it off and then was deported to a limbo where he couldn't get a decent job, to men of massive influence like Joe Schmidt and Stuart Lancaster, to David Nucifora - the first tsar of Irish rugby in the pro era - rugby here became unrecognisable from its old days. But with the clock already counting down to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, where are Ireland on their race to the top? And is glory finally within reach?

by Tadhg Coakley

€15.26

The Game is a multifaceted reflection on sport. It is part memoir, outlining Tadhg Coakley's time as a player and fan, and how sport has shaped his life. But it also tackles sport on a universal scale - the good and the bad - and its immeasurable influence on our world. For fans, sport can be all-consuming. Indeed, we are consuming sport in ever greater gulpfuls, often blindly. It has a dark side; it is rife with corruption, sexism, homophobia, nationalism and a raft of toxic masculine behaviour, and Coakley interrogates his own attitudes on each of these fronts. On the other hand, sport builds all manner of valuable connections and communities, and in sport - as in art - people can forge their own identities with grace, imagination and the possibility of what may be. This duality is one of the most fascinating aspects of sport. Written with warmth, openness and keen insight, The Game is an entertaining and thought-provoking meditation on the uniquely intense highs and lows of loving sport in today's world.

by John Kelly

€24.99

Whether it's tightly rolled up between two nervous, wringing hands, proudly sticking out from a quick-stepping back pocket or carefully brought home to be kept for posterity, the match day programme is part of the very fabric of the GAA and in The GAA Covered this glorious document gets its long overdue day in the sun. The GAA Covered is a stunning visual compendium of over 100 years of GAA programme covers from 1913 to the present day, and an invaluable collection of local, social and sports history. Each page of this comprehensive collection features striking images of that year's provincial and All-Ireland final match programmes, along with superb captions of context and colour. John Kelly's labour of love will mesmerise GAA fans - from the diehard who will appreciate the compilation of such a wide range of programmes to the casual fan who will be enthralled by the immense beauty of the book.