Doyle, John J
June 29, 2010On Monday morning, 14 June, the community of Hacketstown was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of their most loved and esteemed members, John J Doyle. John passed away at his home in the early hours of the morning.
Born the eldest of four sons in Coolkenno, County Wicklow in 1923, he received his early education in Kilquiggan National School before going on to serve his time to the grocery trade in Tullow. He later worked in Connolly's and Cleary's of Bagenalstown, finally moving to Hacketstown in 1944 to take up a position in Duffy's, where he was manager of the Cash and Carry department (later to become Perry's), until his retirement in 1989. It was here he met his wife-to-be Jane Murphy from Tullow, with whom he celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary in June 2009.
From the time of his arrival in Hacketstown, he was involved in Gaelic games as a player, and was a founding member of Clonmore GFC in 1947. He held the position of secretary for 28 years, subsequently holding other positions, and eventually becoming president of the club, a position he held at the time of his death.
He was instrumental in purchasing the present club grounds at Woodside. He held many other positions within the county: secretary and later chairman of the Carlow Juvenile Football Board (Bord na nÓg) and selector with the county senior football team from the early '50s to the early '60s, including 1954, when Carlow played Mayo in the NFL final; and1962, when Carlow played Down in the NFL semi-final.
He also served as a selector with the Carlow minor team. In 2004, John was invited to meet President Mary McAleese in Aras an Uachtarain, having been nominated in Carlow GAA board in recognition of more than 60 years of service to the GAA, both as player and administrator.
A man of energy and commitment, John worked tirelessly in the his community. Since 1990 he held a position with Hacketstown Social Employment Scheme, a FAS project. He was treasurer at the time of his death.
He was involved in the establishment of St John's Caring Centre in Hacketstown and served in many capacities.
He was also a member of Hacketstown Community Development Association and was involved in the Tidy Towns and Pride of Place committees.
John was a long-time member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association and was involved in its work at local and regional level, holding many offices, including those of president, chairperson and most recently, treasurer. In 2001, he was nominated for the Carlow Person of the Year Award.
John's remains were removed to St. Brigid's Church, Hacketstown on Tuesday evening where a large guard of honour of GAA members lined the streets. The funeral was received at the church by Fr McCormack, Fr Shelley and Fr Brendan Byrne.
At the requiem Mass on Wednesday, which was celebrated by Fr McCormack, assisted by Fr Joe Fleming and Fr Gerard Ahern, John's family and grandchildren participated in the liturgy. In his homily, Fr McCormack paid tribute to John's wholehearted involvement in Church affairs in recent years, his reliability and dedication as reader, eucharistic minister and leader of the communion liturgy.
His family will remember John as a loving husband, father and grandfather who was a warm, wise, kind man. Above all, he was a man of honesty and integrity. He is survived by his wife Jane, sons Sean, Peter, Joseph, Gerard; daughters Mary, Trudi, Joan, Majella and Fiona. He is also survived by his brother Tommy (London), sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews and 16 grandchildren. John was laid to rest in Hacketstown Cemetery on Wednesday 16 June.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist
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