Vinnie Doyle Explained

Vinnie Doyle
Birthname:Vincent S. Doyle
Birth Date:1938
Birth Place:Dublin
Death Place:Blackrock Clinic,
Blackrock, Dublin
Education:St. Vincent's CBS, Glasnevin
Occupation:Journalist, Editor

Vincent Doyle (1938 – 21 September 2010)[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

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 garters.[5] He regularly worked late hours.[6] As editor of the Irish Independent he appeared on radio and television just twice.[7]

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".[8] Several other political leaders, such as Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley and Enda Kenny, also sang his praises.[9] Kevin Myers described him as the "last great working editor", the other two having been, according to Myers, Tim Pat Coogan and Douglas Gageby.[10] 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".[11]

Doyle was interred in Kilmashogue Cemetery after funeral Mass at the Annunciation Church in Rathfarnham, Dublin on 23 September 2010.[12] Hundreds of people attended,[13] including notable journalists, Vincent Browne, former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, MEP Mairead McGuinness and a representative of the President.[14] [15] Doyle had been ill for a brief spell,[12] before dying at the Blackrock Clinic on 21 September 2010.[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Brennan, Martin. 1938–2010: Memories of a legend. 22 September 2010. Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. 22 September 2010.
  2. News: McGee, Harry. Harry McGee. Former 'Independent' editor dies. 22 September 2010. The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 22 September 2010.
  3. News: Former Indo editor Doyle has died. 21 September 2010. RTÉ Business. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 September 2010.
  4. News: Denieffe, Michael. Indo has lost a talisman and an inspiring leader. 22 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 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..
  5. News: Hogan, Treacy. 'Proud' family overwhelmed by expressions of sympathy. 22 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 September 2010.
  6. News: Greenslade, Roy. Roy Greenslade. Vinnie Doyle, outstanding Irish editor. 22 September 2010. The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 22 September 2010.
  7. News: Hopkins, Paul. My scrape with Samuel Beckett and a letter to the Pope. 22 September 2010. Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. 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....
  8. News: Former Independent editor Vincent Doyle dies. 21 September 2010. RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 September 2010.
  9. News: Black, Fergus. Taoiseach leads tributes to 'a legendary figure in the Irish media'. 22 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 September 2010.
  10. News: Myers, Kevin. Kevin Myers. A mystifying feature of Ireland is the unfailing failure to celebrate some of its greatest talent. 24 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 24 September 2010.
  11. News: Downey, James. Ink ran through veins of unique newspaperman. 22 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 22 September 2010.
  12. News: Hogan, Louise. Huge crowds expected to mourn Vinnie. 23 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 23 September 2010.
  13. News: Black, Fergus. Hundreds gather to mourn media legend. 24 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 24 September 2010.
  14. News: McGarry, Patsy. Late editor 'populist, but never cheap'. 24 September 2010. The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 24 September 2010.
  15. News: Media colleagues turn out in force to pay respects. 24 September 2010. Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 24 September 2010.

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