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Leinster - one of the most successful and influential Irish sporting teams of all time. Established in 1879, they boast a dazzling roster of players, past and present, including Brian O' Driscoll, Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, and current captain James Ryan. But there is so much more to rugby in Leinster, and, for the first time, this book compiles its rich history, from its foundation, through the amateur years, to the club's many spectacular championships in the twenty-first century, when the national love for rugby kicked up a gear. Doolin ruminates on the sport's relationships with politics and class, and of course celebrates all the breathless victories enjoyed by Leinster teams at every level. And success doesn't stop with silverware; since the nineteenth century Leinster Rugby has been influencing the spheres of education, business and politics throughout the province and the country as a whole. Nothing reflects the complexities of politics and identity in Ireland more than rugby. A History of Rugby in Leinster is a vibrant celebration of sporting greatness and of Leinster's enduring commitment to teamwork, integrity and community.

From its earliest days, Association Football was seen not just as a contest between individuals and teams, but also between nations and peoples. The Irish national team was among the first in the world to participate in international competition in the early 1880s, but not everyone accepted it as a truly national entity. Sport in Ireland was disputed ground in a manner that was not the case elsewhere - even the term ' football' itself was a contested one. But soccer followers generally found no contradiction between their sporting and national loyalties, and the game found an important niche in Irish life, supported by many leading nationalists, from James Connolly to John Hume. This book provides a unique window into the history of Ireland and Britain, with keen insights into the making of national, regional, sectarian, class and gender identities that crystallised around Irish soccer. Taking the story from the 1870s up to the present, it examines the domestic as well the international game in Ireland, North and South, and sets both in a richly detailed historical and cultural context.

Belfast's Carl 'The Jackal' Frampton MBE is no ordinary boxer. One of only three fighters from the British Isles to be named the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year, he has headlined multiple sell-out world championship bouts on both sides of the Atlantic, winning multiple world titles in the process. His dedicated army of fans have traversed the globe to be ringside throughout it all. But Frampton's popularity far exceeds the traditional adulation for a sporting icon; he is regarded as a symbol of hope and unity by both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland. In this captivating autobiography, Frampton reveals the most personal aspects of being a fighter; of fears and doubts, of exhilaration and devastation, of friendship and animosity. He also recounts for the first time his high-profile, acrimonious split with Barry McGuigan, in devastating and revealing detail. Frampton speaks openly and passionately, not only about boxing, but about his country, how far it has come and the problems it faces. This is a uniquely intimate account of a true modern-day sporting great and a local hero like no other.

'I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT I KNOW I'M GOING TO HELL.' In this remarkable book - the first of its kind - journalist Jason O'Toole distils hours of sensational face-to-face, no-holds-barred interviews with the feared criminal John Gilligan into a fast-paced and jaw-dropping account of the Irish gangland scene. Starting out as a petty thief in Dublin, Gilligan rapidly rose to the status of crime lord, mixing with serious criminals such as Martin 'The General' Cahill, Christy 'The Dapper Don' Kinahan, Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland and John 'The Coach' Traynor. He was deeply involved with money laundering, miraculously survived an assassination attempt, and it is said he has millions stashed away at a secret location. O'Toole demands answers to all the hard questions; some of Gilligan's responses will make readers shiver. Gilligan knew that laying all his cards on the table could mean signing his own death warrant. But he has done it here. And with a cast of all the country's deadliest underworld figures, this exposé is nothing short of explosive.

For almost two decades, Father Patrick Ryan evaded intelligence agencies across Europe and was, for a time, one of the most wanted men in Britain. In The Padre, award-winning investigative journalist Jennifer O'Leary exposes the exploits of this notorious former Irish priest and active IRA supporter. Revealing sensational details divulged to her during exclusive secret meetings with Ryan, the book lifts the lid on the true extent of the priest's involvement with the IRA and its campaign of terror across Europe, Britain and Ireland - from being a trusted link between the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and the IRA, to his involvement in improving IRA explosive devices, which made possible the almost successful assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet in Brighton. The Padre tells the truly remarkable story of this man of the cloth, who, decades on, is still unrepentant about his ruthless zealotry in pursuit of money, weapons and assistance for the IRA's violence. Indeed, his one regret is that he wasn't even more effective.,

In this sensational exposé of British Intelligence's top informer in the upper ranks of the IRA, Richard O'Rawe delivers the most definitive account yet of the Troubles' most enigmatic, notorious and sinister figure, Freddie Scappaticci. Codenamed Stakeknife, from the late 1970s through to his eventual exposure in 2003 he was the 'jewel in the crown' of a British infiltration system designed to cause mayhem and chaos in the IRA's military operations. O'Rawe gained unprecedented access to Scappaticci's former comrades, who reveal extraordinary details of the inner workings of the IRA's Internal Security Unit. Headed by Scappaticci, this secretive group was known locally as the 'Nutting Squad' owing to its fearsome reputation for the abduction, interrogation, torture and execution of volunteers suspected of working for the British or the RUC. The political scandal at the heart of this story is that Scappaticci's intelligence handlers were aware of almost every abduction and execution he carried out prior to it taking place; a scandal that became the subject of the British government sponsored inquiry, Operation Kenova. In this compelling and extraordinary story of state-sanctioned murder and extreme moral ambiguity in the overriding quest for the protection of 'national security', the truth is truly stranger than fiction.

It's said that almost everyone in Ireland, particularly in rural communities, will know of someone with a 'cure'. It might be for the mumps, a stye in the eye, or a sprain. Indeed the author of Cures of Ireland, Cecily Gilligan was herself cured of jaundice and ringworm by a 'seventh son' in her local Sligo during her childhood. Cecily Gilligan has been researching the rich world of Irish folk cures for almost forty years and, given the tradition has largely been an oral one, has been interviewing a broad range of people from around the country who possess these mystical cures, and those who have benefited from their gifts. One has a cure for eczema that comprises herbal butter balls, another 'buys' warts from the sufferer with safety pins. There are stories of clay from graves with precious healing properties and pieces of cords from potato bags being sent across the world to treat asthma. While the Ireland of the twenty-first century continues to develop at lightning speed, there is something deeply comforting and reassuring in the fact that these ancient healing traditions, while fewer in number, do survive to this day. Cures of Ireland is an exquisitive book that will be treasured by many generations to come.

Irish village. Viking town. English city. Proud European capital. A Little History of Dublin is a high-speed history of life in the Irish capital. The key events are explained in short, digestible chapters, and the reader can expect to discover the complete history of Dublin in the time it takes to walk from Dollymount to Dalkey. Incident, humour and humanity are privileged throughout this history in a hurry. Author Trevor White writes with affection but also with a clarity that reflects his experience of running a museum that celebrates the history, humour and hospitality of Dublin. The result is a crisp and colourful account of achievement and misadventure in a city that White calls Europe's largest village.

Tom Crean is one of the most iconic figures in Irish history. Born in 1877 in County Kerry, he enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of sixteen, a career that would bring him to the most extreme environments on Earth. We all think we know the Crean story, but this book charts his full naval career in rich new detail, from his start in the Americas, where he was faced with rebellions and life-threatening storms, to Australia, where he faced the Black Death and threats from cannibals. But it was Robert Scott's decision to employ him that led him to Antarctica, where his feats of heroism on two expeditions saw him help save the lives of crewmates on three dramatic occasions, most famously on Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Endurance, when the vessel sank leaving the crew stranded on the ice for almost 500 days. Tom Crean's is an extraordinary tale, one of an unassuming but quietly strong man who showed remarkable bravery in the harshest conditions on the planet. This was a man who lived a life unlike others. Crean is the story of a true Irish hero.

So begins Sport in Modern Life, where leading sports historian and bestselling author Paul Rouse grapples with the concept of every individual person's relationship with sport being unique to him or herself but also intimately connected with the universal - ' most sport is a shared experience even if not shared in precisely the same way' - and many other topics aside. Throughout this superb collection of articles and essay, Paul explores, in his inimitable and always engaging style, the undeniable fact that for large sections of society there is no greater pastime than the pursuit and discussion of sport in all its guises. Whether it's describing an annual sports day, the harrowing events of Hillsborough, the intersection of sport and Irish history or the sporting idols who have left an impression upon the author, no stone is left unturned in this essential addition to understanding the pivotal role of sport in life in Ireland and further afield. As well as the many essays and stories published here for the first time, others have evolved from articles written for the Irish Examiner and pieces recorded for RTÉ 's Sunday Miscellany. They are the culmination of sporting experience as a player, manager, supporter, consumer, journalist and historian. They are an attempt to record, in the round, at least some of the sheer variety of experiences available in sport. And they are a reminder, too, that the wheel does not ever stop turning

The riveting story of the impact of the Troubles in East Tyrone as told by the people involved. Based on interviews with veterans from all sides, including former members of the security forces. A deep-dive into what the Troubles were like on the ground, by prolific and decorated military historian.

A compelling new memoir by one of the youngest-known survivors of Ireland's infamous Magdalene laundries. Sullivan has been interviews extensively in the national media about her harrowing experiences. She discussed her ongoing fight for justice in RTÉ 's 2022 documentary Ireland's Dirty Laundry.

Irish artist Gwen Wilkinson's fascinating, fun adventures travelling the length of Ireland in a self-built canoe. Beautifully illustrated with the artist's striking lino and woodcut prints. Highlights include the celebration of women who have left their mark on the Irish landscape.

The Brexit referendum of 2016 triggered one of the most profound constitutional crises in modern British history. A wave of populist nationalism gave way to political and economic instability, throwing the future of the United Kingdom into sharp relief. The Scottish National Party saw an opportunity to press for a second referendum on Scottish independence with Irish republicans lobbying the British Government for a border poll in a move to help secure their goal of a United Ireland. For Unionists in Northern Ireland, a referendum that began on the question of sovereignty quickly degenerated into cries of betrayal and a redrawn border in the Irish Sea. Extraordinary uncertainty now hangs over the future of the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland's centenary year, military and political historian Aaron Edwards, a native of Belfast, explores the profound challenges facing Unionists. He reflects upon the past century of political turbulence on these islands, the effects of Republican violence on the Unionist psyche and the embattlement of a people who believe themselves to be once again under siege.

In 1987, when Richard Harris - the legendary star of This Sporting Life, The Field and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - was interviewed for the first time by Joe Jackson, they almost came to blows. Jackson was determined to unearth deeper truths about the actor than he usually disclosed during interviews. Harris had manipulated the media all his life, largely to keep people from getting to really know him. However, by the time that interview ended, they had become firm friends. It was only then that Jackson told Harris, ' I want to show the public that there is far more to you than your superficial image as a boozing, brawling womaniser.' Harris loved this idea and two years later he asked Jackson to write his biography. Richard Harris: Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven is that biography. But it is much more besides. Based on a searingly honest series of interviews Jackson recorded with Harris between 1987 and 2001, plus the author's journal entries and extensive notes, this book is also a part-memoir that tells a highly personal and moving back story about why it was inevitable that Jackson and Harris would connect at the deepest possible level.

"This fascinating book offers a new perspective on the GAA by assembling a range of objects from every county in Ireland, as well as overseas, to present a chronological history of the GAA that also functions as a social history of the people who have been involved in it"--Back cover.

Abandoned Ireland travels the length and breadth of the island of Ireland visiting and documenting our forgotten buildings, highlighting their social importance, and bringing their stories back to life through the medium of photography. From big houses to humble cottages, schools to prisons, churches to dance halls, these buildings may now be abandoned, but they are far from empty. As a photographer, Brownlie's instincts are remarkable. In the seemingly ruined and mundane she finds diamonds in the rough; her images of the ordinary ephemera of past lives--dusty love letters, rusting spectacles, photographs yellowed and curled with age--paint the pictures of real people and full lives. Rebecca Brownlie's photography reverberates with the echoes of our ancestors. Bursting with engaging and often surprising details, each haunting photograph is an invitation to immerse yourself in history, and an Ireland long gone.

'... David O'Leary is entrusted with the responsibility of taking the penalty that could send Ireland to the quarter finals of the World Cup. This kick can decide it all. The nation holds its breath ...It's there!" While the nation held its breath, George Hamilton delivered a line that will forever be etched in Irish sporting lore! A fixture in the commentary box since the late 1970s, Hamilton has enthralled and captivated his RTÉ audience for decades. Particularly through the many highs of the Charlton years, from Stuttgart in '88 to Italia '90 and the USA in '94, he has engagingly articulated the joy and despair felt by the fans who listen with anticipation for his sporting gems. Written in his inimitable style, The Nation Holds Its Breath is a lyrical journey through the key moments of his life and career. The voice that is so familiar to millions is present on every page of this book, from his formative days in Belfast and early career in London to his eventual arrival in Dublin and RTÉ, where, alongside his sporting work, he has carved out an entirely separate career with his hugely popular Lyric FM show, The Hamilton Scores.

Colin Bateman grew up in the pleasant seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. Ten miles away, the IRA, the UDA, and the UVF were blowing Belfast apart, but he was more concerned with making his first million through the GBA--the Gerbil Breeding Association (sadly short-lived when his gerbils turned out to be cannibals). Inspired by All the President's Men and The Odessa File to become a crusading journalist, Bateman joined the local paper when he was a seventeen-year-old punk rocker, where instead of bringing down Presidents and finding Nazis, he found himself being hunted down by the notorious Kilcooley Strollers, a dance troupe with an axe to grind. So close to the Troubles, yet so far away--Thunder and Lightning is the story of one boy's journey through the rather soft side of life in a town which lacked tough streets but boasted many cul-de-sacs. A town where an occasional terrorist bomb was seen as an opportunity to profiteer and where his father became a paramilitary by accident.

In Living With Ghosts renowned veteran journalist Brian Rowan retraces his steps through Northern Ireland's conflict years, as he bravely delves into the darkness of those times. His story takes us beyond the often strict boundaries of the news into the very real dilemmas and fears behind its scenes. In his journalistic career Rowan walked the thinnest of lines, where morals and principles were blurred, and as a result his mind became tortured. This book is an explanation, not a confession. He goes deep into his contacts with the IRA, the loyalist organisations, MI5, Special Branch, the army, and the many other players in the conflict period. And he joins the dots on a path out of 'war' in a place that has not yet found peace of mind. Rowan thinks and writes inside a moral maze, and in this book he invites us into his nightmares of remembering and to times he will never forget. Living with Ghosts is a moving and deeply personal account of one man's doubts and decisions, and the challenges of reporting a war on his doorstep.

Set in 1950s rural Ireland, Rathcormick is the engaging and beautifully written tale of a large and happy Protestant farming family: a stern and domineering Papa, a warm and practical Mama, their two daughters and six sons. For Homan, the youngest, life is a free-spirited awakening in a world of old-fashioned virtue and frugality. But no boyhood lasts forever, and an abrupt turn of events signals an end to the idyll. Exploring the values and mores of an almost lost part of Irish society, Rathcormick is an unforgettable memoir: funny, compelling, and original

On 13 March 2017, the Rescue 116 crew of Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick, Capt. Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby, and Ciarán Smith took off from Dublin airport just after 2300 hours for a medical evacuation off the west coast. The first indication of disaster came when the crew failed to answer a radio call at 12.46 a.m. At 02.16 hours, sister helicopter Rescue 118 spotted a casualty and debris in the water. There would be no survivors from R116, and extensive searches failed to locate the bodies of two of the four crew. The crash occurred just six months after the loss of another experienced volunteer, Caitriona Lucas from Doolin Coast Guard in Co Clare; and 18 years after the loss of four Air Corps crew who were returning from a night rescue in thick fog off the south-east coast. In Search and Rescue, Lorna Siggins exposes the shocking systemic flaws that led to these tragic deaths, but also looks at successful rescues where, despite all the odds, the courage and dedication of members of the Irish Coast Guard and the volunteers who work with them have saved countless lives, including the dramatic rescue of paddleboarders Sara Feeney and Ellen Glynn off the coast of Clare in 2020.

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.