Editor remembered as 'magical'

Former Irish Independent editor Vincent (Vinnie) Doyle was "the magnificent chronicler of his times," mourners at his funeral Mass in Dublin were told today.

“From his editor’s chair, although he was seldom in it, he watched as six taoisigh rose and fell; as Popes came and went; as divorce and abortion debates split the nation and as once great names were hauled before tribunals,” chief executive Independent News & Media (Northern Ireland) Michael Brophy told the congregation at the Church of the Annunication in Rathfarnham.

Mr Doyle (72) died on Tuesday at the Blackrock clinic in Dublin, following a short illness. He had been editor of the Irish Independent  from 1981 until 2005.

“He picked words from the air and dropped them on a page as if by magic. He summarised complex political and financial stories in two or three words,” said Mr Brophy. He also nurtured “great journalistic talent.”

Populist “but never cheap” he “knew what the people of middle Ireland were thinking, often long before they did.” He “should have spent more time with us but we’re grateful for what time we got,” Mr Brophy said.

Garret Doyle said his father was not stereotypical. “Wisdom and advice imparted to us was more front-line than book-read.”

His “generosity of word and action was boundless and quietly understated”.

Mr Doyle was buried after the Mass at Kilmashogue cemetery, Edmonstown Road.

Chief mourners were his wife Gertrude and sons, Garret, Conor and Vinny.

President Mary McAleese was represented by Capt Murt Larkin and Taoiseach Brian Cowen by Cmdt Mick Treacy.

Among those in attendance were former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, MEP Mairéad McGuinness, former Government press secretaries PJ Mara and Joe Jennings, and current deputy Government press secretary John Downing.

Also there were Sir Anthony O’Reilly, president emeritus Independent News & Media (IN&M), as well as IN&M board non-executive chairman Brian Hillery and managing editor Independent Newspapers Michael Danieffe.

Eithne Healy represented her husband Liam Healy, former IN&M chief executive.

The National Union of Journalists was represented by Irish secretary Séamus Dooley while the National Newspapers of Ireland were represented by co-ordinating director Frank Cullen.

Among the many journalists present were Irish Independent editor Gerry O'Regan, managing editors at The Irish Times Eoin McVey and Peter Murtagh, Sunday World editor Colm McGinty, Star editor Ger Colleran and Irish Daily Mail managing editor Paul Drury.

Also there were Liam Collins and Campbell Spray of the Sunday Independent, Stephen Rae of the Evening Herald, Sunday Tribune editor Noirín Hegarty, RTÉ director of news Ed Mulhall, Dick O'Riordan of the Sunday Business Post  and journalist and TV3 broadcaster Vincent Browne.