Joe Doyle
Encyclopedia
Joe Doyle (1 June 1936 – 8 August 2009) was an Irish Fine Gael
politician. He was a long-standing public representative for the Dublin South East
constituency. He served variously as a Dublin City Council
, Dáil Éireann
and Seanad Éireann
, becoming Lord Mayor of Dublin
in 1998–1999.
in the local Roman Catholic church in Donnybrook
, was first elected to public office as a Dublin City Council for the Pembroke ward at the successful Fine Gael 1979 local elections
campaign that laid the groundwork for Fine Gael's winning of 20 extra Dáil seats at the 1981 general election
. He served continually in City Hall from 1979 until his retirement at the 2004 local elections. Between 1998 and 1999 he served as Lord Mayor of Dublin
.
Doyle was first elected as a Fine Gael
TD
to Dáil Éireann
at the November 1982 general election, where his party constituency colleague was party leader (and after the election Taoiseach
Garret FitzGerald
).
coalition's proposed wording to the Pro-life
constitutional amendment
on abortion
. Whereas the government's wording included a negative prohibition, namely that nothing in the constitution should be interpreted as granting a right to abortion, Doyle, along with Alice Glenn
and other colleagues endorsed the Fianna Fáil
alternative wording that granted a "right to life to the unborn, with due regard to the equal right of the mother". Because of the controversial nature of the issue, and the fact that Fine Gael itself was split on the issue, he was not sacked from the party for breaking the party whip.
. He was elected later at the Senate general election to sit in the upper house (Seanad Éireann). He regained his Dáil seat at the 1989 general election
, where he and FitzGerald on a tight vote management strategy achieved 2 seats out of 4. He however lost his seat again at the 1992 general election
to new running mate Frances Fitzgerald
. Though he contested the 1997 general election (under party pressure because it saw Doyle as the party's best chance to win a seat, even though he had originally decided not to contest any more general elections) he failed to win back a seat. Frances Fitzgerald dramatically lost the party's only seat at the 2002 general election
, leaving Fine Gael for the first time in the constituency's history without a Fine Gael TD even though commentators regarded Dublin South East as "natural Fine Gael" electoral territory.
from 1998–1999. He was central to the decision to erect the Spire of Dublin
, the world's largest sculpture, on the site of Nelson Pillar.
On his retirement from Dublin City Council in 2004, his political rival, Labour Party
Dublin City Council
lor Dermot Lacey
paid the following tribute.
, as a result of which he could not drive, normally a necessity for a local representative elected from a constituency.
when Behan found himself without a best man at the ceremony.
. They had two sons and one daughter. Joe’s step-brother, John Doyle (17 August 1925 – 16 November 2009), was also active in politics and was conservative Mayor and Bailiff of Hemel Hempstead
in 1969.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. He was a long-standing public representative for the Dublin South East
Dublin South East (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency. He served variously as a Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
, Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
and Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
, becoming Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
in 1998–1999.
Political career
Doyle, a former sacristanSacristan
A sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents.In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers , later by the treasurers and mansionarii...
in the local Roman Catholic church in Donnybrook
Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
, was first elected to public office as a Dublin City Council for the Pembroke ward at the successful Fine Gael 1979 local elections
Irish local elections, 1979
The 1979 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on 7 June 1979, on the same day as the first direct elections to the European Parliament.- Results :- County councils :Source:- Large corporations :...
campaign that laid the groundwork for Fine Gael's winning of 20 extra Dáil seats at the 1981 general election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
. He served continually in City Hall from 1979 until his retirement at the 2004 local elections. Between 1998 and 1999 he served as Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
.
Doyle was first elected as a Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the November 1982 general election, where his party constituency colleague was party leader (and after the election Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
).
Broke party ranks on abortion
Doyle achieved early party notoriety when in 1983 he was one of eight Fine Gael TDs to defy the party and vote against the Fine Gael–Labour PartyLabour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
coalition's proposed wording to the Pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
constitutional amendment
Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland introduced a constitutional ban on abortion. It was effected by the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1983, which was approved by referendum on 7 September 1983 and signed into law on the 7 October of the same year.-Changes to the...
on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. Whereas the government's wording included a negative prohibition, namely that nothing in the constitution should be interpreted as granting a right to abortion, Doyle, along with Alice Glenn
Alice Glenn
Alice Glenn is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.-Early and private life:Alice Glenn was born in Dublin in 1927. She was educated locally before attending the Haslem School of Dress Designing...
and other colleagues endorsed the Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
alternative wording that granted a "right to life to the unborn, with due regard to the equal right of the mother". Because of the controversial nature of the issue, and the fact that Fine Gael itself was split on the issue, he was not sacked from the party for breaking the party whip.
Winning and losing seats
Doyle was one of a number of TDs to lose their seats at the 1987 general electionIrish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
. He was elected later at the Senate general election to sit in the upper house (Seanad Éireann). He regained his Dáil seat at the 1989 general election
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
, where he and FitzGerald on a tight vote management strategy achieved 2 seats out of 4. He however lost his seat again at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
to new running mate Frances Fitzgerald
Frances Fitzgerald (Irish politician)
Frances Fitzgerald is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and is the current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Mid West constituency since February 2011...
. Though he contested the 1997 general election (under party pressure because it saw Doyle as the party's best chance to win a seat, even though he had originally decided not to contest any more general elections) he failed to win back a seat. Frances Fitzgerald dramatically lost the party's only seat at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
, leaving Fine Gael for the first time in the constituency's history without a Fine Gael TD even though commentators regarded Dublin South East as "natural Fine Gael" electoral territory.
Lord Mayor of Dublin & Alderman
Doyle served as Lord Mayor of DublinLord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
from 1998–1999. He was central to the decision to erect the Spire of Dublin
Spire of Dublin
The Spire of Dublin, officially titled the Monument of Light is a large, stainless steel, pin-like monument in height, located on the site of the former Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell Street in Dublin, Ireland.-Details:...
, the world's largest sculpture, on the site of Nelson Pillar.
On his retirement from Dublin City Council in 2004, his political rival, Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
lor Dermot Lacey
Dermot Lacey
Dermot Lacey is an Irish Labour Party politician. He is a member of Dublin City Council in Dublin, Ireland.-Political career:Lacey has been a member of Dublin City Council since 1993 - first representing the South East Inner City area and, since the 1999 Local Elections, the Pembroke area. He...
paid the following tribute.
- I have long respected his integrity and commitment to achieving what he believed was best for the people he represented. In many ways Joe as a politician is the epitome of the historic mandate of Fine Gael- honourable, conservative, compassionate and committed to the democratic institutions of our State.
Epilepsy
Doyle in public life openly discussed lifelong experience of battling with epilepsyEpilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, as a result of which he could not drive, normally a necessity for a local representative elected from a constituency.
Best man at Brendan Behan's wedding
He also revealed that as sacristan in the local church he had been best man at the wedding of Irish playwright and author Brendan BehanBrendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
when Behan found himself without a best man at the ceremony.
Personal life and family
Joe Doyle married Margaret Mary Maquire on 11 February 1969 in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, DublinDonnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
. They had two sons and one daughter. Joe’s step-brother, John Doyle (17 August 1925 – 16 November 2009), was also active in politics and was conservative Mayor and Bailiff of Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
in 1969.
External links
- Joe Doyle's coat of arms, as awarded by the Chief Herald of Ireland (scroll to the end of the page)
- http://www.ucd.ie/ucdnews/jan99/camera.htmUCD News magazine with a picture of Doyle as Lord Mayor, chatting with former President of IrelandPresident of IrelandThe President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Patrick HilleryPatrick HilleryPatrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...
.]