Offaly football star from 1960s features in new book

AN Offaly football hero from the 1960s is featured in a new book on gaelic games.

Phil O'Reilly was a very consistent defender as Offaly won their first Leinster Senior Football Championship in 1960 and competed in their first All-Ireland final a year later – losing narrowly to Down in a famous final in front of a record Croke Park attendance.

The popular Tullamore funeral director was interviewed for a new book called “On the Shoulders of Giants”.

It is written by Henry Wymbs, a native of Sligo who lives in Oxford, England. He is a retired police officer and BBC broadcaster and has had a lifelong passion for football and hurling. This is his third book as he also published an autobiography, “A Wymbsical Journey” and co-wrote a book on 50 years of Gaelic games in Oxfordshire.

His new book features profiles and interviews with over twenty famous footballers and hurlers from the 1940s to the 1970s.

The book provides plenty of interesting stories from people such as Louth's Dermot O'Brien, Wexford's Billy Rackard, Tipperary's Kieran Carey and many more.

On the Shoulders of Giants is published by Hero books, founded by Liam Hayes, a former Meath Gaelic footballer and winner of All-Ireland titles in 1987 and 1988. This intriguing and rare collection of interviews are available to buy on Amazon as an e-book for 9.99 euros, paperback for 20 euros and hardback for 25 euros