Kieran Donaghy is one of the more surprisingly interesting multi-sports stars around. Emmet Ryan was pleasantly surprised by how fascinating Donaghy’s story proved in his autobiography ‘What do you think of that?’
The combination of Gaelic football and basketball is a path well worn by many of the best in both codes to come out of Ireland. The latter holds the international allure while the former can make you a local god. Kieran Donaghy got to try both at a high level and experienced plenty of ups and downs along the way.
In order for a sports autobiography to work, you need an interesting character and good storytelling. With Kieran Shannon co-writing the book with Donaghy, the latter was assured but Donaghy delivers more than his part with a life story on the court, field, and away from both that keeps you turning pages.
The majority of readers of this book are going to come to it because of Donaghy’s time with Kerry in Gaelic football, winning four All-Ireland titles, three All Stars, and one Footballer of the Year award (the equivalent of MVP). For hoop heads however there is plenty to keep you interested.
Donaghy always looked more comfortable on a court than a pitch. He had talent at football but he was always far more versatile as a baller and you see that in his story here. From deciding to move in with the two pros from America on his Tralee team after a row with his mother to a couple of championship runs with the same side before bringing the townvback to the Irish top flight this season after several seasons in the local ranks, there’s plenty of tales of mischief and success throughout.
The personal aspects as well, including his father’s troubles and Donaghy learning in his mid 20s that he had dyslexia, are going to keep you interested and Shannon deserves a ton of credit here for bringing his writing skill here so the book manages to remain accessible without putting off readers more au fait with Donaghy’s sporting exploits.
Having covered both sports, I found it refreshing how much time Donaghy gave to basketball in this book given the majority of his target market will be more interested in his time playing Gaelic football. This is his book, about what matters to him. He cares about the role basketball played in his life and the result is a read hoop heads will appreciate.]
For those trying to understand the way that this site is run by someone who wrote two books on another sport, it’s probably a good introduction on that front too.
What do you think of that by Kieran Donaghy is available in bookstores across Ireland and around the world on Amazon.
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