Did you know? On 6 July 1924, high jumper and legendary Gaelic footballer Larry Stanley became the first athlete to represent independent Ireland in an Olympic athletics competition. Tom Kiely, arguably Ireland's greatest athlete, won in excess of 1,000 prizes, five AAA hammer titles and fifty-three national titles between 1888 and 1908. The oldest medallist in Olympic track and field history is Irish-born Matt McGrath, who won a medal in Paris in 1924 at the age of 49 years and 195 days. In the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Ronnie Delany became Ireland's first track champion, winning the 1,500m title with a new Olympic record time of 3:41.2. The Little Book of Irish Athletics is a concise history of all the major occasions in Irish athletics, from the nineteenth century to the Morton Mile of July 2017. This new book from author Tom Hunt is a must for fans of Irish athletics all over the world. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about Ireland's proud sporting heritage.

A concise history of all the major figures in Irish boxing, from Dan Donnelly to Katy Taylor, this new book from highly experienced author Barry Flynn will be a must for fans of Irish boxing all over the world. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient sport.

The Little Book of Ireland is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of fascinating, frivolous and fantastic information which no one will want to be without. Full of details about the country, past and present, this volume covers such themes as wars and rebellions, food and drink, culture, transport, religion, law and of course its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of this ancient country. Despite being a relatively small island on the edge of the vast Atlantic there is always something new, charming, or even bizarre to discover about the Emerald Isle – and you will find much of it here.

Ireland's love affair with Gaelic Games in general, and Gaelic football in particular, has never dimmed. Through the lean days of hunger and emigration, through the champagne-mojito-flavoured years of the Celtic Tiger and onwards, Ireland's love affair for 'our games' has always endured. Fact-packed and light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and a quirky guide reveals little-known facts about Gaelic football along with details of classic matches, statistical records, famous players, amusing anecdotes, and a general history. This can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient game.

In the early 1900s, the Olympic Games track and field throwing events were dominated by a group of Irish-born weight throwers representing the United States. Of immense size and with a larger-than-life presence, these athletes came to be known as the “Irish Whales.” In The Irish Whales: Olympians of Old New York, Kevin Martin shares the untold story of these Irish American athletes who competed with unparalleled distinction for the United States. James Mitchell, John Flanagan, Martin Sheridan, Pat McDonald, Paddy Ryan, and Con Walsh won a total of eighteen medals in the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1924 and completely dominated the world stage in their chosen athletic disciplines. They were lionized in the American and Irish press and became folk heroes among Irish-American immigrant communities. Almost all of these men were further distinguished by their membership in the fabled Irish American Athletic Club of New York and careers with the New York Police Department. The story of the Irish Whales is the very embodiment of the American Dream and exemplifies the triumph of many Irish emigrants in the New World. Featuring a wonderful collection of original photographs, The Irish Whales tells the dramatic stories of these international athletes and their extraordinary sporting successes.

Ireland's love affair with Gaelic Games in general, and Hurling in particular, has never dimmed. Through the lean days of hunger and emigration, through the champagne-mojito-flavoured years of the Celtic Tiger and on after it slunk away with its tail between its legs, Ireland's love for 'our games' has endured. Fact-packed but light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and a quirky guide reveals little-known facts, classic matches and amusing anecdotes, alongside a general history of the game. This is a book that can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about our ancient game.

The Little Book of Irish Landmarks is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about some of Ireland's most iconic landmarks and popular tourist attractions. Here you will find out about the Giant's Causeway, Bunratty Castle, Blarney Castle, Newgrange, Cliffs of Moher, GPO Dublin, Tory Island, Skellig Michael, Hill of Tara and much more. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of the Emerald Isle.