On a June day, having just finished his daily walk Michael Doyle passed to his eternal reward, suddenly and peacefully, at his home in Cregg, Whitegate.
‘Danno’ as he was affectionately known has been synonymous with Whitegate hurling for longer than most people can remember and his passing has left a huge void in the community.
A hurling career, spanning over sixty years, began when he played senior for the Club in 1954 having come to the attention of the Clare Minor selectors the same year.
The golden era for Whitegate hurling was just about to begin. For over a decade that team was to enjoy much success and admiration, with the highlight being crowned County Champions in 1961, sixty years ago this year.
As a central defender Danno had few equals, sometimes turning out to be ‘the cutest of forwards’. He was a great reader of the game and possessed a great hurling brain. Today, that might be termed sporting intelligence.
Even before his own playing career had come to an end, he began to give generously and unselfishly to the coaching of young players. He was trainer, coach, and mentor to every age group in the club with notable successes before moving on to the Intercounty scene with Clare teams.
In later years, his proximity to the GAA field provided him with easy access to the pitch and he continued to keep a watchful eye on all proceedings there; never missing the weekly GAA card game on a Sunday night.
At the time of his death Michael held the position of Club President and the huge numbers that turned out to pay their respects at his funeral is testament to the legacy he has left for all ages and the respect in which he was held by all ages.
His loss is felt the greatest by his family: wife Teresa, daughters Rita and Eilish, sons Pat, Eamonn and Kenneth and his grandchildren. His loss to the hurling community is immense, because Danno was a hurling man – a Whitegate man all his life.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm
Cummann C.L.G. An Geata Bán
