There was time when hurling books and GAA books were all about snippets of reminiscences of the good old glory days of one team or another or some player or group of players.

There’s nothing wrong with that.  There are still books like that coming out.  Even the one about Ned Power is a little bit like that in many ways.  The GAA itself brought out a coffee table book of many images recently too.

But nowadays, the tendency is for the “tell-all” book; the one that reveals something spectacular, something sensational, something controversial that will have the head honchos in Croke Park bristling and the ladies in every parish blessing themselves while the gentlemen hang their heads and tut them over and back in disbelief and disgrace.

But are these books saying anything worthwhile? Yes, and no, I suppose. It’s all down to how sincerely and entertainingly the thing is written. The novelty wears off and you soon see what you’re left with.  Just don’t judge a book by its cover.

“My Father: A Hurling Revolutionary, the life and times of Ned Power” is out on paperback at the end of November 2009.  Click here for further information, pre-order and excerpt.