Mickey Harte is joining Declan Kelly as joint manager of the Offaly GAA footballers, Offaly GAA confirmed today, Monday, August 19.
Harte was recommended as joint manager of the Offaly Footballers by the Offaly GAA Football Management Review Committee, a recommendation that has now been endorsed by the Offaly GAA Management Committee for approval at the next County Board meeting.
Harte will co-manage with current manager Declan Kelly for a three-year period, Offaly GAA said on Monday.
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Offaly GAA Football Management Review Committee has this afternoon recommended Mickey Harte as joint manager of the Offaly Footballers and this has been endorsed by Offaly GAA Management Committee for approval at the next County Board meeting. Mr Harte… pic.twitter.com/nwaWCad45i
— Official Offaly GAA (@Offaly_GAA) August 19, 2024
Offaly GAA Chairperson Michael Duignan said: "I am delighted that Mickey Harte has come on board with Declan as joint manager of the Offaly Senior football team.
“His genuine interest in Offaly GAA and his wealth of experience is what I feel Offaly football needs right now.
“On behalf of the Offaly County Board, I want to welcome Mickey to the county and I hope all Offaly GAA gaels will come out and show their support to Declan, Mickey and the footballers for the coming year.”
Speaking of his appointment Mickey Harte said: "I am really looking forward to working with Declan and the players over the next three years.
"I am very aware of the history and tradition of Offaly football and believe that there is huge potential within the county.
"I am very excited to work with Declan and the players to get the best out of the footballers in both the League and Championship in 2025. I would like to thank Michael Duignan for his professionalism and honesty during our meetings."
Current manager Declan Kelly also spoke of the appointment: "This is great news for Offaly football and Offaly GAA in general.
"I look forward to working closely with Mickey. He has had huge success over the years and we hope to emulate that in the not-too-distant future."
The remainder of the management and backroom team will be finalized over the coming weeks.
The Offaly announcement comes just over a month after Harte stepped down as Derry GAA manager less than a year into his three-year term.
Harte, 72, previously managed the senior football team from his home county of Tyrone from 2003 until 2020. During his tenure, Tyrone claimed its first-ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title in 2003; they won again in 2005 and 2008.
In 2011, while at the helm of Tyrone, Harte endured immense tragedy when his daughter Michaela, 27, was attacked and killed while on her honeymoon in Mauritius. No one has ever been convicted of her murder.
In November 2020, Harte was appointed the manager of the Louth Senior Football Team for a three-year term. He departed in September 2023, and Louth GAA thanked him, Devlin, and their backroom team "for their efforts in propelling Louth Senior Footballers into Div. 2 football from Div. 4 in 2020."
The same week Harte's departure from Louth was confirmed, Derry GAA announced that Harte had been appointed on a three-year term and would lead a management team including Devlin.
However, Harte's last match as manager of Derry was ultimately on June 30, when Derry lost to Kerry 0-15 to 0-10 in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final, ending his side's run for the Sam Maguire.
Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Kerry v Derry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final here on #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/H02NS1nuzz
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 16, 2023
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