Ciarán Murphy

Terrific . . . one of the most enjoyable sports books I've come across in a long time

Brilliantly written . . . an absolute joy to read

What makes this book so different to the plethora of GAA tomes is [how] this chronicles life for the rest of us . . . Murphy makes you realise that everyday GAA experiences are unique

A revelation . . . This is the Life indeed

Captures the history of the GAA, the heights it can propel regular people to, and what makes a local club so important

There is a deep understanding of the way the GAA works at every level … a brilliant read from start to finish

Days and Nights in the GAA

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 theings that make a local club worth fighting for.

This is the Life

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Ciarán Murphy

Praise for This is the Life

Terrific . . . one of the most enjoyable sports books I've come across in a long time

Brilliantly written . . . an absolute joy to read

What makes this book so different to the plethora of GAA tomes is [how] this chronicles life for the rest of us . . . Murphy makes you realise that everyday GAA experiences are unique

Terrific . . . one of the most enjoyable sports books I've come across in a long time

Brilliantly written . . . an absolute joy to read

What makes this book so different to the plethora of GAA tomes is [how] this chronicles life for the rest of us . . . Murphy makes you realise that everyday GAA experiences are unique

Terrific . . . one of the most enjoyable sports books I've come across in a long time

Brilliantly written . . . an absolute joy to read

What makes this book so different to the plethora of GAA tomes is [how] this chronicles life for the rest of us . . . Murphy makes you realise that everyday GAA experiences are unique

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