Book description
Twenty-four hours after arriving in Dublin, Muhammad Ali rang his
publicist Harold Conrad. "Hey, Hal?" said Ali, "where are
all the niggers in this country?" "Ali," replied Conrad,
"there aren't any." On July 19, 1972, it took Muhammad Ali 11
rounds to defeat Al 'Blue' Lewis at Croke Park, Dublin. A mere footnote
in the larger Ali story, this fight against a game ex-convict from
Detroit marked the culmination of an extraordinary week in Ireland's
sporting and cultural history. From the moment the world's most
charismatic athlete touched down at Dublin Airport and announced his
maternal great-grandfather Abe Grady had emigrated from County Clare
more than a century before, the country was in his thrall and, of
course, being Ali - he loved it. It was to be a most extraordinary week
for both him and the people he met. Ali was both charming and charmed by
those who came to pay homage - among them, the then Taoiseach, Jack
Lynch, civil rights campaigner Bernadette Devlin, oscar-winning director
John Huston, actor Peter O'Toole and an old lady who invited him into
her house for a cup of tea. Through interviews with dozens of those
whose paths Ali crossed and many centrally involved in the planning and
promotion of the event, Dave Hannigan has knitted together an
enthralling narrative about one incredible boxer and the remarkable
impact of his visit on the country of his ancestors. Currently based
in New York where he writes for Dublin's Sunday Tribune, Dave Hannigan
was formerly Irish football correspondent for the Sunday Times. In 1988
he wrote The Garrison Game, a portrait of Irish football. He has been
honoured in Ireland's National Media Awards twice. In 1995, he was named
Young Journalist of the Year and in 1999, he won the TV sport category
for a documentary he co-produced on the troubled life of the former
Manchester United and Aston Villa centre-half Paul McGrath.
