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.
On the fifth anniversary of Anthony Foley’s passing I write in the Irish Examiner why his loss affected so many people so much. You can read it here.
I was delighted my essay on sport in Irish fiction was published in the Irish Times in October 2021. The piece describes the dearth of sport in Irish fiction but also how that has changed
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
I’m delighted to be part of Mallow Arts Festival 2021 with an event at Mallow GAA Complex at Carrigoon on Sunday October 30th. Very much looking forward to meeting old friends and talking about my
I am very honoured that The First Sunday in September is the Croke Park GAA Museum’s Book Club Choice for October 2021. Each month the GAA Museum team choses a well-known GAA book to read
I’m delighted to be part of Crime Writers Cork by Culture Night Cork County on September 17th, 2021. This is my first live event for some time due to Covid and promises to be very
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
I’m in West Kerry, on holidays. I’m standing outside Paudie Ó Sé’s pub catching my breath after a fervid two hours of championship hurling magic conjured out the air by Tipperary and Wexford. Sandmartins weave
It’s a summer Sunday morning and you’re on the road in South-East Limerick. From your passenger seat you watch the blossoming hawthorn ribbon the countryside. There’s a cycling charity event on the road and the
