Although he passed away prematurely, Donie Doyle, a proud son of the Kingdom from New Street in Killarney, packed a lot into his sixty-four years. Born on June 2nd 1949, he grew up a stone's throw from Saint Brendan's College so it was inevitable that he would attend the renowned nursery of gaelic football.
Donie was extremely proud to have represented Saint Brendan's during his schooldays, winning a Munster Colleges Medal from 1966 when the Killarney team overcame De La Salle College, Waterford who were going for three-in-a-row. With Donie playing at left-half back throughout, the Sem went on to the All-Ireland final against Saintn Finian's, Mullingar. The match was hotly contested and went to a replay where unfortunately the team from Westmeath prevailed.
His footballing career also led Donie to representing Dr Croke's with whom he won an East-Kerry County Minor Championship medal in 1967. From his success with Brendan's and Croke's, Donie was selected to play for the Kerry Minor team that lost the Munster final to Cork in 1967. Donie was also honoured to play in the Sigerson Cup alongside the likes of Jim Coghlan, Edser Crowley and Brendan Lynch and to win a McKenna Cup medal with UCC against Saint Joseph's College, Belfast in 1968.
A lover of all sports, Donie was also one of the founder members of Killarney Athletic soccer team where he played alongside his childhood friend Donough Gleeson. Unfortunately, being one of the first members to play for Killarney Athletic came at a price as Rule 27, otherwise known as The Ban, cost him his place with the Kerry minor team.
Donie left his beloved Kerry in 1969 to take up a position in the Dublin County Council and it was here that he met his wife-to-be, Geraldine. Following his appointment to Drogheda District Court, Donie and Geraldine moved to Bettystown, Co. Meath where he happily remained for the rest of his days and where his family still reside.
It was here that Donie developed his passion for golf and became a member of Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club. Countless happy days were spent on the course with friends and family and he represented the club on the Barton Cup, Towns Cup and Junior Cup teams.
During his thirty-three years with the Courts Service he also served as registrar in the Family Law Circuit Court and the High Court in Dublin before finishing his career in the Dundalk District Court from which he was unfortunately forced to take early retirement in 2006, due to illness.
An engaging conversationalist, his love of language never diminished and anyone who met him could not fail to notice his idiosyncratic phraseology and unique way with words. He is survived by his wife Geraldine, children Sian, Ashley, Daniel, Colin and David and grandchildren Matthew, Sophie, Aimee and new arrival Donie Beag, his sister Pauline and brother Pat.
Although he spent the majority of his life in Meath, his love for his native county never wavered and he always remained a proud son of Kerry and, no doubt, his spirit still sings over the Lakes of Killarney.

Kerry's Eye, 6th February 2014 Tweet

Most Read Stories