The contenders for this year's William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year were announced today. There are 25 books in total on the long list for the award, which includes some of the biggest names in Irish sport.

The year has seen some notable retirements from Irish sport with several of these taking this opportunity to pen their experiences, whether on the pitch or in the ring. One of those, Bernard Dunne, tells his story of a rocky road from a gym in West Dublin to a World boxing title. Two Gaelic Games greatest players detail their lives on the pitch with Waterford's Dan Shanahan in "If You Don't Know Me Don't Judge Me", and Kerry's Darragh Ó'Sé in "Darragh, My Story" both in contention for their autobiographies.

One of Ireland's greatest ever footballers, John Giles, is also in contention for the award as he finally tells his story in "A Football Man". The football theme continues in the long list with Miguel Delaney's "Stuttgart to Saipan" which is a journey through Irish international football and the characters involved, while "Days of Heaven" by Declan Lynch looks back at the heady footballing days of Italia '90 as the country followed Jack's Army.

In a different look at Gaelic Games, Christy O'Connor followed Clare club side St Joseph's Doora-Barefield for a season in 2009 as they looked to re-establish themselves as force in Clare hurling in "My Club", while Damien Tiernan's "The Agony and the Ecstasy" looks at the real story behind Waterford hurling. One of Clare's finest hurlers Tony Griffin tells his remarkable story and his grueling charity cycle across Canada in "Screaming at the Sky", while "Dail Stars" by Conor McMorrow depicts the journey of high profile inter-county GAA stars to Leinster House and political life.

As one of Ireland's finest sports stadiums opened its doors again this year, "Lansdowne Road" by Gerard Siggins and Malachy Clerkin, details the history of the famous arena and some of the most memorable moments since it opened in 1873. In "Emerald Anfield", Keith Falkiner looks at the Irish tradition at Liverpool Football Club and the Irish players it's been home to, while "Voices from Croke Park" compiled by Sean Potts, has interviews by some of Ireland's best journalists with a selection of some of the country's Gaelic Games greats such as Peter Canavan, DJ Carey and Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

Horse racing is also prominent in this year's long list, with four books in contention. These include autobiographies by Ruby Walsh, "Ruby", and Richard Dunwoody, "Method in My Madness", while Anne Holland depicts the history of Irish racing family the Kinane's in "Kinane" and Holland details the life of one of Ireland's finest racehorses in "Sea the Stars".

Tony Kenny, PR Manager for William Hill Ireland, said; "This year's William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year award sees some of the biggest names in Irish sport competing for the biggest prize in Irish sports writing. The long list again highlights the quality of sports writing we have in Ireland and with a range of sports involved it will again be a tough decision for the judges and the public, who also get the opportunity to vote online. From John Giles and Ruby Walsh to Darragh Ó'Sé, Bernard Dunne and Lansdowne Road, the subject matter is fascinating for this year's award."

This year's judging panel is made up of eleven of Ireland's best sports commentators and experts. The panel includes RTE rugby pundit and Newstalk presenter George Hook, RTE's Eamon Dunphy, Today FM and TV3 presenter Matt Cooper and Setanta Sports' Paul Dempsey.

More information on this year's William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year and details on how to vote for this year's winner can be found at www.irishsportsbookoftheyear.com

William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year - Long List
Lansdowne Road - Gerard Siggins & Malachy Clerkin
Kinane - Anne Holland
Days of Heaven - Declan Lynch
The Agony and the Ecstasy - Damien Tiernan
A Football Man - John Giles
Emerald Anfield - Keith Falkiner
The Unconquerable Keane - David Smith
Sea the Stars - Anne Holland
My Story - Bernard Dunne
My Club - Christy O'Connor
Ruby - Ruby Walsh
Screaming at the Sky - Tony Griffin
The World is a Ball - John Doyle
If You Don't Know Me, Don't Judge Me - Dan Shanahan
100 GAA Greats - John Scally
Sporting Legends of Ireland - Turtle Bunbury & James Fennell
Darragh, My Story - Darragh Ó'Sé
Voices from Croke Park - Sean Potts
My Father; A Hurling Revolutionary - Conor Power
Alright Aldo - John Aldridge & John Hynes
Stuttgart to Saipan - Miguel Delaney
Dail Stars - Conor McMorrow
Brothers in Sport - Donal Keenan
Gaffers: 50 Years of Irish Football Managers - Trevor Keane
Method in My Madness - Richard Dunwoody Tweet

Most Read Stories