Longford and Ardagh/Moydow GAA mourns loss of great servant Micko Doyle

Longford GAA lost one of its great servants recently with the death of Michael (Micko) Doyle.

The proud Ardagh/Moydow clubman (he was joint President of the club) worked tirelessly for his club.

A Longford GAA Hall of Fame award in 2011 recognised his overall contribution to Longford GAA.

When Moydow Harpers reformed in 1975, Micko was one of the leading figures in its establishment and played the role of team trainer for the first years of the club. From then onwards, Micko was the heart and soul of the club.

Through thick and thin, hail, rain or shine, Micko was involved in every aspect of the Moydow club from trainer, registrar, selector, chairman, president, county board delegate and main recruiter. Winning the Junior championship with Moydow Harpers in 1986 was a dream realised for Micko. There were seven Dowler brothers on that Moydow team. Micko had a quick eye for talent and no matter where someone was from, if they ventured into the Moydow area, they were highly likely to be wearing a jersey soon thereafter!

The Moydow club paid tribute to Miko in the Longford GAA 1980-2005 publication.

“In the working of the club, nobody has worked as hard as Micko Doyle. It was his great desire to see the club succeed, on and off the pitch and he was instrumental in getting funds for purchase of the pitch.

“He tirelessly worked to get Moydow the grounds and amenities it deserves and also holding the team together through good and bad times,” the club’s tribute read.

Micko played centre half forward on the Kenagh Intermediate team who won the championship in 1966 and again on the successful St. Patrick’s Ardagh intermediate team which won the championship in 1971.

Micko’s son, Frank, is currently chairperson of the Ardagh/Moydow club.

On social media, Longford GAA paid tribute to Micko.

"Longford GAA are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Micko Doyle, joint President of Ardagh Moydow GAA.

Micko played football with St Patrick’s (Ardagh) and Kenagh before becoming one of the leading figures involved in reforming the Moydow Harpers club in 1975. He went on to serve Moydow with great distinction as trainer, selector, Registrar, Chairman, President, and County Board delegate.

“In 2011, Micko was inducted into the Longford GAA Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to football in Longford.

When the Moydow and Ardagh clubs amalgamated in 2019, Micko became joint President of Ardagh Moydow GAA.”

Micko worked with Pat Glennon (for 13 years) and then Bord na Mona (25 years) before retiring in the mid 2000’s.

On Sunday last, a large crowd attended Micko’s funeral in Moydow church. There was a guard of honour from the Ardagh/Moydow club. He was then buried in Moydow cemetery.

Micko died suddenly, surrounded by his family, on April 30, in Mullingar Regional Hospital. Predeceased by his sons Anthony and Martin who died in infancy, his parents Michael and Bridget, brother Pat (Patrick) (UK), sisters Marie and Kathleen (UK),

Micko, of Clonmucker, will be sadly missed by his heartbroken family, his wife and best friend Mary, sons Michael, Frank, Joe and Brendan, daughters-in-law Angela, Liz and Patricia, his adored grandchildren Shauna, Ryan, Amy, Rebecca and Leah, brother Oliver (Kenagh), sister Jo (Josephine) Clarke, (Dublin), brother-in-law James (UK) and sister-in-law Maureen, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and dear friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.