DUNGARVAN’S Park Hotel is the place to be tomorrow (Wednesday) night when GAA President Christy Cooney will officially launch what I’m certain will prove to be one of the most fascinating GAA books ever written and published.
“Working On A Dream’’ - -A Year On The Road With The Waterford Footballers - -isthepainstakingwork of Sunday Independent GAA journalist Damian Lawlor and tells the story of the “other’’ side of the inter county sphere that the Kerrys, Corks, Tyrones, and Dublins of this world know absolutely nothing about.
Since January 4th last Lawlor all but became a permanent fixture inside the Waterford senior football camp as the county’s preparations for the upcoming National League campaign began.
Now in his book he tells the story of a group of totally dedicated players under the managerial guidance of the charismatic John “Jackson’’ Kiely performing in front of a handful of spectators at the most remote of venues. And he graphically tells of the struggle behind the scenes to keep the show on the road.
“I was with John Kiely and the boys from January 4th right through to the end of the season, and the book is an account of that season and the personal lives and efforts of all those involved’’, says Damian Lawlor. “It is also the story of a team at the other end of the ladder - - forgotten about but yet as committed as any other’’.
Expect a huge turnout at tomorrow night’s launch with all of the
Waterford football squad certain to be there along with many of the county’s top hurlers too. Leading personalities at all levels in the GAA from many parts of the country will also be there, and of course having the president Christy Cooney to perform the book launch is very much the icing on the cake.
Damien Lawlor, who has also penned the former Wexford hurling star Liam Dunne’s story - - ”I Crossed The Line’’ - -is a proud native son of Tipperary and a GAA man through and through. He is a key member of the Sunday Indo’s reporting team having previously worked at a number of other publications including the Cork based “Evening Echo’’.
“There is an open invitation to all members of the general election to the Park Hotel launch, and really it will be the case of “the more the merrier’’, says Lawlor.
“Working On A Dream’’ should be on the shelves at all of Waterford’s (city and county) bookshops by this coming weekend and is selling at a very reasonable 16.99 euros. It will make an ideal Christmas present in particular and is recommended highly.
