The Castle Bookshop in Castlebar is the venue this Thursday, 8th December, for the west of Ireland launch of the book ‘Grassroots, Volume 2: Stories from the Heart of the GAA’. Complied by author and journalist PJ Cunningham, the book features amusing, entertaining and dramatic tales from members and followers of the GAA at home and abroad. The launch takes place at 6pm on Thursday evening.

‘Grassroots’ Volume 1 was published in September last year. Contained in it were stories dating from before the foundation of the GAA through to the Civil War and up to modern times, featuring contributions from a number of well-known personalities. These included Niall Quinn, Seán Boylan, Joe Connolly, Michael Duignan and Joe Kernan.

Volume 2 continues in the same vein. Of particular interest to those of us from the county are contributions from writers with strong Mayo connections such as Maura Flynn, Helen Calvey, Michael Larkin, Mark McGaugh, John Kenny, ‘Four goal’ Willie McGee, Peter Walsh (Vancouver), Sean Hallinan, Declan P Gowran, Padraic McKeon, Murt Hunt and John Hoban. Many of the contributors will be in attendance at the launch on Thursday evening. 

One of the articles in the book, written by Michael Larkin, commemorates a special Mayo-related anniversary. This is the 90th anniversary of the Mayo senior football team’s American tour in 1932, on which the team captain Mick Mulderrig was presented with the magnificent Pennsylvania cup.

From the sounds of it, ‘Grassroots’ Volume 2 could prove to be a handy Christmas present for many. Thursday evening’s launch at Castle Books could then be the ideal time to sort it.