Devotion: A Memoir

by Mickey Harte, Brendan Coffey (Primary Contributor)

’Wonderfully lyrical, nostalgic, funny, dark, tragic, deeply emotional, honest and hopeful … This is no ordinary memoir’ – Irish News A moving and lyrical memoir about life, love and loss, from a true giant of Gaelic games. In a frenetic seven-year spell at the outset of his senior managerial career, Mickey Harte led Tyrone to four Ulster Championships and three All-Irelands. It was a run that shifted football’s balance of power, changed the way the game would be played for over a generation, and cemented his reputation as one of the most transformative figures in GAA history. Then, in January 2011, the visitation of a shocking tragedy changed Mickey’s daughter Michaela was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius, and the Harte family, grief-stricken, awoke to find themselves at the centre of an international news story. Devotion, the product of a collaboration between Mickey and author Brendan Coffey, is many things. The story of a family’s decade-long struggle to come to terms with an almost unimaginable loss. A meditation on the ways in which faith, community, and sport can sustain us in our most difficult moments. And, finally, a portrait of one of Irish sport’s true icons, as he brings one legendary era to a close and steels himself for a final assault on the history books.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 4, 2022

Reviews

[Laura McAteer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

Found this book to be very uplifting even though Mickey, his family, John and friends came through such awful loss or their beloved Michaela.. Highly recommended. Totally inspirational.

[Drew Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Mickey Harte this book is honest, sincere and principled. The man has achieved at the highest level in his sport and has to deal with more tragedy than most. It is fascinating to read about the importance of his faith in all that he has done in his life. He is a fine example of a man and of a father, he is principled to a fault which has won him the admiration of many and has made him unpalatable to many of the chattering classes. I had been aware of his negative experiences with RTE but the revelations in this book are shocking to say the least.

[John Lawlor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend bought me this book as a gift. It made for an out-of-comfort-zone read, as I would not normally share Mickey Harte’s religious zeal or views on social issues. It was worth exploring his perspectives - and won can only respect his achievements as Tyrone Gaelic Football manager.

The middle sections dealing with the murder of his daughter, Michaela, and subsequent fallout were a harrowing if compelling read.

I found the final third or so somewhat dull, quite heavy on Gaelic football tactics and not all that engaging as a “story”.

[Gerry McCaffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was a Christmas gift, not a book I would have purchased. I was in Mickey’s class at school and following Tyrone have bumped into him a few times. The title is “Devotion” but to what, is it Michaela, callously murdered or the Church. Life or Gaelic Football? Maybe it is all of them. Do I know more of Mickey now, I don’t really think so.

[Shane Mulcahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of Mickey Harte as an individual. His track record on certain matters leaves a lot to be desired, but there's no doubting that he's a colossus of the GAA. This is more than just a sportsbook. It's a story about life, tragedy, and a sense of loss. Brendan Coffey has done a fine job in telling Mickey Harte's story, and it is evident that he's taken great care in crafting this book.