Truly Irish novel revolving around a fictional All-Ireland hurling final.
Vividly captures the passion, pride and traditions of the GAA community.
A unique topic is supported by unforgettable and achingly real characters.
With its unique subject matter and innovative structure akin to Donal Ryan's The Spinning Heart, The First Sunday in September is a must-read. Tadhg Coakley wonderfully captures the excitement of All-Ireland day. A hungover Clareman with gambling debts travels up to Dublin for the match, secretly hoping his county will lose. Sarah Taylor attends the final with her partner, Conor Dunlea, wondering when to tell him that she's pregnant. Tim Collins watches the match from the stands, his gaze repeatedly falling on the Cork captain, Sean Culloty, whom he and his wife, Evelyn, gave up for adoption years earlier. Clare star forward Cillian MacMahon struggles under the weight of expectation. Cork's talisman Darren O'Sullivan waits for the sliotar to fall from the sky, aware that his destiny is already set. These are just a few of the characters whose lives we join for a day. A mix of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge and Chad Harbach's The Art of Fielding.
