We’re trying to diversify a bit here at ISN, adding rugby and Gaelic football to our offerings. So it was fitting that we tackle a review of Mary White’s Relentless: The Inside Story of the Cork Ladies Footballers from Currach Press/Dufour Editions.
Obviously this book is about women’s Gaelic football and a dynasty in Irish sport. We are, after all, talking about a team that won ten All-Ireland titles in eleven years. But success wasn’t always associated with this program. It had been a program in disarray, a group without direction or a winning spirit. It took a great administrator (Mary Collins), a legendary coach (Eamonn Ryan), and a golden generation of players to turn things around in a big way.
This book is obviously about Irish sport, but it is also about how to build a winning program. It’s a delicate plan that brings the right people together at the right place and time. Take Charlie McLaughlin, Ryan’s predecessor, who was a trendsetter in the youth game, but didn’t experience success in the women’s game. Take Collins, who made a name for herself, but didn’t really ask to be in charge. You learn that it’s about building relationships, establishing a winning culture, and developing talent. To succeed you have to do each of them well and at the same time.
Relentless is an excellent read, a title written by one of Ireland’s top sportswriters. The title’s great content is complemented by an array of quality photographs. You can see that it is a must-read for Gaelic football fans or anyone interested in the inner workings of a successful organization.
