Tributes to Michaela Harte were paid by the sporting, political and Tyrone community following the death of the only daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte.
Ms Harte (27) was found dead at her hotel in Mauritius yesterday where she was on honeymoon with her husband, Down footballer John McAreavey.
She was a secondary school teacher at St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon and a former Rose of Tralee contestant.
This morning the principal of the school where Ms Harte taught, Fintan Donnelly, began the day with the solemn task of updating colleagues on the horror of what unfolded in Mauritius.
Staff joined the 1,900 pupils of the co-educational Catholic grammar school for a special prayer service to pay tribute and remember an Irish and RE teacher with a long career in front of her.
Afterwards Mr Donnelly described the 27-year-old in glowing terms.
“She was a consummate professional who was committed to her students, to the teaching of Irish and religious education,” he said.
“A vibrant and popular teacher and colleague, she was an inspiration and example to all her pupils and she will be greatly missed by both staff and pupils.”
Prayers will continue to be offered through the day and a book of condolence has been opened in the school oratory.
Ms Harte was also a well-known figure in Tyrone GAA football circles since her father began managing the minor team in 1991 and later led the senior team to three All-Ireland wins.
Chairman of the Tyrone GAA County Board Ciarán McLaughlin said the entire county was in mourning. He described Ms Harte as her father’s “number one fan and number one supporter”.
In a statement the Tyrone County Board said it was “shocked and greatly saddened” by her death. “This tragedy will be sorely felt throughout the Tyrone GAA family,” the statement read.
GAA president Christy Cooney spoke of the positive image Michaela portrayed of the Association.
“Michaela was a familiar face to so many GAA followers up and down the country…Her radiant smile, passion for life and interest in all things Gaelic were immediately obvious to anyone who crossed her path and the loss to those who loved her most must be incalculable at this most difficult time.”
“Her presence at not only football matches but in so many areas of life will be sadly missed at a time when she and her husband should have been planning a bright future together,” he said.
In a statement the Gaelic Players Association expressed its sympathy to both families and said her death comes as a shock to the GAA community.
“Michaela was a unique figure within Gaelic games, her public devotion to her father’s managerial work from the outset and her engaging character were warmly embraced by everyone involved in Tyrone football and in the wider GAA community,” GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said.
In a statement the Down county board also expressed its sympathies to the families.
“We extend our sympathy to our fellow gaels in Tyrone on this sad occasion. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with John at this most difficult time and we offer him our full support,” the board said.
Last night Bishop John McAreavey, Mr McAreavey’s uncle, said “there are fears” about the circumstances of the death. “We fear something has happened but we still have so many unanswered questions,” he said in Banbridge.
He said that Michaela was the light of her husband’s life and the death had been devastating for the family. “My strongest sense is that a light has gone out,” he said.
Monsignor Aidan Hamill offered sympathies to both families on behalf of the diocese of Dromore.
He said: “We share Bishop McAreavey’s words expressed earlier, on hearing of the death of Michaela…At this time our thoughts and prayers are also with John’s uncle, Bishop John McAreavey, as well as with the wider Harte and McAreavey families.”
Mickey Harte’s lifelong friend, Donaghmore parish priest Fr Gerard McAleer, last night paid tribute to “a beautiful young woman” who had never been happier.
Fr McAleer officiated at Ms Harte’s wedding at St Malachy’s Church, Ballymacilroy, Co Tyrone, on December 30th last. “I have seen her grow into a very beautiful young woman; intensely interested in the GAA; intensely proud of her family; intensely proud of her mum and dad; very, very well adjusted; just somebody you could be very, very proud of.
“I never saw her happier than she was on her wedding day. She was radiant . . . She couldn’t have been happier,” he said.
Ms Harte represented Ulster in the 2004 Rose of Tralee contest. In a statement the general manager of the festival expressed sadness at her “tragic and untimely death”.
“Michaela was a wonderful person who had her whole life ahead of her,” he said.
Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Ken Good said his prayers and sympathy went to the family.
“This is a cruel and tragic blow for the family and a moment of great sadness for the GAA community,” he added.
Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, said he was “shocked”. Speaking of her recent wedding and plans of a “long and happy life together”, he said: “They had so much to live for but now their hopes have been cruelly dashed."
He paid tribute to her devotion to Tyrone football. “Michaela was always close to her father’s side during many great days for Tyrone football,” he said. “Her enthusiasm for her native county, for which she was an excellent ambassador, knew no bounds.”
Local Sinn Féin MLA and Minister for Agriculture Michelle Gildernew said she heard of Ms Harte’s death “with deep shock and disbelief”.
“Michaela was a beautiful and talented young woman who will be sadly missed,” she said.
Additional reporting: PA