A tip of the hat to Diarmuid O'Flynn, who has brought his many writings about Newtownshandrum in the Irish Examiner over the past number of years to an innovative yet logical conclusion in the form of a book.

Published by Collins Press at 14.95, Club, Sweat and Tears tells us not only about the feats of the 2004 All Ireland club hurling champions but about who they are and the background from which they hail.

Therefore, though naturally the O'Connor and Mulcahy brothers feature prominently, the national school principal and the parish priest also figure, as do the neighbours in Dromina, the other half of the parish, and the other crowd in Ballyhea, the next . . . and O'Flynn's . . . parish.

An unusual book by, let's face it, an unusual author, and all the better for it.

GREAT GAA HEADLINES YOU'LL NEVER SEE

"Cody resigns."

WHAT ARE WE MEANT TO DO NOW?

Now that the field on the main road beside O'Moore Park is being turned into apartment blocks, a couple of hundred handy car-parking spaces have been lost. So where will spectators park in Portlaoise on dark Saturday nights next spring when the Laois footballers are playing at home in the National League? We ask merely for information.