GAA books for the stocking

[Lone Shark]

Around the World in GAA Days - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Around-World-Days-Aaron-Dunne/dp/1845963636/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256686413&sr=1-2

Got this when I was facing into a train journey from Heuston and had to dash into Eason's quickly, and I have to say that I was very disappointed. Obviously others may differ, this is just a personal opionion, but I think that what started out as a good concept was just poorly executed. A lot of time is spent on various nights of drinking, with considerably less time spent talking about football and hurling. That would be fine if we got meaningful anecdotes and GAA related stories from these nights, but instead it's just a paragraph here and there about how late it all went on until, and how the author had a big hangover the next day.

As regards his itinerary, he made a huge hames of this. He spent nearly six months in Sydney, even though that's only one chapter, while he had to fly through San Fran, Chicago, NY and never even touched Boston or Canada. Overall I think America got about one week while Australia got most of his year. Other key areas for the GAA abroad such as the UK and Europe were untouched also.

There are bits of this which were interesting, but largely speaking I came away very underwhelmed.

[ONeill]

Skimmed through The History of Gaelic Football by Eoghan Corry. I was actually shocked (not strong coffee shocked but eyebrow raising) at the errors in the sections I browsed - 1995 and 2008.

In the 1995 account it not once, not twice, but three times claims that it was Sean Kavanagh (it then becomes Sean Cavanagh) who knocked over the disallowed point. It was Sean McLoughlin. Sean Cavanagh (or Kavanagh) was about 12 then. It also, on numerous occasions, refers to Fergal Lohan (Logan) who was involved in the Redmond sending off. Again, it is mentioned a few times.

In 2008 it was apparently O'Connell (McConnell) who replaced Devine in goals after his father died.

That's all I've read but so far very unimpressive.

I've always had the suspicion that AFR doesn't actually read the books they're reviewing - http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2992# - but massages ego in return for favourable exposure.

That's what I like about the gaaboard. No obligation to stroke the hair of anyone.

[INDIANA]

Anyone who is remotely interested in the GAA should buy Damian lawlor's book. Fantastic read in my opinion. Some parts of it are simply hilarious.

[catchandkick]

Harte's book is an excellent read, would recommend to anyone

[ONeill]

Skimmed through The History of Gaelic Football by Eoghan Corry. I was actually shocked (not strong coffee shocked but eyebrow raising) at the errors in the sections I browsed - 1995 and 2008.

In the 1995 account it not once, not twice, but three times claims that it was Sean Kavanagh (it then becomes Sean Cavanagh) who knocked over the disallowed point. It was Sean McLoughlin. Sean Cavanagh (or Kavanagh) was about 12 then. It also, on numerous occasions, refers to Fergal Lohan (Logan) who was involved in the Redmond sending off. Again, it is mentioned a few times.

In 2008 it was apparently O'Connell (McConnell) who replaced Devine in goals after his father died.

That's all I've read but so far very unimpressive.

I've always had the suspicion that AFR doesn't actually read the books they're reviewing - http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2992# - but massages ego in return for favourable exposure.

That's what I like about the gaaboard. No obligation to stroke the hair of anyone.

Jaysus, just read another chapter - 2004. This book gets worse. Apparently in Ulster in 2004 Tyrone won the Ulster title, beating Down in a replay....bla bla ....although all this happened in 2003. Checked back a few pages and the same paragraph is published under 2003. They've repeated the same story for Ulster in 2003 and 2004. Feck sake, glad I didn't buy this.

[never kickt a ball]

Does it say if Antrim ever won the AI? Might buy it if it does.

Antrim won the McKenna Cup last year according to the Belfast Telegraph.


http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=919.msg531714#msg531714

[ONeill]

Yep. 1954. 3 goals from Sean McGourty in the final against Louth. He wore a strange hat.

Found out An Fear Rua were so gushing about this book. Corry introduces a chapter by quoting that website's founder. I hate back scratching. Makes journalism and its encoders redundant.

[goldenyears]

Cody's book was simply awful! No inside info, no insight at all. He actually states that there is no way he would speak of anything outside his changing room which is fair enough, but don't then write a fkn poxy book saying nothing!

Such a disappointment.

Reading Harte's at min - top class, can't put it down!

Paddy Russell's book is rubbish

Harte's 1st book + O'Connor's book is very good too.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Skimmed through The History of Gaelic Football by Eoghan Corry. I was actually shocked (not strong coffee shocked but eyebrow raising) at the errors in the sections I browsed - 1995 and 2008.

In the 1995 account it not once, not twice, but three times claims that it was Sean Kavanagh (it then becomes Sean Cavanagh) who knocked over the disallowed point. It was Sean McLoughlin. Sean Cavanagh (or Kavanagh) was about 12 then. It also, on numerous occasions, refers to Fergal Lohan (Logan) who was involved in the Redmond sending off. Again, it is mentioned a few times.

In 2008 it was apparently O'Connell (McConnell) who replaced Devine in goals after his father died.

That's all I've read but so far very unimpressive.

I've always had the suspicion that AFR doesn't actually read the books they're reviewing - http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2992# - but massages ego in return for favourable exposure.

That's what I like about the gaaboard. No obligation to stroke the hair of anyone.

Jaysus, just read another chapter - 2004. This book gets worse. Apparently in Ulster in 2004 Tyrone won the Ulster title, beating Down in a replay....bla bla ....although all this happened in 2003. Checked back a few pages and the same paragraph is published under 2003. They've repeated the same story for Ulster in 2003 and 2004. Feck sake, glad I didn't buy this.

That's shocking. Contemptible Christmas commercial opportunism at its very worst.

Would echo the sentiments about Harte's book.

[Zapatista]

Cody's book was simply awful! No inside info, no insight at all. He actually states that there is no way he would speak of anything outside his changing room which is fair enough, but don't then write a fkn poxy book saying nothing!

Such a disappointment.

Reading Harte's at min - top class, can't put it down!

Paddy Russell's book is rubbish

Harte's 1st book + O'Connor's book is very good too.

Is that the common thought on Cody's book? I almost bought it last week and intented to buy it soon. Maybe I won't.

I liked Harte's book too.

[RedandGreenSniper]

Looking forward to reading Lawlor's Waterford book and will probably read the Limerick hurling book too. I was waiting for opinion on Cody's book because I had my doubts about the ghost writer and it seems my fears were well founded. Think I will leave that one on the shelves. Will probably pick up Harte instead.

Have to echo Lone Shark's comments about Around the World. Disappointing.

Its bizarre that no one seems to have read Donal Og's. I wouldn't be a fan of his - far from it in terms of his GPA role - but surely the life story there is enticing in its own right? Have it on the to do list.

[Zapatista]

What was your worry about Cody's Ghost writer?

To be fair the only reason I was interested in Cody's was I thought that it might be a nice follow up to Harte's.

[RedandGreenSniper]

What was your worry about Cody's Ghost writer?

To be fair the only reason I was interested in Cody's was I thought that it might be a nice follow up to Harte's.

Well its Martin Brehony. To be perfectly honest I can't recall ever reading a piece by him that interested me. I feared that the same might be true of a book, even if it is an awesome subject matter.

[Minder]

Following on from what ONeill was saying, the recent book "Unlimited Heartbreak - a history of Limerick hurling" received gushing, and some said over the top praise on AFR. I then saw that the author is a prominent poster on AFR. They certainly have their hand in somewhere as a few weeks ago the Admin started a thread wishing congratulations to Henry Shefflin on the birth of their new child. It was very peculiar. There was also a thread started by the Admin with a photo of Bryan Cullen being presented with a new Seat car by a middle aged salesman with a ponytail and some ridiculous blurb with Cullen saying "when I am looking for a car I look for style and comfort and Seat ticks both boxes". I will try and hunt it out.

Edit - Here it is. This isnt a piss take.





The famous Dublin half-back was at Lusk Motor Group this week to collect his choice of car, the stylish new Subaru Legacy Boxer Diesel.

Renowned for it's reliability, safety and luxury the Legacy was top of his list and he looks forward to many happy years behind the wheel.

Taking delivery of the car from Lusk Motor Group's dealer principal, Mr. Leo Neary, Bryan praised the good looks of the car and the reputation Subaru have for building world class engines, ' I always look for a head turner when choosing a car, but I also highly rate security and comfort. For me, the Subaru Legacy ticks all the boxes!'

[saffron sam2]

Would echo the sentiments about Harte's book.

Me too, although a fuller review will be available in the appropriate thread when I'm finished reading it.

Not without its factual errors either though.