Claire McDonagh grew up with a football in her hand and mud on her boots.
A lifelong Gaelic footballer, she has spent years on pitches in Ireland and abroad, where sport wasn’t just a hobby – it was where confidence was built, friendships were made, and lessons were learned.
As a player and coach, Claire saw something again and again: kids who loved sport didn’t always love reading. Not because they couldn’t read – but because the stories didn’t feel like them. Too quiet. Too still. Too far removed from the pressure, excitement, and split-second decisions of a game.
So she decided to create something different.
Her book is interactive, choice-based stories where the reader is the player. Every decision matters. Every mistake is part of the journey. Just like real sport.
By blending Gaelic football, storytelling, and play, Claire’s goal is simple: to help sporty kids build confidence with reading – without taking them away from the pitch.
where young readers make the decisions on the pitch, shaping their own match, their own story and their love of reading along the way.
Choose Your Own Play: Gaelic Football is an interactive children’s book that puts the reader right in the middle of a match. Instead of reading from start to finish, young players make decisions on the pitch, choosing where to pass, when to shoot and how to play their way through the game.
With multiple pathways and outcomes, no two reads are the same. The book blends storytelling with real Gaelic football skills, encouraging kids who love sport to read more and kids who don’t usually read to get involved through movement, imagination and play.
Designed to build confidence, creativity and game awareness, it also includes training logs and challenges to inspire children to get outside, practise their skills and create their own sporting stories.
It will be available March 5th 2026
Available for purchase on Amazon.
Bring reading, movement and imagination to life with an interactive author visit built around Choose Your Own Play: Gaelic Football.
Each session is designed to get every child involved. Whether they love sport, love reading or usually prefer screens, students become part of the story as they make match decisions, learn skills and see how sport and storytelling connect.
Each pupil will receive a reusable scoreboard bookmark to track their own matches and reading journeys, along with a copy of Choose Your Own Play: Gaelic Football for the class to keep and enjoy together.
Visits focus on:
- Encouraging reluctant readers
- Building confidence and creativity
- Teamwork and decision making
- Getting active and away from screens
- Inspiring a love of reading through sport
Students will explore how the book works, create their own match moments and take part in fun, inclusive movement activities that suit all abilities, including non sporty children.
Every visit is positive, energetic and memorable, leaving students inspired to read more, move more and create their own stories both on and off the pitch.
Suitable for: Primary schools, literacy weeks, sports weeks and wellbeing events
Location: Available across Ireland
Booking enquiries: clurcontent@gmail.com
Ideal for team gifts, fundraisers and player development, with bulk orders and club visits available.
Bring reading, confidence and creativity into your club with Choose Your Own Play: Gaelic Football.
Perfect for underage teams, this interactive book helps young players think about the game, build decision-making skills and develop a deeper love for Gaelic football both on and off the pitch. It’s an ideal way to connect sport and literacy while encouraging kids to stay active, imaginative and confident.
Perfect for:
Underage teams
Club shops and fundraising
End-of-season gifts
Team building and development
Clubs can order books in bulk for players, use them as part of club initiatives or organise a fun, interactive club visit that combines storytelling, movement and skill-based activities suitable for all abilities.
A unique way to inspire the next generation of players to read more, play more and enjoy the game even more.
For club orders, visits or partnerships:
Get in touch: clurcontent@gmail.com
Email: Clurcontent@gmail.com
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