I’m from Mallow, living in Cork city.
I’m a writer.
I am the author of three books, The First Sunday in September (Mercier Press, 2018); Whatever It Takes (Mercier Press, 2020), the 2020 Cork One City, One Book choice; and the autobiography of Denis Coughlan, called Everything (Hero Books, 2020) which I co-wrote.
My short stories, articles, and essays have been published in The Stinging Fly, Irish Examiner, Irish Times, The42.ie, The Holly Bough, The Honest Ulsterman, Quarryman, Silver Apples and elsewhere
Whatever It Takes, my second novel, is published by Mercier Press. It is the One City, One Book 2020 choice for Cork.
It tells the story of Detective Garda Tim Collins, who is based in Cork city. Collins is at war with the leading local criminal, Dominic Molloy (‘The Dom’).
Whatever It Takes depicts a dark realism and shows the battles of will and intelligence that go on in the world of crime and policing. Running out of time before the murder of two teenagers becomes inevitable, and with a traitor in the garda station feeding information back to Molloy, Collins takes his battle to new heights. He is determined to win, whatever the cost, whatever it takes.
My novel in stories, The First Sunday in September, was published by Mercier Press in 2018.
The book tells the story of a fictional All-Ireland Hurling Final Sunday, from the points of view of several recurring characters, exploring recurring themes.
Donal Ryan described it as ‘vibrant and authentic, brimming with intensity and desire.’
The Irish Independent said: ‘Just like his county’s hurlers play, Coakley’s book is fast-moving, highly skilled and a pleasure to behold.’
Everything, the Autobiography of Denis Coughlan tells the life story of one of the greatest Irish dual stars, winning All-Ireland medals in both Gaelic football and hurling in the 1970s as well as a host of other championships and awards.
But Denis’s life story is much more than about sport. It spans a remarkable eight decades, covering many aspects of his life, his insights on sport and how games and life have changed dramatically over the years.
Selected as one of the Sports Books of the year in 2020 in the Irish Examiner, Irish Times and Sunday Times.
May, 2021 I wrote a piece for the Irish Examiner welcoming hurling back again for 2021. ‘I wanted to celebrate the return of hurling but behind a sense of juxtaposition. The one Martin Scorsese created
June, 2020 I wrote a piece for the Irish Times about writing and publishing Whatever It Takes, and bringing out a novel in the middle of a pandemic. Turns out I have more questions than answers.
I wrote an essay, ‘Five Moments in Sport’, and the lovely people at The Stinging Fly published it in May 2019. In July 2019 they kindly put the essay online on their website
I was delighted to feature in this radio/podcast series recorded and broadcast by UCC98.3FM. The show comprises nine programmes featuring authors reading and being interviewed on location in UCC, as well as invited guest authors
Because of Covid-19 we couldn’t have any live events around the Cork One City One Book award for my novel Whatever It Takes. Instead, I was filmed on a ‘virtual tour’ of locations that feature
Cork Person of the Month for October, 2020 I was very honoured to be chosen as Cork Person of the Month for October, 2020, along with the great writer William Wall. While there was no
In the longest January that anyone can remember, at a time when horrific news assails us from all sides, I’ve taken to starting my day by reflecting on three things for which to be grateful.
I’m walking down the Ennis Road in Limerick. It is the summer of 2019. Cork have just beaten the All-Ireland champions, Limerick, and I’m feeling good. The Cork fans are buzzing – it doesn’t take
We gather in the usual way, a bit earlier because of the 2pm throw in. A driver, three passengers, all living in Cork city. We’ve done this many times before. Pickups, then heading for the
