Harte, Peter
October 26, 2010Tyrone senior football manager Mickey Harte has paid a heart-felt tribute to his brother who died at his home in Co Louth on Wednesday past.
Peter Harte, a former president of the GAA's Ulster Council, Played for St Kieran's, Ballygawley, (now Errigal Ciaran) throughout his teenage years.
The second eldest of the Harte family, Peter then went on to study civil engineering at Queens University in the 1960's.
In his weekly column in The Irish News, Mickey fondly remembers the times he spent with his brother and how he learned from his attentive ways in football and life.
Referring to him as 'our Pete', the Tyrone manager said he 'enriched the lives of those in the wider GAA family" and that acknowledgments have been flowing In from those who knew him.
He continued: "From my young days watching Pete play, I soon observed the value of leadership in a team.
"The important catch, the surging run forward or indeed the proverbial 'big hit' were all part of his on-the-field repertoire of game changing attributes.
"Those who played with and against him will unequivocally attest to his courage and honesty as a colleague or opponent."
Speaking about their early years at home in Ballygawley, Mickey remembers football matches with rival teams and the times spent afterwards where they had "played, replayed, reviewed and dissected the games in minute detail".
He went on to say that his brother shared great qualities with John Wooden, an American basketball coach renowned for his success, of whom he is a big fan.
"Wooden believed in attention to little detail, right down to making sure his players put their socks on with care so as to avoid the risk of blisters.
"I saw the same attention to detail with Pete as he carefully attended to his boots after training sessions and games.
"After his playing days, Pete brought his people skills into the administrative world of the GAA. Eventually those talents brought him to the presidency of the Ulster Council."
He added that his brother's dignity and serenity when he learned of his illness in March of last year took his "courageous nature to new places".
Also paying tribute to the Ballygawley man was GAA Council secretary Danny Murphy who described Peter as an "Outright leader".
"He showed tremendous leadership in the GAA in difficult times", said Mr Murphy.
"He was president of he Ulster Council during the hunger strikes and he did a tremendous job keeping the GAA focused on the association whilst recognising what was going on around him.
"The sympathy of the council is with his wife and family and the extended Harte family at this time."
Peter John Harte, who is survived by his wife Eithne and sons Fergal and Peter, was buried on Saturday morning following Requiem Mass at St Malachy's Church in Ballymacilroy.
Courtesy of the Tyrone Times 26/10/10 Tweet
