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Buy There I Long to Be by Mick Clifford, a compelling new book from the award-winning Irish Examiner journalist. Order your copy now at Chapters Bookstore.
A fundamental tenet of the GAA is under threat in a manner that has not happened in its 140-year history. For generations, the GAA club has been the beating heart of Irish communities - rooted in the parish, sustained by volunteers and inseparable from identity. But today, that foundation is under threat.
In this deeply personal and sharply observed memoir, journalist Mick Clifford traces the seismic shifts that have brought the GAA to a crossroads. From his childhood in football-mad Iveragh to three decades in Dublin - where he mentored his son''s team and witnessed the sport''s urban transformation - Clifford explores the widening gap between tradition and modernity. Blending reportage, interviews and historical insight with a lightness of touch, he examines the forces reshaping the club system and asks: what must be done to preserve the soul of the GAA?This is a story of memory, belonging and the future of a movement that has always been more than just sport.
FAQs
"What is There I Long to Be about?
There I Long to Be: Life Through a GAA Lens is Mick Clifford’s memoir about the GAA club at a crossroads. He moves from his childhood in football-mad Iveragh, County Kerry, to three decades in Dublin coaching his son’s team, and asks how the club can keep its soul as Ireland changes.
Who is Mick Clifford?
Mick Clifford is an award-winning investigative journalist and Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, where he also hosts The Mick Clifford Podcast. He was named Journalist of the Year in 2016, and his earlier books include A Force for Justice: The Maurice McCabe Story.
Are rural GAA clubs under threat?
Clifford argues the parish-based club faces its biggest challenge in the GAA’s 140-year history. Emigration, urbanisation and shrinking rural populations are pulling players away from small clubs while city clubs grow. The book looks at what could be done to protect the club’s place in Irish life.
Is There I Long to Be a good gift for GAA fans?
Yes. It blends personal memoir with reportage, interviews and GAA history, so it suits anyone who has played, coached or followed club football. It was published on 1 October 2026 and reads as much about community and belonging as about sport.
Can I collect my order in store?
Yes. Choose free Click & Collect at checkout and pick up your order from Chapters Bookstore at the Ivy Exchange on Parnell Street, Dublin 1."
A fundamental tenet of the GAA is under threat in a manner that has not happened in its 140-year history. For generations, the GAA club has been the beating heart of Irish communities - rooted in the parish, sustained by volunteers and inseparable from identity. But today, that foundation is under threat.
In this deeply personal and sharply observed memoir, journalist Mick Clifford traces the seismic shifts that have brought the GAA to a crossroads. From his childhood in football-mad Iveragh to three decades in Dublin - where he mentored his son''s team and witnessed the sport''s urban transformation - Clifford explores the widening gap between tradition and modernity. Blending reportage, interviews and historical insight with a lightness of touch, he examines the forces reshaping the club system and asks: what must be done to preserve the soul of the GAA?This is a story of memory, belonging and the future of a movement that has always been more than just sport.
FAQs
"What is There I Long to Be about?
There I Long to Be: Life Through a GAA Lens is Mick Clifford’s memoir about the GAA club at a crossroads. He moves from his childhood in football-mad Iveragh, County Kerry, to three decades in Dublin coaching his son’s team, and asks how the club can keep its soul as Ireland changes.
Who is Mick Clifford?
Mick Clifford is an award-winning investigative journalist and Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, where he also hosts The Mick Clifford Podcast. He was named Journalist of the Year in 2016, and his earlier books include A Force for Justice: The Maurice McCabe Story.
Are rural GAA clubs under threat?
Clifford argues the parish-based club faces its biggest challenge in the GAA’s 140-year history. Emigration, urbanisation and shrinking rural populations are pulling players away from small clubs while city clubs grow. The book looks at what could be done to protect the club’s place in Irish life.
Is There I Long to Be a good gift for GAA fans?
Yes. It blends personal memoir with reportage, interviews and GAA history, so it suits anyone who has played, coached or followed club football. It was published on 1 October 2026 and reads as much about community and belonging as about sport.
Can I collect my order in store?
Yes. Choose free Click & Collect at checkout and pick up your order from Chapters Bookstore at the Ivy Exchange on Parnell Street, Dublin 1."
- Publisher Name:Bonnier Books Ltd
- Product Format:Trade paperback
- ISBN: 9781804443262
- Author:Clifford, Mick
- Publication Date:2026-10-01
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