a must-read for anyone interested in how the past can inform the present ... a book that transcends sport to open a window into the forces that shaped the birth of an Irish nation ... a vivid portrayal ... The Bloodied Field is a mainstream Irish sports book that deserves to be on the school curriculum
* Irish Daily Mail *
accomplished and haunting
* Irish Times *
Michael Foley's extraordinary book ... highly recommended
-- Tipperary Star
one of the stand-out books last year
-- Newstalk's Off the Ball
the critically acclaimed The Bloodied Field ... A familiar story told as never before.
-- Irish Independent
well-researched and enormously readable book
-- History Ireland
reads like a thriller
-- Wexford People
Cork-born author Michael Foley appears to have mastered a particular genre of GAA book writing which requires considerable ability and attention to detail in order to be a success ... [he] has set a high standard that anyone else who dares to venture down this tricky path will find difficult to emulate
-- Enniscorthy Guardian, New Ross Standard
outstanding
-- Sunday Independent Sport
a must read for both GAA and Irish history buffs ... Foley's book is one that will be read for years to come, by both sports fans and history scholars'
-- Mayo Advertiser
already now an Irish classic
-- Irish Examiner
one of the best Irish sports books of the year
-- Gorey Guardian
for those of you who might think this is a history book, think again ... a very interesting read
-- Dungarvan Leader
Irish sport book of the year in my mind
-- RTE Sport's Damien O'Meara
reading it at the moment ... and I think it's a fantastic piece of work
-- Sunday Independent
a must read for all history and sporting folk
-- Clare County Express
far and away, my book of the year .... this is one of those books that transcends sports ... brilliant ... the book of the year
-- RTE Sport/RTE Radio's Damien O'Meara
A stunning read. Builds the suspense superbly during the day with personal accounts of all the main protagonists involved on Bloody Sunday and its aftermath. Michael Foley has done not just the GAA, but the country, a service in putting this book together. It is a film waiting to happen. Historical research of this nature could have been heavy and lost the interest of the reader quickly, but he takes his painstaking research and turns it into a gripping thriller. Just brilliant.
-- thescore.ie
incredible
-- campus.ie
the definitive account of Bloody Sunday 1920 ... amazing ... phenomenally well put together ... one of the best books that I've read in a long time
-- The Last Word with Matt Cooper
Among the sports writing fraternity of the GAA, a healthy competition began rousing itself around 15 years ago, leading to over a decade of left-field 'concept' books and superb documenting of Gaelic Games. The trickle-down effect has emboldened many writers willing to experiment on their work. Each Christmas, Gaelic Games has a glut of sports books produced. For an indigenous sport and an amateur one at that, it is possibly even over-subscribed with capable authors. The high-water mark this Christmas, and for a few more, might just be reached by the release of Michael Foley's 'The Bloodied Field'... This is a rich book. It has soul and a beating heart and it stands alone as an astonishing, affecting piece of work. If you are in the habit of visiting Croke Park, you will never look at it again with the same eyes. Only greatness can achieve that effect. And this book is great
-- Belfast Telegraph
I couldn't put it down ... a fabulous piece of work ... read like a thriller ... he builds the suspense superbly ... a testament to the brilliance of Michael Foley, one of our best sportswriters ... you can tell from the opening page he has absolutely nailed this book
-- RTE1's Sean O'Rourke Show
the best ... a sports book, a history book, a thriller ... the writing is a treat ... Foley weaves every strand together with an expert hand for a book that makes everything else look unambitious
-- Irish Times
the book of the year in terms of sports books .... so well-written ... he takes you there ... I can't imagine too many better non-fiction books have been released this year in any genre
-- TV3's Ireland AM
rarely has a sports book told you more about and Ireland at one moment in time ... probably the most exhaustively and best researched mainstream Irish sports book ever, yet reads like the best of historical novels
-- Irish Examiner
thanks to ... The Bloodied Field ... we now have a much more vivid and greater understanding of the frightening events that happened
-- Irish Examiner
brilliant
-- Second Captains
truly brilliant
-- Balls.ie
