Showbusiness With Blood: A Golden Age of Irish Boxing
By Eamon Carr published by The Lilliput Press
Available to pre-order now / In bookshops from 21st September
Launch in Dubray Books, 36 Grafton Street at 6pm on 28th September.
In Showbusiness with Blood: A Golden Age of Irish Boxing, Eamon Carr takes readers on an epic trip through Irish boxing.
Boxing, Ireland’s most successful sport, was turbo-charged in the mid-1990s as Irish boxers excelled and stories from this period are interspersed with stories from throughout Eamon’s life, including his career in music.”
For almost three decades, Carr was ringside for the most important fights, from legends like Steve Collins and Mike Tyson to newer faces like Tyson Fury and Katie Taylor. Behind the scenes, he witnessed the fighters’ sacrifices, dedication and emotional turmoil. Showbusiness with Blood takes the reader on a journey through Irish boxing’s years of triumph and desolation, with stories from gruelling training camps, noisy press conferences, behind-the-scenes hustling and the savage brutality of championship fights. With dramatic stories of fulfilment and frustration, glory and failure, Carr charts exceptional examples of heroism, aspiration and personal redemption.
“Boxers display enormous courage,” says Carr. “While not all become champions, their bravery and commitment remains inspirational.”
Eamon Carr is a journalist and art historian, and founder member of Horslips, the pioneering folk-rock group in which he is lyricist and drummer. The group’s most recent release is More Than You Can Chew, a boxset of 33 albums. His published work includes The Origami Crow: Journey into Japan World Cup Summer 2002, Deirdre Unforgiven and Foundation Song. His verse plays include DUSK (2016) and CúChulainn Awakes (2020). He is a widely-published commentator on culture, arts and sport.
Showbusiness with Blood: A Golden Age of Irish Boxing will be launched on 28th September in Dubray Books on Grafton Street at 6pm. Eamon will read from the book and be joined in conversation with Mannix Flynn, (Independent Dublin City Councillor, author and playwright).
‘In his compelling and beautifully-written book, Eamon Carr does not shy away from the darkness and danger of boxing but draws us deep into its vivid and mysterious world. It flows with riveting stories of great fighters – an unforgettable addition to the rich history of Irish boxing.’ – Donald McRae.