LOVINGFATHERJOHNWAS ALIFE-LONGCAMPAIGNER FOREQUALITYANDJUSTICE
THERE was deep sadness in Bray recently at the death of John Doyle (58) following a short illness.
John was a campaigner for the rights of the disabled, a long-time member of Sinn Féin, and a devoted family man. He is survived by his partner Jackie, his children Danielle, Leann and Shane and their mother, his beloved 13 grandchildren, his parents Mary and Tommy, his six sisters and by his extended family and many friends. He was predeceased by his brothers David and Thomas.
John was very sociable and easy to get on with. He loved everybody and was a real people person. He was a native of Wolfe Tone in Bray and in latter years lived on Greenpark Road. He contracted polio as a baby and spent 10 years in hospital.
John was a fighter, who overcame many obstacles in his life. However, he was always in good form and good craic. His children at one time thought he was famous because he knew so many people in Bray! Even when he was in hospital, John befriended a gentleman in the bed next to him who had suffered a stroke and had great difficulty communicating. That man shed tears when he learned that John had passed away.
He was on the board of St Kilian’s School, was an activist for the disability community and ran for election on one occasion with Sinn Féin.
John was one of the founders of ‘Vantastic’ which later became Easi- Cab travel club, and played a big part in founding the Center for Independent Living. He slept outside for three nights at Heuston Station in a bid to campaign for wheelchair access on Dublin Bus.
His children vividly remember them having to carry his wheelchair on to the bus before there was sufficient access. More recently, he was stuck on trains several times and was campaigning against unmanned stations.
He was a patient, loving and hands-on father. He was an easy-going and fun dad who would be outside playing ball with the kids. He would throw a ball for his son Shane who would have a long run to get it, John’s strong arms launching it about 100 metres.
He was great with his children, and his grandchildren literally idolised him.
He taught Jackie’s youngest grandson how to yodel and taught another grandson when he was younger ‘ the song that never ends’, taking great pleasure in torturing their respective parents!
He loved musicals and sitting watching them with the children. One of the songs played at his funeral was ‘I’m the King of the Swingers’ from the Jungle Book. His family asked people to wear bright colours to reflect John’s personality. He always said ‘celebrate my life, don’t mourn my death’, so his family did exactly that.
John wrote and played his own songs and one of those was the final piece played at his funeral. It was written for his own late friend who had passed away. There was great comfort in hearing his own voice, singing about being at peace.
‘Daddy could connect with anyone no matter what their walk of life, rich people, poor people and anybody in between,’ said his children. ‘He just had a way about him.
‘He was always there, always the go-to. If you needed advice, ring daddy. No matter how old we got to him we were always his children.’
He was a huge Chelsea fan, a passion he shared with his son Shane. For Shane’s 21st, John got him a card signed by José Mourinho.
His many achievements included playing table tennis and snooker for Ireland, he swam, did the Dublin Marathon and played basketball. He qualified for the Seoul Paralympics but unfortunately couldn’t go due to funding.
He and Jackie travelled to Australia this year and even on holidays, he arranged to meet the CIL over there during his trip. Throughout the lifetime of the Center for Independent Living John featured sometimes at the forefront, but more often than not in the background.
He knew the power of working together and, with John, you were always clear what the message was: equality and justice.
John was never afraid to take on a challenge and was someone who was completely committed to the philosophy and practice of independent living. John’s analysis, strategic thinking and keen mind always managed to capture the needs of the movement. He was master of the one-line placard slogan and press release header.
Many people will remember his ability to keep spirits up at all-night protests, whether about accessible transport or PA services, with flasks of tea in the middle of the night outside Heuston station or his good humour taking the sting out of the cold weather and hunger that felt on such days
His involvement included, but was not limited to, CIL’s political and lobbying campaigns regarding PAs, housing, transport, Irish and EU legislation in the early days and the expansion of CIL throughout the country.
He was a man with a deep sense of what was right and wrong in society. He was a motivator and a sociable man with a fantastic sense of humour who knew how to push buttons to stir debate, but also how to smooth things over. He had an enormous ability to not only talk the talk but to put it into writing too and was not afraid of taking a few risks.
He was a gentleman and a leader, who in his own unassuming and modest way, empowered others to believe in themselves and supported them in getting their voice heard.
His intelligence, wit and good humour always diffused even the most challenging situations.
As one friend said: ‘When I think of John, I am reminded of the quote by Henry Miller: “The real leader has no need to lead: he is content to point the way”.’
People will treasure and remember a mischievous, highly intelligent, honest, loyal and loving friend and colleague.