Former Galway player Robin Doyle balancing his county pride with his Donegal life

Robin Doyle’s journey from Galway football to life in Donegal was not one of design, but rather circumstance.   

A former member of the Tribesmen’s extended panel during their 1998 All-Ireland triumph, Doyle has spent the past two decades in the northwest, balancing his deep-rooted Galway ties with his adopted home.  

So, what brought him as far as the Inishowen peninsula?  

“It was very simple,” he says. “I married a woman from Quigley’s Point and I’m working with the guards in Lifford. It’s as simple as that.” 

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This weekend, as Donegal travels to Salthill for a crucial National League clash with Galway, Doyle finds himself watching on with a unique perspective.   

A proud Galway man, but one who has become deeply involved in Donegal football, working with the Naomh Padraig minor side and following his son Cillian’s progress through the county underage ranks, having been a county minor footballer on Barry Ward’s panel last season.  

“I’ve been involved with the club for a long time, and I’m still involved,” Doyle said.   

“I’m a selector this season with the Naomh Padraig minor side, and my own son was a part of the county minor team last season, so I’m still quite active in the GAA, as you would be when you have young kids.”  

But there is no questioning where his true allegiance lies as shown when his native Galway, under the stewardship of his former teammate Pádraic Joyce, and Donegal squared off in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

“Last season when Donegal played Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, the house may have been divided but there was no question who my allegiance was towards,” he said.   

“I’m a proud Galway man and always will be, but apart from that, I would be very much cheering for Donegal.”  

Doyle’s own playing career saw him line out at Minor, Junior, and U-21 levels for Galway, captaining the minor side to a Connacht title in 1993 before losing out to Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final.   

Three years later, he was centre-half back on the Galway U-21 team that secured another provincial title, only to fall to Kerry in the semi-final.   

His senior inter-county debut came in 1997 against Westmeath, and a year later, he was part of John O’Mahony’s extended panel as Galway finally ended their 32-year wait for Sam Maguire.  

Looking at this season’s league, Doyle sees two teams he’s connected to in strong positions.   

“I suppose the majority of Galway supporters would be disappointed that we haven’t got over the line in recent years and won an All-Ireland, but you can see this season, so far, just how strong Galway and Donegal are,” he admitted.  

“I know we can give great credit to the managers, Pádraic Joyce and Jim McGuinness, but I would put great emphasis on how good the footballers are, especially here in Donegal.   

“I know Jim McGuinness is the man up here but you can’t do what he’s doing without good players, and he certainly has that.  

“I think Galway and Donegal are two teams that are really going to benefit from the new rules, especially in terms of shooting. Galway have the likes of Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy, while Donegal have Oisin Gallen and Patrick McBrearty amongst others, but no doubt Jim McGuinness will have some plan up his sleeve come championship.”  

Doyle, who played for the county in 1998, has witnessed first-hand what an All-Ireland title can do for a country and the joy it brings to the people.   

“I was there with Galway when we won Sam in 1998 after a long time, I saw what it was like here in Donegal in 2012 too when the county won it after 20 years, you can see it just lifts the county, and brings a tidal wave of people with them.”  

And when it comes to contenders for Sam this year?   

“I would be putting both teams near the top, alongside Kerry. I think you always have to watch Kerry. But it’s still early in the season, and there’s a lot of football to play.”  

Though his life is now firmly rooted in Donegal, there’s no mistaking where his heart will be when the ball is thrown in at Pearse Stadium this Sunday at 3.45pm. A Galway man always remains a Galway man.