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The Nation Holds Its Breath
‘David O’Leary is entrusted with the responsibility of taking the penalty that could send Ireland to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. This kick can decide it all. The nation holds its breath … Yes, we’re there!’
Written with his trademark warmth and candour, The Nation Holds Its Breath is George Hamilton’s eagerly awaited and wonderfully told journey through a rich and varied career in broadcasting.
As the undisputed voice of Irish football, George’s evocative and celebrated commentary is familiar to millions. He has captured the highs and lows of Irish sport for generations of fans, ever since he first took up the microphone in the mid-seventies, and he has been enthralling his audiences ever since.
To read George’s writing is to hear George’s voice and the reader will be captivated from the very first page, as he takes us on an affectionate journey from the Cregagh Road in East Belfast to an emotional farewell salute from Big Jack Charlton on the hallowed Anfield turf in 1995. The destinations – Stuttgart, Genoa, New Jersey – will be familiar, the journeys in between, anything but. A must-read memoir from one of Ireland’s truly undeniable national treasures.
Written with his trademark warmth and candour, The Nation Holds Its Breath is George Hamilton’s eagerly awaited and wonderfully told journey through a rich and varied career in broadcasting.
As the undisputed voice of Irish football, George’s evocative and celebrated commentary is familiar to millions. He has captured the highs and lows of Irish sport for generations of fans, ever since he first took up the microphone in the mid-seventies, and he has been enthralling his audiences ever since.
To read George’s writing is to hear George’s voice and the reader will be captivated from the very first page, as he takes us on an affectionate journey from the Cregagh Road in East Belfast to an emotional farewell salute from Big Jack Charlton on the hallowed Anfield turf in 1995. The destinations – Stuttgart, Genoa, New Jersey – will be familiar, the journeys in between, anything but. A must-read memoir from one of Ireland’s truly undeniable national treasures.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2022
This was a short and snappy read, full of funny anecdotes about George's career travelling the world as a sports broadcaster and, more recently, also presenting a weekend show on classical music on RTE Lyric FM. George was born in the north of Ireland and hence the Troubles of the 60s and 70s also feature in the memoir. It's well worth a read if you've any interest in Irish sports - I would have liked a little more about his love of classical music and I'd hope that any follow-up book would talk about that aspect too.
January 26, 2022
Muddled in places, Italia90 just about gets a look in this book despite the title.
Disappointing read.
Disappointing read.
January 4, 2022
I grew up listening to George Hamilton, and his commentary obviously goes hand in hand with some of the greatest moments in Irish sport. I was hoping this book would provide more of an insight into his profession with anecdotes from the great sporting events he's attended. Unfortunately, it's not a particularly insightful read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews