Vinnie Doyle
Encyclopedia
Vincent Doyle was an Irish journalist noted as having served as editor of the Irish Independent
for 24 years, considered a lengthy period in Irish terms. He also served as editor of the Evening Herald
for several years prior to this.
Doyle was originally from Dublin, reared in Glasnevin
, was initially a copy boy until he became a reporter. He joined The Irish Press
in 1958, later transferring to The Sunday Press
and then onto the Independent Group. In 1977 he was made editor of the Evening Herald. In 1981 Doyle was made editor of the Irish Independent. He was also credited with creating the Weekend magazine which comes with the Saturday edition of the Irish Independent.
He was married to Gertie and the couple had three sons; all four of them outlived Doyle. The pair often travelled to far-flung destinations when Doyle was alive. Doyle shunned the spotlight and often wore sleeve garter
s. He regularly worked late hours. As editor of the Irish Independent he appeared on radio and television just twice.
Upon his death at the age of 72 in 2010 he received a tribute from Taoiseach
Brian Cowen
who described him as "a legendary figure in Irish media". Several other political leaders, such as Eamon Gilmore
, John Gormley
and Enda Kenny
, also sang his praises. Kevin Myers
described him as the "last great working editor", the other two having been, according to Myers, Tim Pat Coogan
and Douglas Gageby
. James Downey also opined that Gageby was his only rival, describing Doyle as "one of the greatest Irish editors of his time, probably of all time".
Doyle was interred in Kilmashogue Cemetery after funeral Mass
at the Annunciation Church in Rathfarnham
, Dublin on 23 September 2010. Hundreds of people attended, including notable journalists, Vincent Browne
, former taoiseach Albert Reynolds
, MEP
Mairead McGuinness
and a representative of the President
. Doyle had been ill for a brief spell, before dying at the Blackrock Clinic
on 21 September 2010.
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
for 24 years, considered a lengthy period in Irish terms. He also served as editor of the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
for several years prior to this.
Doyle was originally from Dublin, reared in Glasnevin
Glasnevin
Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...
, was initially a copy boy until he became a reporter. He joined The Irish Press
The Irish Press
The Irish Press was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.-Foundation:...
in 1958, later transferring to The Sunday Press
The Sunday Press
The Sunday Press was a weekly newspaper published in Ireland from 1949 until 1995. It was launched by Éamon de Valera's Irish Press group following the defeat of his Fianna Fáil party in the Irish general election, 1948...
and then onto the Independent Group. In 1977 he was made editor of the Evening Herald. In 1981 Doyle was made editor of the Irish Independent. He was also credited with creating the Weekend magazine which comes with the Saturday edition of the Irish Independent.
He was married to Gertie and the couple had three sons; all four of them outlived Doyle. The pair often travelled to far-flung destinations when Doyle was alive. Doyle shunned the spotlight and often wore sleeve garter
Sleeve garter
A sleeve garter is a garter worn on the sleeve of a shirt. It came into wide use in the latter half of the 19th century when men's ready made shirts came in a single sleeve length...
s. He regularly worked late hours. As editor of the Irish Independent he appeared on radio and television just twice.
Upon his death at the age of 72 in 2010 he received a tribute from 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...
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
who described him as "a legendary figure in Irish media". Several other political leaders, such as Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and...
, John Gormley
John Gormley
John Gormley is an Irish politician. He was the leader of the Irish Green Party from 2007 to 2011, and was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2007–11...
and Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
, also sang his praises. Kevin Myers
Kevin Myers
Kevin Myers is an Irish journalist and writer. He writes for the Irish Independent and is a former contributor to The Irish Times, where he wrote the "An Irishman's Diary" opinion column several times weekly...
described him as the "last great working editor", the other two having been, according to Myers, Tim Pat Coogan
Tim Pat Coogan
Timothy Patrick Coogan is an Irish historical writer, broadcaster and newspaper columnist. He served as editor of the Irish Press newspaper from 1968 to 1987...
and Douglas Gageby
Douglas Gageby
Douglas Gageby was the pre-eminent Irish newspaper editor of his generation. His life is well documented and a book of essays about him, written by many of his colleagues who had attained fame for their literary achievements, was published in 2006 [Bright Brilliant Days: Douglas Gageby and the...
. James Downey also opined that Gageby was his only rival, describing Doyle as "one of the greatest Irish editors of his time, probably of all time".
Doyle was interred in Kilmashogue Cemetery after funeral Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
at the Annunciation Church in Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
, Dublin on 23 September 2010. Hundreds of people attended, including notable journalists, Vincent Browne
Vincent Browne
Vincent Browne is an Irish print and broadcast journalist. He is a columnist with The Irish Times and The Sunday Business Post and a part time barrister....
, former taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
, MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Mairead McGuinness
Mairead McGuinness
Mairead McGuinness is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament for the East constituency. She is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party.-Education and media career:...
and a representative of the President
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
. Doyle had been ill for a brief spell, before dying at the Blackrock Clinic
Blackrock Clinic
Blackrock Clinic in Blackrock, Dublin was co-founded in 1984 by surgeons Joseph Sheehan, his brother Jimmy Sheehan, Maurice Neligan and Nuclear Medicine Specialist George Duffy as a private, high-tech hospital offering healthcare to privately insured patients....
on 21 September 2010.