Ireland's Call follows the fascinating stories of 40 Irishmen who
swapped the sports field for the battlefield - household names who gave
up their careers to volunteer during World War I. Using letters,
memoirs, and newspaper reports, the book features the stories of
international footballers, rugby players, cricketers, GAA stars,
athletes, and hockey players, whose lives ended in the mud of the Somme,
the despair of Ypres, or the heat of Gallipoli. This charming yet
poignant collection of stories includes: an Irish athlete who competed
in the 1908 London Olympics * the remarkable journey of two GAA players
who starred in All-Ireland Finals and later died at the Western Front *
the exceptionally talented Harry Sloan, the Irish football international
who was the first to score at the newly built Dalymount Park * Basil
Maclear, the rugby center, capped 11 times for Ireland and who captained
Munster when they played the All Blacks in 1905 * Irish international
cricketer and President of the Irish Rugby Football Union, Frank
Browning, who went on to set-up the Rugby Pals Battalion based in
Lansdowne Road * the first Irish golfer to win prize money at the
British Open * the first schoolboy to play rugby for Ireland * the
story of Barney Donaghy from Derry, who played for Man Utd, Burnley,
Celtic, Hibs, Belfast Celtic, and Glentoran, and who was ultimately
killed at the Battle of the Somme. A century on, their sacrifice is
finally recorded in this unique and poignant account. *** Librarians:
ebook available on ProQuest and EBSCO [Subject: History, Irish Studies,
Sports, Military Studies, World War I]
