This is the Life

Days and Nights in the GAA

By: Ciarán Murphy

Narrated by: Ciarán Murphy

Brought to you by Penguin.

A provocative look at how grassroots GAA interacts with life in Ireland, from the wittiest Gaelic games pundit at work today

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 the things that make a local club worth fighting for.

'There is a deep understanding of the way the GAA works at every level … a brilliant read from start to finish’ Paul Rouse, The Irish Examiner

©2023 Ciarán Murphy (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

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

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 (Paul Rouse)

Great look at Gaelic Football

Fantastic introduction to understanding the world of Gaelic football. Love the back stories along with commentary on the GAA. Must read.