A lovely review of The Game as Gaeilge in Tuairisc, a news service in Irish for the Irish speaking community in Ireland and abroad.
Bridget Bhreathnach wrote:
‘Saol rúndiamhair é saol an spóirt domsa ar go leor bealaí. Tuigim an áilleacht, tuigim an díograis, tuigim an chomrádaíocht, tuigim fiú tarraingt na hiomaíochta.
Ina dhiaidh sin féin, tá go leor gnéithe de shaol an spóirt a chuireann as dom. Ní thuigim cén fáth go bhfuil níos mó meas ar spórt na bhfear ná spórt na mban, ná cén fáth go mbíonn daoine in aighneas lena chéile mar gheall ar chluiche amháin nó eile.
Déanann Coakley machnamh ar chuid de na ceisteanna seo sna haistí chomh maith le machnamh ar ghnéithe áille spreagúla an spóirt. Tá cur chuige tuisceanach, pearsanta, umhal aige sna haistí, cuid acu ar nós ‘Kisses’ agus ‘Miracles’ a tharraingeodh deoir as cloch eibhir.’
As Béarla:
‘The world of sport is a world of mystery to me in many ways. I understand the beauty, I understand the enthusiasm, I understand the camaraderie, I even understand the attraction of competition.
Even so, there are many aspects of the sporting world that annoy me. I don’t understand why men’s sport is more respected than women’s, or why people argue with each other over one game or another.
Coakley reflects on some of these questions in the essays as well as reflecting on the beautiful and exciting aspects of sport. He has a thoughtful, personal and humble approach in the essays, some of them like ‘Kisses’ and ‘Miracles’ that would draw a tear from a granite stone.’
