irelands Professional Amateurs Paperback -

When American Sportswriter Andy Mendlowitz Took ASummer Vacation To Ireland, His Itinerary Included Visiting Medieval Castles And Drinking Dark BeerHe Soon Discovered AWorld Where Bigtime Sports Arent Yet ABusiness, But Still AGameIrelands Roughandtumble Pastimes Of Hurling And Gaelic Football Attract Crowds Of Up To , Fans AContestThe Highprofile Players, Though, Are AmateursThey Train As Professionals But Must Work Fulltime Jobs To Pay The BillsThe Gaelic Athletic Association gaa Also Lacks Free Agency Or Tradesyou Simply Play For Your Hometown Team, Even If You Move AwayAmazed By This Concept, And Burned Out At Work, Mendlowitz Quit His Job And Moved To Ireland For Eight Months His Aim Was To Get Excited Again By Understanding What Drives These AthletesAlong The Way, He Met Interesting Characters And Learned How The Sports Intersect With The Ancient Irish Language, Burgeoning Economy And The Troubles In Northern IrelandFrom Big Cities Like Belfast, Dublin And Cork To Tiny Rural Parishes, Mendlowitz Paints AVivid Picture Of Ireland And The Joy Of Competing'