Christy O’Connor seems to like his unique books. ‘Last Man Standing’ was a top class book providing unique insights from those who know what its like to stand in a balding mud patch and defend the goal line. ‘The Club’ is arguably an even better read.

It’s better because it gets to the nub of grass roots GAA. It’s better because it’s so bloody truthful. It’s better because it’s probably a major contender for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

The reality of death and the subsequent grieving process are key themes of this book. It revolves around three deaths of tragic proportions. The death of the author’s unborn daughter, the death of the former Doora/Barefield captain and inspirational leader, Ger Hoey, and the death of Fr Michael McNamara.

In the midst of the tragedies, there are the dressing room and meeting room arguments, disagreements and frustrations. It’s a compelling tale of the decline in fortunes of a once great club who have been drifting from silverware within their own county and their attempt to regain the Clare County Championship in the 2009 season. There are other issues within the club, the provision for the future as they attempt to generate a conveyor belt of talent, the identity struggle with relocation of the club grounds, the absence of total harmony at the best of times and the ever-increasing urbanisation of their traditional catchment area. There are the destructive feuds with the WAGS over the obsession with hurling. And then there’s the old chestnut within many clubs. Gaelic Football vs. Hurling.

Most readers of An Fear Rua have most likely been involved in a GAA club in some capacity at some stage, whether as an official, player or coach in Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie, or Ladies Football. Most will acknowledge that there are times when a club can be one of the most intense political organisations on the planet. People get treated like dirt. People walk on top of other people. There are controversies, there are financial issues, and there are heartbreaking defeats. There are players who have more talent in one finger than others have in their entire bodies, but frustratingly seem unwilling to care. There are times when defeat doesn’t hurt. But sometimes clubs cannot handle success. We saw that in Limerick recently when club officials and mentors fought in open view just minutes after returning home with a county title. There are times when clubs don’t take advantage of success. But there are good things. A bond that can be created that can last for a lifetime, the collective togetherness in the moments of grief and the lifetime friendships. And there are the memories. There may not be success on every horizon, but while medals lose their shine, memories last forever. O’Connor manages to encapsulate everything between the covers of a book that applies specifically to St Josephs Doora/Barefield, but bears relevance for an awful lot of clubs.

The book is structured very well, in chronological order, drifting back in time on occasions to provide relevance and background information to characters, and key events as they appear in the present day within the chapters. Greg Lyons is a former workmate of mine from the summer of 2008, and its always most interesting to read about people with whom you are acquainted in books. The concept of this book is something though that could inspire others to write their own books relevant to their own clubs and that might well open its own can of worms.

There is a lot of truth buried in dressing room walls and brushed under the carpet within the corridors of an awful lot of club buildings. The public perception of the truth can differ wildly from the reality and people may use a book to set the record straight for once and for all. People with a story to tell are becoming more willing to open up, and give their side of the story than they might have been in the past.

This book is a ‘must’ for any club individual on this island. A definite stocking filler.


Christy O'Connor