Eileen played a major part in business and political life in Enniscorthy
TRIBUTES poured in from all quarters last week following the passing of Eileen Doyle of Ard Na Greine, Coolnahorna, Enniscorthy. Eileen was the wife of former Enniscorthy Town Council and Wexford County Council Chairman, Andy Doyle and beloved mother of current County Council Chairman, Cllr Keith Doyle.
A native of Dublin, she truly became part of the fabric of life in Enniscorthy and her social, political and cultural contribution was marked by all ahead of her funeral mass yesterday (Monday) morning.
Eileen did have roots in County Wexford on her father’s side and would regularly visit the South East in her childhood. It was while attending a wedding that she met her beloved Andy and the pair fell head over heels.
They were said to have done everything together and in a fitting oration at the funeral service yesterday, son Andrew spoke of how they built their business – Astor TV Rentals – up together. ‘She worked hand in glove with my father in running the business and ran the shop in Gorey for many years,’ he recalled.
Andrew added that his mother had a great love of Enniscorthy and its history, something which was passed on to her children. She was on the Strawberry Fair Committee and chaired it on a couple of occasions back in the event’s heyday. She also had a love of horse-racing and she and Andy owned a couple of fairly prominent racehorses over the years, most notably ‘Daring Run’. Andrew spoke of how his mother loved to travel and how she had a ‘ host of stories that she could unspool until her next journey’.
‘Which brings me onto her final journey,’ he continued. ‘Which is one that she undertook clear-eyed and with a characteristic calm, sense of humour, fortitude and grace.’
As a mark of respect to the Chairman, Wexford County Council postponed a special meeting yesterday morning where they were due to hear pitches from hopeful candidates in the presidential election. Instead, members gathered at the Riverside Park Hotel to pass an official vote of sympathy to the Doyle family on their sad loss.
The meeting was chaired by Leas- Cathaoirleach Willie Fitzharris who offered his condolences to the Doyle family. Chairman of Enniscorthy Municipal District Cllr Willie Kavanagh commented on Eileen’s involvement in politics, both through her husband Andy who was a Labour man and her son Keith for Fianna Fáil. ‘She was always in the count centre there with them cheering them on,’ he said. ‘I would like to express my sincerest sympathies to the Doyle family.’
On behalf of the Labour Party, Cllr George Lawlor commented on Eileen and her late husband’s great political work.
‘ There was a staunch Labour connection there over many years,’ he said. ‘She supported both sides of the political divide in a family that is steeped in politics. It’s a sad occasion, but one that should be marked.’
Cllr Paddy Kavanagh spoke on behalf of Fine Gael and described a woman who was part of the very fabric of Enniscorthy.
‘Eileen did a lot of work within the town, back when Andy was in his prime,’ he said. ‘ The two of them added a lot to the town from a political, a business and a cultural point of view. They were great for the town and Enniscorthy should be grateful.’
County CEO Tom Enright recalled how proud Eileen had been at a recent ceremony to commemorate previous Chairmen of the County Council and how she had penned a lovely letter to express her gratitude and pride that her beloved Andy had featured so prominently.
Eileen’s funeral mass was attended by a large gathering of elected officials and members of the council that she would’ve gotten to know over the years, as well as members of the local community. Somewhat appropriately, her beloved Enniscorthy glistened in the sunshine as she was brought from the Cathedral to her final resting place at St Mary’s Cemetery following a poignant funeral mass.
Eileen was the devoted wife of the late Andy and loving mother of Andrew, Lucy, Sandra, Margaret, Thomas, Cllr Keith Doyle, Dolores-Anne and Evanna and sister of Mary, Sr. Kathleen and the late Jim. Sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters, sisters, daughters-in-law Caroline and Marie, sons-in-law Dermot, Michael and Declan, grandchildren Aisling, Drew, Seana, Helen, Eoin and Aoife, relatives and friends.