Johnstayedveryinvolvedwith hisbelovedYoungIrelandsclub
JOHN Doyle, Cedarwood Park, Dundalk, who died on 27 December, 2018, was a distinguished Gaelic footballer and had an abiding lifelong love of the sport.
He had a long playing career with Young Irelands, lining out at half-back, one of the highlights of which was helping the club win the Old Gaels Cup in 1957.
Seven of the team were on the Louth side that lifted the All-Ireland the same year.
Arguably John’s biggest honour was being picked for Louth two years later. During his stint in the red colours he proved that he was very much at home at the highest level. He was a member of the team that won the O’Byrne Cup for the first time in 1963.
After hanging up his boots he retained his love of the game, and continued his association with the Young Irelands club. He trained the ladies’ team during the 1990s, and about the same period filled the role of caretaker at their grounds off Hoey’s Lane.
John continued to follow and support the Irelands and Louth, and attended games, travelling to Croke Park to watch the ‘Wee County’.
One of his proudest days was when the Young Irelands captured the Leinster Junior title in December when he was present with his daughter Shona and grandson Rian.
The club paid a fitting and much appreciated honour to John by not alone providing a guard of honour at his obsequies, but also two of the gifts that were taken to the altar at the funeral Mass were a club jersey and the Leinster Junior Sean Eiffe Memorial Cup.
The sport truly symbolised a big part of his life; definitely his leisure time, as he really loved Gaelic football. But he was into all sport, which captured his interest. He became involved in the Redeemer Athletics club when his children were members.
Apart from sport, he loved reading, being a regular visitor to the public library every Thursday. His choice of reading material was autobiographies, history and not surprisingly sport.
He was described by all who knew him as a gentleman. He observed his axiom which was ‘ easy and slow’ as he stayed calm and was never one to get excited.
John’s early years were spent in Distillery Lane where he was born and bred. He was the middle child of three of James and Maisie Doyle, with an older sister, Julia and younger brother Jim.
He went to school at the nearby CBS (Colaiste Ris), and like many of his generation gained employment in the then thriving shoe industry in Clarks factory. He was an active trade union official during his time there.
A bad break turned into the best in John’s life when he was admitted to hospital with TB when he was 20. While a patient he met his future wife Peggy Gaughran, whose father happened to be in a bed beside him.
The couple married in 1966 and were blessed to share 52 years together, and have six children.
They lived very shortly in Chapel Street, where their eldest John was born before moving to Cedarwood Park. They completed their family with five more arrivals, daughters, Samantha, Áine, Fiona and Shona and another son, Aiden.
John passed away peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. He will be deeply missed by wife, Peggy; sons, John and Aiden; daughters, Samantha, Áine, Fiona and Shona; grandchildren, Michael, Auston, Alisha, Siné, Nathan, Kiah, Conall, Ali, Hannah, Rían; nephew, Jim Grimes; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his grandson, Sheehan.
He reposed at his home on Saturday and Sunday before being removed on Monday morning (New Year’s Eve) to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for Mass followed by burial in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery.
Father Pádraig Keenan, PP Haggardstown and Blackrock, celebrated the Mass and delivered the eulogy. He was assisted by Father Michael Sheehan, Administrator Redeemer Parish.
Among the symbols representing John’s life laid before the altar was his wedding album which was taken up by daughter Fiona. Granddaughter, Sine brought up a Young Irelands jersey, and the Leinster junior cup was presented by son Aiden. Grandson, Rian brought up a book which he gave as a Christmas gift to his grandfather.
The Readings were given by daughter, Áine and granddaughter Ali. The Prayers were led by gandson Nathan, granddaughers Hannah and Kiah and daughter Shona.
The offertory gifts were taken up by his wife Peggy and grandson Conall.
Son, John spoke warmly about his father, while Susan Dixon greatly enhanced the ceremony with her beautiful singing.