In keeping with my resolution here My second annual New Year's interview with myself about getting back to reading more books, this is the first of the year.
And even though it's a sports book, with the sub-title When Munster best the All Blacks, it's certainly a serious book.
While ostensibly about a rugby match, it's also about Irish culture, Irish spirit, and a perspective on Irish life in the 20th century. It is 245 pages of humor, poignancy, and insight. The title refers to a popular song in Ireland.
Now, who/what's Munster and the All Blacks? Well, Munster is the southernmost of the four provinces of Ireland Munster – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the others being Connacht, Leinster, and Ulster. And the All Blacks are well-known to anyone who follows international rugby football – they are the national team of New Zealand, where the sport of rugby union is a national religion obsession.
The story revolves around the efforts of the Munster provincial all-star team to beat the All Blacks, who were touring the "four home nations" (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) for two months in 1978. This was in the era of amateur-only rugby, when a national representative side would tour a country or countries for one or two months, playing twice a week – a mid-week game and a Saturday match.
In the whole history of rugby matches (going back to 1905) between the Irish national side, and Irish provinces against New Zealand, no Irish team had ever beaten the All Blacks. But on October 31st, 1978 the Munster province sensationally defeated the New Zealanders, 12-0. To put this achievement in context, it's somewhat equivalent to a Division II college football team defeating the recently crowned national collegiate football champion Florida Gators. Interestingly, it was the only defeat the All Blacks suffered on their tour, as they won their other 17 matches, including defeating all four of the national teams.
AND, no Irish team has managed to defeat the All Blacks since then. So in 104 years, only Munster has done it.
The author, Alan English, is an Irish journalist from Limerick in Munster. Most of the book is about the Munster coach, and eight or ten of the players and administrators, including their backgrounds, family life, and in some cases the chips on their shoulders!
So, a wonderful read and insight into the Irish. Unfortunately this book is a bit hard to get. It's available at Amazon through their outside vendors, or you can google Amazon UK and get it shipped from Britain.
Great book, even if you know nothing about rugby.
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