When we heard that Stephen Shaw had written a novel based on life in the GAA we had mixed feelings, writes An Fear Rua…

We were happy, because it’s great to see the colourful and varied lives of GAA grass roots people filtered through the prism of a competent work of fiction. Apart from Charles Kickham’s moving evocation of the likeable and heroic Matt the Thresher in his much neglected masterpiece Knocknagow, and some scattered references in the works of McGahern and Kavanagh, few writers have taken up the challenge of trying to capture the essence of the GAA.

We felt a little peeved too – but only for a few seconds – as we realized that the author had got out of the stalls before us in the race to produce ‘The Great GAA Novel’. We’ve had many excellent books published in the ‘125’ year of Dis Great Asssoooosheeayshun Of Ours but it is fitting that at least one of them is a novel.

These Green Fields tells the story of a bunch of Mayo hurlers who decide to take on Galway for one last game before the Tribesmen defected to Leinster…

Conor O’Coolahan is a local hurling legend, not just for the club but at county level too. He is returning from a serious playing injury and is anxious to start playing again. Kilbruagh hurling club captain, Seán O’Flaherty, and Bainisteoir Paddy Mac want him to come back too…but not just for the forthcoming provincial club final against Galway champions, Kinglen. They have a suggestion which takes Con’s breath away…but one he can’t walk away from.

However, the players know that they can’t just knock on Galway’s door and ask for a game. They have to go through the proper channels first. This means dealing with the politics of the selectors, and possibly with Croke Park itself.

As the simple suggestion gets blown out of proportion the other Connacht counties become involved…which brings up the possibility of reviving the Connacht SHC one last time. Before any of the Kilbruagh team gets the chance to take on Galway, however, there is the small matter of the provincial SHC final. The Mayo team are up against the club champions of Galway, in a game which will leave the Mayo players with a nasty taste in the mouth.

Read the book to find out whether the Mayo men achieve their goal of playing Galway and lots more besides …

Stephen Shaw was born in Sunderland in 1971. He first became interested in hurling in the early 1980s, when one British broadcaster put the weekend’s highlights on late at night. He quickly realised that this sport, with its unique blend of brutality and grace, was quite unlike any other sport in the world, and he has followed it ever since. Inevitably he fell for an Irish girl – a Galway girl, no less – and moved to Ireland in the summer of 2006, settling in north County Dublin. He has three All-Ireland winner’s medals and has been picked for the All Stars twice.. in his dreams.. . In spite of considerable practice, he has yet to hit a slíotar in a straight line.

Who knows, not only has he given us a great novel about the GAA, but it’s one that cries out for adaptation to dramatic treatment on television, the stage or on film. We know times are hard for many people this Christmas and you’re going to have to think carefully before you commit your few quid to buying a GAA book. If you decide to spend it on These Green Fields you’ll get good value for your money.



You can order a copy of the book online from Causeway Publishing here