The current Fianna Fáil Member of the European Parliament and former globetrotting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gerard Collins MEP of Abbeyfeale and Arabia, was once told that someone had written a book on the involvement of the Labour movement in the Irish War of Independence, recalls An Fear Rua …

Gerard's sardonic reply was: 'T'will be a short book so!'

Whatever about the truth of that assertion, and AFR has his doubts about it, the distinguished former Minister could hardly find fault on that score with the latest work to hit the GAA bookshelves. Two enthusiastic Donegal men have managed to write a 416-page long book about the county winning its first (its only?) All Ireland senior football title in 1992. Some West Limerick cynics - and there are plenty of them around, God help us - might argue that writing a book of this length is a greater achievement than the team itself taking the Sam Maguire! Incidentally, we await with bated breath other reportedly forthcoming - but somewhat shorter - GAA books such as 'Leitrim All Ireland Medal Winners', 'Jim Greene's Tips for Hurling Managers' and 'The Encyclopedia of Kilkenny Footballers',

On a historic Sunday in September 1992, Anthony Molloy - captain of the Donegal senior football team - lifted the Sam Maguire cup. His team had just defeated Dublin and - in his acceptance speech - the big Ardara man gave us one of the better post-All Ireland quotes when he declared: 'Sam's for the hills!'

Now, it's eleven years on, and not a moment too soon, 'Sam's for the Hills' is the name of this new book telling the inside story of that famous achievement. It draws on exclusive interviews with every member of that '92 team and panel - revealing humour, despair, agony and joy. It took the team fourteen years to become an overnight success in 1992. This book is an honest and frank account of the many highs and lows that occurred on that journey. Never before has the odyssey of an All Ireland winning county been documented so well.


Excellent collage of 'Sam' and Errigal on the cover of 'Sam's for the Hills'
The book's authors are Dónal Campbell and Damian Dowds, two Dublin-based sons of Tír Chonaill. Both are from Burt in the beautiful Inishowen peninsula and they have strong GAA backgrounds. They play football for the local club and Campbell played senior hurling for the county for twelve years. In 2001 they won a GAA McNamee Award for 'Best GAA Publication' - 'Against the Grain: a history of Burt, its People and the GAA'.

This book is a treat for anyone interested in Gaelic football. It's not just for Donegal fans. It looks and handles well: a fantastic cover, great design and layout, an abundance of interesting photographs, good quality paper and an attractive type face. Just the type of book to make followers in other counties envious of Donegal but also offering them a challenge to emulate it. It's well written and maintains pace and interest right through to the end. Funny, knowing exactly how the book ends doesn't kill the excitement at all.

At only €25 it is excellent value and would make a great Christmas read for GAA fans. The book is generously sponsored by a decent Donegal man and a great Gael, PJ McDermott, of construction and propeerty fame. PJ tells a good story of being in a pub called 'The Top Hat' in Ealing, in London watching the '92 final. He knew exactly what the win meant to Donegal people, not only in the Hills, but scattered throughout the world. On the way in, there was a Dublin guy selling Dubs' hats and scarves. When they were coming out, that stuff was gone and now he was selling Donegal colours. Inspired by his business acumen, PJ himself struck in business on his own shortly afterwards. Not, though, he hastens to add, in selling hats and scarves.

'Sam's for the Hills' is available in bookshops throughout Donegal. It can be ordered on the web from www.samsforthehills.com The authors are contactable as follows:

Dónal Campbell 086-3844916
Damian Dowds 087-7811072

E-mail: samsforthehills@eircom.net

Give them a call or drop them an e-mail and tell them An Fear Rua sent you. But, don't mention Gerry Collins …