Liam Hayes "Out Of Our Skins" is probably the best GAA book I have read, brings you right into the Meath dressing room and all the characters of a brilliant manager Sean Boylan and his Championship teams. I don't know if it is still in print but well worth a read if you can get it.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 02/04/2009 23:30:57    247026

have to agree with the wexford lads Liam Dunne's is a great book my fav GAA read by a clear mile
McConville + Dessie Farrell's were poor i thought even the two were legends of the game in respective counties
Loughnane's was great 2
Mickey Harte's not a bad read either was Jack O Connor's

theoneandonlyJD (Dublin) - Posts: 84 - 03/04/2009 00:24:38    247066

Personally I think ALL biographies are dreadful.

Humphries book "Green Fields" is excellent.

And I have read Raymond Smith's "Decades of Glory" many times and the "Football Immortals".

I would recommend both books to those who believe that some recent teams, hurling and football, were/are "great".

These books teach humility.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/04/2009 21:51:53    247912

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 2704

These books teach humility.

Obviously not very well.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 03/04/2009 22:16:04    247935

RMDrive
County: Donegal
Posts: 1504

247935
patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 2704

These books teach humility.

Obviously not very well.



I was born humble.


Or....there is an exception to every rule.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 03/04/2009 22:50:04    247963

Sean Og De Paor's book is good alright, had a personal interest in it though so I'm probably biased - don't understand why an english language version of it was never released though (it took me an age to get through the gaeilge version!!) - he probably wanted to stay true to his roots which is admirable. He's one of the nicest, most humble guys you could meet aswell.

I liked Charlie Redmond's book, 'tangled up in blue' I think it was - it chronicles the heartbreak of the dubs team in the early 90's followed by their overdue success in '95.

Cyril Farrell's book is good too ('as such'!!).

P.Joycestick (Galway) - Posts: 158 - 03/04/2009 22:58:32    247966

Sorry lads could be getting Charlie's book mixed up with that of Dessie Farrell - have read them both, and John O'Leary's one - I'm a closet Dubs Fan!!

P.Joycestick (Galway) - Posts: 158 - 03/04/2009 23:01:36    247969

pat critchleys hungry hill is a good read probably one of the best i've read in a while, read liam hayes book a couple of years ago and is well worth the read for the honesty alone, a season of sundays is good too

Comeonthetown (UK) - Posts: 57 - 04/04/2009 00:23:35    248022

best gaa book by miles is christy o connors book on hurling goalkeepers 'last man standing'.gives an excellent insight into the dedication and single mindedness of the best hurling goalies in the country.

kerryeye (Kerry) - Posts: 76 - 04/04/2009 02:39:58    248066

The best two GAA books I have read are "Over the Bar" by Brendan O hEither and "From Dun Sion to Croke Park" by the man himself, Micheal O Muircheartaigh. Both are extremely well written (unlike many sports biographies, which are downright painful to read) and they are interesting for their social and historical commentary as well as their observations on the GAA.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1033 - 04/04/2009 07:26:06    248072

Christy OConnor's book about the goalkeepers was fantastic alright,I wonder how Timmy Houlihan of Limerick is gettin on these days ?

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 04/04/2009 14:56:27    248193

Loved Mickey Harte's book, particularly how he referred to Cormac McAnallan. Enjoyed God and the Referee for a bit of light reading. Oisín McConville's book is tough going! Not finished it yet!

HarrietPotter (Leitrim) - Posts: 30 - 15/04/2009 00:45:05    257372

The best two GAA books I have read are "Over the Bar" by Brendan O hEither and "From Dun Sion to Croke Park" by the man himself, Micheal O Muircheartaigh. Both are extremely well written (unlike many sports biographies, which are downright painful to read) and they are interesting for their social and historical commentary as well as their observations on the GAA. I haven't read Over the Bar but I have read 'From Dun Sion to Croke Park' and I agree it is an excellent read with loads of social commentary. I don't tend to read a lot of GAA autobiographies, I tend to read soccer ones more. In a soccer autobiography, there are far more games to recall and they are usually packed with a lot more incident than a GAA players autobiography. I find that a lot of GAA players are trying to fill the pages of the book without giving too much of their private life away. Also, GAA managers/players tend to focus on trivial things in hindsight. example - Loughnane saying that he thought about flattening Steve McDonagh as he ran onto the pitch before the 1995 Munster Final. It was sensationalist rubbish from a very educated and high profile figure. He obviously resorted to that to sell the book. So I decided 'not buying that one' and never have. Micheal O'Muircheartaigh is different as he has no trouble filling the book and has some brilliant tales of GAA, greyhounds and life in general. His book also tells of the little tricks he uses in commentary, like his daughter giving him little snippets of information as he does his commentary on games. Great stuff.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 15/04/2009 10:42:14    257485

just got a present from the bro, its the hogansatnd magazine from september 93. Great read, and great to have, its the one before the final.

Id advise people to go and look into any one that may be of interest to them.

(keep up the good work hs, 16 years on)

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 15/04/2009 11:07:51    257506

Hurling:The Revolution Years by Denis Walsh is excellent
Liam Hayes - Out of our Skins
Justin McCarthy - Hooked

Three of the best I've read. Even though Justin's was ghosted by K Shannon.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2573 - 15/04/2009 11:08:43    257507

'Out of our 4 skins' Liam Hayes

P.Joycestick (Galway) - Posts: 158 - 15/04/2009 11:09:26    257508

Yes I think my own book and DVD is quite good:

"Snufalufagus...My path to becoming a Laochra Gael"

It was quite a stocking filler last Christmas after the photo-shoot with Hello magazine as it charted my career from first wearing the Green N White jersey of Lucan Sarsfields to the game against 'Boden where I gave away 3 penalties in 20 mins of football (still won), all the way to being approached by Wollongong AFL while in Oz!

Enjoy the read!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 15/04/2009 19:49:34    258186

DVD - The Rpyal Battle(Meath v Dublin '91), Munster Hurling The Passion Plays(Munster Hurling's Golden Era '94-'04). Football Review Of The Year 2004/Marooned is another really good one - it has the documentary on Paidi O Se's first year in charge of Westmeath and their Leinster triumph, it was Ciarán McDonald's best year in a Mayo jersey and it has the top 10 goals of the year.

eiregocroi (Cork) - Posts: 201 - 08/05/2009 17:25:30    278392

Anyone know where i could get liam hayes or mickey hartes book?could never find them anywhere.jack o 'connors book was by a mile the best gaa book i have read.being from meath,i also enjoyed both of sean boylans books,although i didnt like GGs book that much.if anyone here is into their rugby then i would recommend ronan o'garas book,its entertaining.at the minute im halfway through both martin johnsons and jonny wilkinsons,and both are decent also.

enda.muldoon (Derry) - Posts: 318 - 08/05/2009 19:20:55    278505

08/05/2009 19:20:55
enda.muldoon
County: Derry
Posts: 103

278505 Anyone know where i could get liam hayes or mickey hartes book?could never find them anywhere.jack o 'connors book was by a mile the best gaa book i have read.being from meath,i also enjoyed both of sean boylans books,although i didnt like GGs book that much.if anyone here is into their rugby then i would recommend ronan o'garas book,its entertaining.at the minute im halfway through both martin johnsons and jonny wilkinsons,and both are decent also.


your from Meath ???

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 08/05/2009 19:36:58    278537