Doyle, Christopher (Marley)
July 30, 2013Christopher (Marley) Doyle of St Killian's Crescent, Carlow, who passed away peacefully at Carlow District Hospital on Sunday 14 July, had been involved in the building trade in both his native town and in England for much of his life.
Aged 79, Christopher was known far and wide as Marley - a nickname he acquired as a child from his brother Johnny. In fact, many people would not have known that Christopher was his real name.
Marley was one of 12 children of John and Mary (nee Kelly), St Killian's Crescent. Two brothers, Paddy and Sylvester, died in infancy, while Marley was also predeceased by his sisters Esther, who passed away aged 14 and Mary (Bridie) Fagan, who died at the age of 60 in 1995.
Having worked for a short time in the Carlow sugar factory, Marley went to England in 1951, working in construction in Birmingham. After a number of years he returned home, where he obtained employment with local building firm D&J Carbery.
Subsequently, he worked for the Carlow building firm of Phelan's. In both building firms, Marley was a lorry driver, being highly regarded by his employers.
In his 50s, Marley gained employment with Carlow Urban Council, first as a driver for the bin collection in the town and later driving the road sweeper.
He had retired from work some 15 years ago.
Marley was a well-known and very popular man in the Carlow area. He played the accordion and Jew's harp and was a great lover of the outdoors - enjoying nothing better than a day's fishing or shooting.
A dedicated O'Hanrahan's GAA man, Marley was chairman of the club for a period in the 1990s. He was a lover of all sports, enjoyed a flutter on the horses and an occasional trip to The Curragh for a race meeting. He had friends in The Curragh - Joe and Carmel Hannon - and he would often make his way up to see them and simply walk around the plains.
A great man for the craic, Marley greatly enjoyed going on Askea parish outings.
A single man, Marley was a great brother to his surviving five siblings - Eddie, Joe (both Birmingham), Paschal, Brendan and Willie (all Carlow).
A few years ago, Marley had a hip replacement operation and from that time his health deteriorated somewhat. Over the past two years he had been in and out of Waterford Regional Hospital and had been a patient in Carlow District Hospital for about a week before his death.
Marley was waked in Carpenter's Funeral Home, Barrack Street, where many of his friends and neighbours called to offer their sympathy to his next-of-kin.
His remains were removed to the Church of the Holy Family, Askea on Monday night, 15 July, where they were received by Fr Liam Morgan, CC, Askea-Bennekerry-Tinryland. A guard of
honour was formed from Carpenter's to the church by members of O'Hanrahan's GFC. Fr Tom Little, PP,celebrated Marley's funeral Mass on Tuesday morning.
At the start of Mass, symbols of Marley's life were brought to the altar-his accordion, a photograph of him during his chairmanship of the Blues, his fishing rod and a St Brigid's Cross - Marley had a collection of these crosses. Family members and friends did the readings, Prayers of the Faithful and brought forward the offertory gifts.
During Mass, Fr Little paid a fitting tribute to the life and times of Marley Doyle. Following Mass there was a cremation ceremony at Newlands Cross Crematorium and Marley's ashes were interred with his parents in the Doyle family plot at St Mary's Cemetery on Wednesday 24 July.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist. Tweet
