Harte was born in Drogheda, where he attended St Oliver's Community College, winning many sports titles (at both GAA and football) at all levels.

Arguably, Harte's most memorable moment at Leeds was scoring a free kick against Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions League quarter final first leg at Elland Road.

However, in the following season in La Liga, Harte was injured in August and failed to regain his place in the team once he returned from injury in January.

[11] During summer 2008 Harte spent time on trial at Wolverhampton Wanderers but rejected their eventual offer of a month-to-month contract[12] and he was without a club for the start of the 2008–09 season.

[citation needed] On 22 October 2008, it was announced that Harte was on a one-week trial with Norwegian Premier League club Vålerenga hoping to impress manager Martin Andresen.

[citation needed] Harte then agreed a contract with Scottish Premier League club St Mirren until the end of the 2008–09 season, but then unexpectedly pulled out of the move 24 hours later.

[16] On 26 March 2009, Harte signed a contract to the end of the season with Carlisle United and made his debut a couple of days later at home to Northampton Town.

[citation needed] Harte started the 2010–11 season in good goalscoring form, scoring a penalty in the league opener against Brentford and in Carlisle's first away game, against Plymouth Argyle.

[20][failed verification][21] After his move to Reading, Carlisle manager Greg Abbott said his disappointment at losing Harte was tempered by the money received for team strengthening.

"[23] Harte scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Crystal Palace and then in his fourth appearance with a stunning free kick against Barnsley.

Harte also scored from the penalty spot away to Scunthorpe United on 12 April as Shane Long was unavailable; the game finished 2–0 to Reading.

[citation needed] Harte was part of a defence that shut out his old team Leeds United in 0–0 draws at both Elland Road and the Madejski.

[citation needed] In the 2011–12 season, Harte was one of the five key players who helped get Reading back to the Premier League along with Adam Federici, Jem Karacan, Kaspars Gorkšs and Jason Roberts.

[35] Harte played for the Ireland under-19 team in the 1996 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship finals in Luxembourg and has represented the senior side on 63 occasions, scoring 12 goals.

He was handed his international debut on 2 June 1996 against Croatia, having made just four appearances for Leeds, and his first goal came on his fourth cap, a 2–0 victory over Bolivia thirteen days later in the 1996 U.S. Cup.

[36] However, as his club career flourished post 1998, Harte found himself out of the reckoning at international level though he returned for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and was the only player to play every minute as Ireland managed to reach the finals.

Harte also notched up four goals during the campaign, from left back, including a penalty against Iran in the play-off, though he struggled at the World Cup because of a toe injury.

At the finals Ireland ended up reaching the round of 16 where they faced Spain; with the Irish trailing 1-0 they were awarded a penalty which Harte took, but his effort was saved by Iker Casillas.

They ended up being awarded another penalty late on in the game which Robbie Keane took and scored as Harte had by this point been substituted off for David Connolly.

[38][39] He made one appearance in Ireland's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, his final cap, starting in a 2–1 away victory over San Marino.