Mackey and Ring is a joint biography of the legendary and almost mythical hurling figures of Mick Mackey and Christy Ring, bringing them to life, situating them in their own time and exploring how they personally and comparatively developed with the GAA world around them. These iconic figures were celebrated – incredibly so – without ever really possessing the trappings of celebrity. They lived ordinary lives, detached almost from their extraordinary talents. Yet, in their time, Mackey and Ring could inspire people to cycle from the remotest parts of Munster, or further afield still, just for a chance at watching them play. Inspired by an unforgettable 1957 photograph capturing a charged moment between them, Arthur O’Dea expertly uncovers the real men behind the legends: their triumphs, controversies, clashes and the cultural forces that elevated them into folklore and forged their enduring legacy.