Doyle, Garry
March 06, 2012Garry, who was 58, passed away at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny following a brief illness.
A native of Clonmore, Garry followed a family tradition and joined the army in 1971. His late father James Doyle and great-grandfather Patrick Doyle were both army men.
He trained at McDonagh Barracks in The Curragh and was subsequently posted to the 4th Motor Squadron in Plunkett Barracks, The Curragh.
Garry loved machinery and driving. Being a driver in the 4th Motor Squadron provided him with all the machinery he could ever dream about - lorries, tanks, recovered vehicles, land rovers and so forth. He learned to drive them all with great efficiency.
In 1974, Garry was due to travel to the Middle East on UN peace-keeping during. But because of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in May of that year, the government withdrew the Irish troops from that particular mission.
However, due to the escalation of the troubles in Northern Ireland, the 4th Motor Squadron was moved to Connolly Barracks in Longford. Garry moved to the midlands, where he made great friends and was held in the highest esteem by his army colleagues.
He patrolled every road from Finner Camp in Donegal, right across to Dundalk, in very difficult and dangerous conditions.
Garry left the army in 1980 and returned to live in Clonmore, where he built his own house and had his own lorry, collecting plastic from local farmers for recycling.
He later drove for a number of hauliers - Nolan's of Busherstown; Dan Morrissey, Kilcarrig Quarries; Jim Sheppard of Ouragh; and Byrne's of Ballycullane, Co. Wexford.
Garry could drive to any location in Ireland without the aid of a sat nav, and drivers would often ring him seeking directions. He was well known among the country's truckers.
In a eulogy at the funeral Mass, Garry's brother Pat told the packed congregation at the Church of the Wayside, Clonmore that not alone was Garry a good soldier, but also a good family man. He was always there for his mother Anastasia, who survives him, his daughter Anne Marie, granddaughter Erin and also for Anne Marie's mother, Margaret.
Pat said that Garry always enjoyed the craic. When the talk would turn to football, Garry would throw his own achievement into the conversation by saying that while playing a football game on on occasion, the opposition failed to turn out for the second half, so Garry got his medal at half-time. Not many could have such a claim to football fame!
Garry, he said, enjoyed a drink and liked a smoke. He was a great singer and his party piece was McCafferty, an army song which he sang with great gusto.
Pat said that a few weeks earlier, Garry's health took a turn for the worse and, despite the best efforts of the doctors and nurses at St Luke's to return him to health, it was not to be.
Pat, who himself serves in the national army, concluded his tribute to his brother by saying: "Trooper Doyle, you were a good family man, a true friend and a loyal comrade who served his country with pride. May you rest in peace."
Garry was waked at home before his remains were removed to the Church of the Wayside on Friday 24 February. The coffin was draped in the national flag.
Fr Dermot Byrne, Garry's cousin was chief celebrant of the con-celebrated funeral Mass on Saturday. He was assisted by Fr James Gahan, PP, Clonmore, Fr Edward Whelan, retired PP, Ballon-Rathoe, Fr Andy Keating, a Kiltegan father and Fr Jim McCormack, PP, Hacketstown.
The readings and Prayers of the Faithful were by Garry's nieces and nephews, while the offertory gifts were also brought forward by nephews and nieces.
There was a large military presence at the funeral. Many of Garry's colleagues and friends from Longford were in attendance, as were a number of Pat's army colleague and members of the Air Corps from Baldonnel, where Pat's son James is a serving member.
The singing and music during Mass was provided by Ciara Foley (niece) and Evelyn Melia, Clonmore.
Also present were ex-servicemen and women drawn from the JG O'Connor ONE branch, Tullow and the Lt Kevin Gleeson branch of ONE, Carlow, together with members of the UN Veterans' Association.
The ONE provided a guard of honour and also rendered military honours at the graveside, while an army bugler played the Last Post and Reveille at the graveside.
The national flag was presented to Garry's mother by Michael Butler, a member of ONE.
Garry was laid to rest in the old cemetery, Clonmore.
He is survived by his mother Anastasia, daughter Anne Marie, granddaughter Erin and Anne Marie's mother Margaret (all Longford) by his brothers and sisters Seamus (Clonmore), Maureen Hunt (Coolkenno, Co Wicklow), John (Clonmore), Donal (Clonmore), Andy (Clonmore), Pat (Ballon), Statia Doyle (Coolkenno), Liam (Shillelagh, Co Wicklow) and Martina Foley (Clonmore). Garry was predeceased by his sister Bridie Kennedy, who died in 1989 in her early 30s.
Garry is also mourned by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, other relatives, former army friends and colleagues, good neighbours and many friends. May he rest in peace.
- Courtesy of The Nationalist, 6th March 2012 Tweet
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