Vinnie Doyle

Born|

Vincent S. Doyle[1]

1938

Dublin

Died| 21 September 2010(2010-09-21) (aged 72)

Blackrock Clinic,
Blackrock, Dublin

Education| St. Vincent's CBS, Glasnevin
Occupation(s)| Journalist, Editor

Vincent Doyle (1938 – 21 September 2010)[2][3] was an Irish journalist noted as having served as editor of the Irish Independent for 24 years, considered a lengthy period in Irish terms.[4] 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.[5] He joined The Irish Press in 1958, later transferring to The Sunday Press and then onto the Independent Group.[4] In 1977 he was made editor of the Evening Herald.[4][6] In 1981 Doyle was made editor of the Irish Independent.[4] He was also credited with creating the Weekend magazine which comes with the Saturday edition of the Irish Independent.[7]

He was married to Gertie and the couple had three sons; all four of them outlived Doyle.[4] The pair often travelled to far-flung destinations when Doyle was alive.[8] Doyle shunned the spotlight and often wore sleeve garters.[9] He regularly worked late hours.[10] As editor of the Irish Independent he appeared on radio and television just twice.[1]

Upon his death at the age of 72[11] in 2010 he received a tribute from Taoiseach Brian Cowen who described him as "a legendary figure in Irish media".[4] Several other political leaders, such as Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley and Enda Kenny, also sang his praises.[12] Kevin Myers described him as the "last great working editor", the other two having been, according to Myers, Tim Pat Coogan and Douglas Gageby.[13] 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".[8]

Doyle was interred in Kilmashogue Cemetery after funeral Mass at the Annunciation Church in Rathfarnham, Dublin on 23 September 2010.[11] Hundreds of people attended,[14] including notable journalists, Vincent Browne, former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, MEP Mairead McGuinness and a representative of the President.[3][15] Doyle had been ill for a brief spell,[11] before dying at the Blackrock Clinic on 21 September 2010.[3]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Hopkins, Paul (22 September 2010). "My scrape with Samuel Beckett and a letter to the Pope". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010. "Though he shunned the limelight at the helm of the Indo – he was effectively a shy man and only appeared on TV and radio twice during his 25 years as the paper's Editor – in the newsroom he was master of all he surveyed. He demanded it. Once he got me to buy the rights from the New York Times of a piece by Samuel Beckett on his 80th birthday, a piece I calculated would need two full broadsheet pages to carry it..."
2. ^ Brennan, Martin (22 September 2010). "1938–2010: Memories of a legend". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
3. ^ a b c McGarry, Patsy (24 September 2010). "Late editor 'populist, but never cheap'". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Former Independent editor Vincent Doyle dies". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
5. ^ McGee, Harry (22 September 2010). "Former 'Independent' editor dies". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
6. ^ "Former Indo editor Doyle has died". RTÉ Business. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
7. ^ Denieffe, Michael (22 September 2010). "Indo has lost a talisman and an inspiring leader". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010. "He virtually single-handedly created one of the best newspaper marketing successes in this country – the Irish Independent's Saturday Weekend magazine which boosted that day's circulation massively."
8. ^ a b Downey, James (22 September 2010). "Ink ran through veins of unique newspaperman". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
9. ^ Hogan, Treacy (22 September 2010). "'Proud' family overwhelmed by expressions of sympathy". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
10. ^ Greenslade, Roy (22 September 2010). "Vinnie Doyle, outstanding Irish editor". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
11. ^ a b c Hogan, Louise (23 September 2010). "Huge crowds expected to mourn Vinnie". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
12. ^ Black, Fergus (22 September 2010). "Taoiseach leads tributes to 'a legendary figure in the Irish media'". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
13. ^ Myers, Kevin (24 September 2010). "A mystifying feature of Ireland is the unfailing failure to celebrate some of its greatest talent". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
14. ^ Black, Fergus (24 September 2010). "Hundreds gather to mourn media legend". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
15. ^ "Media colleagues turn out in force to pay respects". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.