An acid test of such a book is the reaction to a reprint. The book is now stripped of its novelty and must stand alone for what it is, and not what the hype and initial enthusiasm would pretend it to be. Its mettle is now severely tested. For this reason, I was curious as to what my personal and the public reaction would be when Con Collins of Cork announced that he was going to reprint Breandán Ó hEithir's "Over The Bar". The launch of this book in the halycon days of Spring 1984, remains unique in the history of Irish bookselling. Then the Radio One programme at noon was presented by Mike Murphy and ran from 12.00 to the 1.30pm news with a 10 minute break for the daily soap "Harbour Hotel". On that auspicious Friday, the show began with Sonny Molloy singing at the Bookshop door in High St. and finished with De Danann in full flow at the Gallery door in Middle St. Somewhere, in between, amidst a plethora of Footballers, Hurlers, Sculptors, Artists, Poets, Writers, Journalists, Historians and Musicians, the book "Over The Bar" was launched. It was an unforgettable day.

The book carries the subtitle "A Personal Relationship With The GAA" but is much more than that. It bears witness to the depth with which the Gaelic Athletic Association has permeated the fabric of Irish culture. It celebrates the sacrifices and dedication of the thousands of anonymous volunteers so that their village or parish may stand with pride among their peers. It is the autobiography of a fledging nation graduating through the ranks of our national sport and with the author himself as "Everyman". It is the story of the people who make the GAA tick. In 1984, it was the first book of its kind. It is still the first book of its kind. There have been many and such like books published since 1984 but none have really matched the power, the brilliance the sheer enjoyment of "Over the Bar". There are many reasons for this but the most important one is the author himself, Breandán Ó hEithir. It is somewhat significant that when asked recently, and on two separate occasions, the Galway legends, Joe Connolly and Seán Purcell admitted they each felt a sense of loneliness when they thought of him. Somehow or other, since his death, All Irelands and General Elections have never been the same.

Another wonderful aspect of the book is its inherent modesty. It doesn't promise anything, has no point to prove, it is simply a celebration of a way of life. The book opens with the disarming sentence: "The Gaelic Athletic Association had no presence on the island where I grew up." However, being the professional he is, Ó hEithir, slips in an anecdote that whets the appetite and firmly sets the tone of the book. Oh boy! This is going to be a great read! Twenty-one years later, I wondered would the same magic be there, when, with some trepidation, I opened Con Collins's attractive reprint. I needn't have worried. Not only is it still there, it has matured with age and is all the more enjoyable for that. It has passed the test of time with flying colours and with it we can enjoy the Classic Replay.