Retired garda pens book on two Clare gardaí who transformed the force
WRITING Changing of the Guard was how retired Garda Inspector Tim Doyle resolved to overcome the shock of his kidney failure diagnosis and an uncertain future.
Available in hardback, Changing of the Guard, which is published by Currach Books, gives a snapshot into the period between the 1950s and 1980s, a time of great turmoil and upheaval in the Garda Siochana and two central figures, both Clare natives, who played a pivotal role in its modernisation.
The author Tim Doyle, a Kerry native, who spent the last seven years of his career before retirement as Head of Security at Dail Eireann, has directed all of the proceeds from the sale of the book to the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).
On December 2 the Centenary year of the Garda Siochana, Tim and his wife Agnes, as well as Damien McCarthy from the Garda Representative Association (GRA), George Maybury from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Pat Ryan, Association of Garda Superintendents (AGS), and Christy Lonergan from the Garda Retired Members Association (GSRMA) visited the Irish Kidney Association’s head office in Park West, Dublin.
Tim presented a signed copy of his book and a cheque for €10,000, the proceeds of the sale of his book in its first year, to Carol Moore, the Chief Executive of the Irish Kidney Association.
At the cheque presentation to the Irish Kidney Association, author Tim Doyle said:
“It is my way of giving something back for all the wonderful care and support I received while I was struggling with kidney failure. I hope that the message people can take from my story is that even in pain and struggles, positivity can emerge and manifest itself.
“In my case I turned towards writing which helped me navigate my way through my illness. I feel blessed for the wonderful love and support I received from my wife and family and the outstanding care I received from health professionals.
"I hope that I can inspire others who are struggling with organ failure, to realise that there is always hope, and regardless of where the journey brings you, you should focus your energy on pursuing a personal goal and being your best self. It is amazing how human nature can find fresh cause for optimism as hope springs eternal.”
Concluding his speech at the cheque handover, Tim said: “In our centenary year it’s a proud day for me, my family, my Garda comrades and all generations of gardai to be able to hand over a cheque to the Irish Kidney Association which does wonderful work in supporting kidney patients”.