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Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
The Last Ditch by Eamonn Sweeney: Brave admissions about mental health struggles hit hard in follow-up
The Last Ditch: How One GAA Championship Gave a Sportswriter Back His Life Author : Eamonn Sweeney ISBN-13 : 978-1399734639 Publisher : Hachette Books Ireland Guideline Price : £16.99 In a world of limited space, very few books survive the intermittent culling of the shelves in our spare room for very long. A few dozen new sports books get piled up there every year and a few dozen (and more, when the going's good) are lorried out to the charity shops the following spring. Any that remain have earned their spot. And yet, as I crane my neck back to check, I see a hunch confirmed. Yes, I do still have an original copy of The Road To Croker by Eamonn Sweeney, published in 2004. Time and again over the past two decades, it has skipped merrily over the scythe and settled back in dusty situ, one of the all-time great GAA books. Can't give it any higher recommendation than that. His follow-up, The Last Ditch, isn't really a follow-up at all. Despite having the same structure – Sweeney following the 2024 GAA championship around the country, just as he did the 2003 one – The Last Ditch is its own thing, with its own story. I don't know if it will still be on my shelf in 20 years but it's certain to be one of the most compelling sports books of 2025. The reason for this is that Sweeney drives the first part of the book by telling the story of his mental health struggles. What began with a panic attack out of the blue on the way to a game in Killarney in 2000 gradually morphed into an all-consuming fear of travel that lasted the thick end of the past two decades. He couldn't fly, he found himself jumping off a train as the door closed, even being a passenger in a car became too much at times. READ MORE Throughout it all, Sweeney was – and is – a well-known sports columnist with the Irish Independent. For someone who has been a public figure for so long, his bravery in laying himself bare like this shines through every page. The vice grip with which mental illness can squeeze a person's life is remorseless. Sweeney's early account of how he bought himself a train ticket from Galway to Athenry on three occasions over Christmas 2023 but turned back from the platform each time is particularly excruciating. He wants so badly to simply go and sit on a moving train but he can't bring himself to do it. Eventually, he somehow convinces himself that if he gets a bus to somewhere that the Galway train stops – the small village of Ardrahan in this case – maybe he can will himself to get the train back. When it works, you want to punch the air for him. As a result, the book becomes something more than just an account of following the big old GAA jamboree around the country. It is still that, yes – but it's also the gradual, quiet process of Sweeney reclaiming his life for himself. He's doing the book because the publisher asked. But he's doing it for himself too. And so he goes around the country – or at least the bottom half of it. Unlike the first book, there are no skites up to Tempo in Fermanagh or Mayobridge in Down or Ballygawley in Tyrone. But he goes to Killarney and Portlaoise and Thurles and Limerick and Salthill for games and then, as it all comes to a head in Croke Park, to Dublin. Some of the matches are incredible (hurling), some of them are deathly dull (football). He captures the GAA summer of 2024 perfectly. Along the way, there are some hilarious vignettes beyond the games. As a non-driver, all his travel is on public transport so he's there for the lone Tipperary man who stands his ground in the face of a ribald and riotous group of Cork supporters as they call him Hozier . And he's there for the overheard conversations, the singing and the slagging, the quiet moments of life that have nothing to do with the GAA but feel a crucial part of it too. Ultimately, and probably understandably, The Last Ditch doesn't have the same vim to it as its classic forebear. Sweeney is 57 now and has been through a couple of decades of mental turmoil, so it would be a surprise if it did. In the Dublin passages, he spends some time going to religious services – Romanian Orthodox in Ranelagh, Russian Orthodox in Harold's Cross, Syriac Orthodox in Rathmines, the Dublin Mosque on the South Circular Road. Some of it is beautiful but some of it feels like padding. The biggest difference between the two books is the author. In the first one, he was in his mid-30s, curious and probing, trying to find Ireland in the GAA championship. He rang up people to interview them, he went to pubs and clubs and towns and villages just to see who he'd find and what sort of GAA chat they could put on him. In this one, he's more of a passive observer of it all. Older, wiser, less gung-ho. It makes for a book that while written with Sweeney's usual elan, doesn't feel as urgent or as vital as The Road To Croker. And that's okay too. Some victories are more important than others.
Buzz Feed
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
28 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Cheap, Low Commitment Hobby
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Skip the expensive pottery class and get this big ole $11 tub of air dry clay instead. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! Hachette Books This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $14.42 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.81. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.96. 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 11 different patterns). 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. Amazon, For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $6.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $8.99! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.19 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Amazon, Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $16.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.91. 19. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Amazon, Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three styles). 20. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 21. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five styles). 22. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 23. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Amazon Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in six kits). 24. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $32.99. 25. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available as frogs or leopards). 26. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.71. 27. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! 28. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊"
