About the book
'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán Murphy
What is it like to be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay.
And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls?
In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport.
Praise for The Grass Ceiling
'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times
'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times
'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner
'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish Times
Editions of Grass Ceiling
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781844885336
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781844885329
- EBook
- ISBN 9781844885343
Read an Excerpt
'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán Murphy
What is it like to be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay.
And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls?
In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport.
Praise for The Grass Ceiling
'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times
'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times
'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner
'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish Times
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grass Ceiling about?
'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán Murphy
What is it like to be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay.
And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls?
In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport.
Praise for The Grass Ceiling
'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times
'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times
'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner
'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish Times
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Grass Ceiling?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Memoirs
Where can I read a sample of Grass Ceiling?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781844885336
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Grass Ceiling?
Eimear Ryan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Grass Ceiling is available as paperback(ISBN 9781844885336) and paperback(ISBN 9781844885329) and ebook(ISBN 9781844885343)
Where can I buy Grass Ceiling online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Grass Ceiling from below
Where can I buy Grass Ceiling?