The life story of Belfast boxer Eamonn Magee has won the eir sport Sports Book of The Year award.
The Lost Soul of Eamonn Magee by Paul D. Gibson tells the story of the top-level welterweight in the ring and outside, where shocking violence was seemingly his daily companion.
Gibson's manuscript was rejected by 13 publishers before Mercier Press took it on.
Magee picked up his prize at an awards ceremony held in Dun’s Library in the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin City centre this afternoon.
It took the prize ahead of what was strong competition. The final shortlist included; ‘Tony 10’ by Tony O’Reilly with Declan Lynch and ‘Fighter’ by Andy Lee with Niall Kelly.
The winner was chosen by a panel of journalists including RTÉ's Clare MacNamara.
The book was also a joint winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award in London.
