Fiona Nic Giobúin to launch her book at Football Sevens
They say everyone has a book in them and our very own Kilmacud Crokes member, Fiona Nic Giobúin, is living proof of that. Fiona has cherished memories of life in the Camogie Section of the club and is particularly familiar with the Sevens! Amongst the people she played camogie with are Anne Halpin, Nuala, Nóirín, Aisling Harkin and Moira Cilleen who can typically be found dishing out sandwiches to the hungry masses on Sevens Day. No doubt Fiona found some inspiration for her book in all of that!
The official launch takes place upstairs in the club bar area on Saturday week. Why not pop along and say hello to her, maybe buy a copy?
There are more details of the book at this link and below. Well done Fiona!
Press Release
It is with great pleasure I invite you to the
launch of the publication of my new book,
‘When The Chips are Down',
in Kilmacud Crokes GAA club, on the 19th of September at 4 30pm
‘WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN'
Fiona Nic Giobúin
"... this work of fiction celebrates the simple things in life, nature, sport, schools and school teachers, a clean environment, good food and wonder. It is an unusual marriage of a rural community exploring the environmental issues of the day, driven by their passion which has been sculpted and polished in the GAA, with the most modern tools of sport psychology"
Fiona has been interviewed on Seán Bán Breathnach's, Iris Aniar, on Radio na Gaeltachta and on the Keith Finnegan show on Galway Bay fm. The book has received wide-spread coverage in The Galway Independent Newspaper and in the Galway Advertiser.
WHAT READERS SAID ABOUT THE BOOK
‘What I want to know is where did she learn to cook?' - An author and mother
‘Oh I loved it, especially the Native American, animal signs twist. ' -Business woman and mother
‘You got the GAA down to a tee.' - Management consultant and ex-inter county player
‘Haven't started it, but anything with Salthill/Knocknacara and Kilmacud Crokes GAA clubs in the acknowledgements has to be good for a read.' - I.T. expert and ex-inter county player
‘I loved it. And those biscuits, I can taste them' - Secretary
‘I loved it all. And it really made me think about the environment.' - Teacher
‘I really liked it. I love books set in Ireland. Normally when women write in Ireland, they write ‘chick lit books'. It is very unusual.' - Solicitor
‘It's a real page turner, Mom.' - My fourteen year old daughter
‘I loved the characters, they are really warm.' - Graphic designer
‘The author has a great turn of phrase' - Teacher
The mysticism and the description of a sophisticated, modern way of life that still retains a connection with nature and animals is enthralling. And my God, the food! - Barrister
Here is a synopsisof Fiona's book:
This work offiction is a tale of doing the impossible! It's a story set in Killala,Co. Mayo and Galway City and centres on a family and their community.
Anidyllic lifestyle is upset by a couple of unusual adventures withanimals. Many wonder has Niamh, teacher and mother of four children,inherited the gift from her deceased mother, of reading signs fromanimals, signs which are coming in droves.
Meanwhile Mick,another teacher and ex-inter county Meath footballer is training thenational school, Gaelic football team and his inspiring words areworking wonders on the pupils and the adults are taking theinspirational messages on board.
The School is working onretaining its Green school flag and the pupils are being taught to askquestions and appreciate the simple wonders of nature.
Out of the blue a proposal for an incinerator is mooted for Killala.
Theinspirational words spun for the young footballers take on a completelydifferent meaning, as the adults bid to do the impossible and have asay in the future of their town.
A bumbling, amateur, mediacampaign ensues, which has its good days and bad days and all the whilethe signs from the animals and the power of words guide them throughtheir campaign and to the All Ireland, national school, Gaelic footballfinal!
This story in many ways is an appreciation ofthe simple things in life, sport, nature, school and school-teachers, aclean environment, stories and good food, told in a pantomime ofhumour.
When the chips are down is a universal theme we allidentify with; it is about the human spirit and how that spirit thriveson the simple messages of the playing field and how those messages staywith us forever and how they don't half come in handy later!
