St Eugene’s GAA club in Castlederg, Tyrone, published a children’s book titled Jo’s Big Journey to mark World Book Day. The story centers on eight-year-old Jo Lynch arriving nervously at Marius McHugh Memorial Park for Gaelic football. She receives a welcome from coaches and forms a friendship with teammate Sarah.

Jo gains confidence in the game and advances through age groups to captain the senior ladies’ team and lift the league cup. The book’s protagonist name honors Jo Lynch, a former club player and community member who died in 2015 after a battle with cancer.

Club PRO Brendan Collins stated the project began as a video idea suggested by chairman Brian Coyle when Collins took the PRO role in 2023. The video would show a young girl joining the club, meeting people, and rising to senior level. Collins shifted to writing a book over Christmas due to time constraints.

Collins noted GAA clubs rarely produce such books and none reference specific clubs like this one. Brian Coyle said Jo Lynch drove ladies’ Gaelic football development at the club. She served on the Tyrone Ladies County Board, attended meetings, worked with ladies’ teams after retiring from play, and stayed active at the grounds.

The club plans an official launch event when new copies arrive from the publisher. Copies are available online at Amazon.