Pulse of the Nation

THE GAA book of 2024 - covering 140 years of the agony and the ecstasy of Ireland's national games and their place at the heart of Irish life. Pulse of the Nation is a celebration of the GAA's 140 years at the centre of Irish life, from its foundation in November 1884 to the present-day institution that has expanded massively at home and abroad.It zones in on the greatest players in football and hurling, ranking them one-to-ten, accompanied by profiles, in each of the fifteen positions in both codes.The 'greatest day' for all 32 counties is explored, along with a trawl through the various competitions, from the All-Ireland championships with their 'Heartbeat of the Irish Summer' billing, to those that were once popular but are no longer in place.Controversies are explored, the changed managerial environment is assessed - including the impact of some of the biggest names from Kevin Heffernan to Mick O'Dwyer, from Brian Cody to John Kiely - and the covers are lifted on the GAA's role in Ireland's social and cultural history, including the growth in popularity of camogie and ladies' football.Written by award-winning sports journalists Martin Breheny and Donal Keenan, this is the ultimate publication for the GAA's 140th anniversary.