I wrote a column for the Irish Examiner about the joy of sport. From the Irish rugby team to Cork v Galway hurling in Pearce Stadium. The Sigerson Final, the children on the pitch in Salthill, a lot to be thankful for. You can read it here.
I wrote a piece marking the retirement of Roger Federer for The Irish Examiner. Also shorts about World Cup 2022 in Qatar and Dave Hannigan’s new book about Muhammad Ali. You can read it here.
A lovely review of The Game as Gaeilge in Tuairisc, a news service in Irish for the Irish speaking community in Ireland and abroad. Bridget Bhreathnach wrote: ‘Saol rúndiamhair é saol an spóirt domsa ar go leor bealaí. Tuigim an áilleacht, tuigim an díograis, tuigim an chomrádaíocht, tuigim fiú tarraingt na hiomaíochta. Ina dhiaidh sin féin, tá go leor gnéithe de shaol an spóirt a chuireann as dom. Ní thuigim cén fáth go bhfuil níos mó meas ar spórt na bhfear ná spórt na mban, ná cén fáth go mbíonn daoine in aighneas lena chéile mar gheall ar chluiche amháin nó eile. Déanann Coakley machnamh ar chuid de na ceisteanna seo sna haistí chomh maith le machnamh ar ghnéithe áille spreagúla an spóirt. Tá cur chuige tuisceanach, pearsanta, umhal aige sna haistí, cuid acu ar nós ‘Kisses’ agus ‘Miracles’ a tharraingeodh deoir as cloch eibhir.’ As Béarla: ‘The world of sport is a world of
I was delighted to be part of Heritage Week 2022 thanks to Cork City Libraries. The event Team-Talk featured myself and Eimear Ryan, the author of Holding her Breath among many achievements. It was moderated brilliantly by Jordan McCarthy of Cork City Libraries and was really well attended. Some photos.
Thanks to Kim Bielenberg of the Irish Independent for featuring me on his WriteSide column. You can read it here.
I was thrilled to feature at the West Cork Literary Festival of 2022. My event with Ashley Hickson-Lovence (the author of the stunning novel Your Show) and Ciarán Murphy (of Second Captains and The Irish Times) was great fun and really well-attended. You can watch it back here. As well as my own event, I moderated two other sessions, the first with the brilliant crimes writers Catherine Kirwan (latest book: Cruel Deeds) and Jane Casey (latest book: The Killing Kind). My third event was at the lovely Bantry House with the novelist Jenifer deBie, whose latest book, Heretic, is out now. Some photos:
Lovely to see The Game on the Irish Independent list of: ‘The best books to read on your summer holidays’ Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh said: ‘Coakley helped me rediscover the soul of sport, while painting a rich tapestry of pivotal sporting moments in his own life. [The Game] is brave, deceptively deep, full of life lessons, and introspection in between trips to games. The dark side of sport is dissected, too … It’s all wrapped up in an unavoidable poignancy.’ Full list of books here.
This piece about The Game by the great sportswriter Kieran Shannon of the Irish Examiner is wonderful and I’m very grateful for it. It’s entitled: Capturing the fleeting, fantastic, essence of sport: It’s all a part of The Game. You can read it here.
Thrilling to see The Game on the Irish Bestseller lists this weekend. Ranked first in the Sports Books category. Ranked fifth in the general non-fiction category. Thanks so much to everyone who bought The Game.
Big thanks to Gráinne McGuinness for her piece in ‘The Echo’ about The Game, it was lovely to chat with her. You can read it in full here.
