‘Blood and Thunder: Rugby and Irish Life: A History’ by Glenroe’s Liam O’Callaghan was this week announced as being among the contenders for this year’s Eason Sports Book of the Year award, as part of the overall An Post Irish Book Awards.
In ‘Blood and Thunder’, Liam chronicles the evolution of rugby on the island of Ireland, charting the influence that the progression of the Irish state has had on the sport, and vice versa. As per the book’s synopsis, “Ireland has become a leading rugby nation despite its tiny population and the fact that the sport is only the fourth most popular team game on the island by participation. ‘Blood and Thunder’ traces the dramatic evolution whereby a rugby nation that was deeply attached to amateurism has made such a dramatic success of professionalism. From the sequence of events that led Ireland’s private Catholic secondary schools to embrace rugby, to the controversies and crises that have shaken Irish rugby – including the Northern Troubles, the Belfast rape trial, and the rising toll of head injuries – the book tells the rich and fascinating story of Irish rugby.”
For Liam, now an Associate Professor and Academic Lead at the Department of Sport and PE/Sport Psychology at Liverpool Hope University, the book has been a major success in bestseller lists, and marks his second publication tracing Irish rugby history following his highly-acclaimed work “Rugby in Munster: A Social and Cultural History” in 2011.
Other publications among those competing with Liam to take home the Eason Sports Book of the Year award are:
Joe Canning: My Story – Joe Canning with Vincent Hogan
Unladylike: A History of Ladies Gaelic Football – Hayley Kilgallon
The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99% – Conor Niland
My Autobiography – Davy Russell with Donn McClean
Obsessed: The Autobiography – Johnny Sexton
To vote for your winner, visit www.irishbook awards.ie/vote. Voting is now open, and closes on Thursday 14th November. The winner will then be announced at an awards ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin on Wednesday 27th November.