Doyle / Byrne Family History

[Matt McNamara]

Here is some information on the Doyle family history. It begins with the departure of my great grandfather (Matt Byrne) to the “Tirah Campaign” in India with the Royal Enniskilling Fusiliers, which involved engagements along the Khyber pass after which he was deployed to the 2nd Boer from which he returned to be demobbed in Belfast in 1908. He retired to Tullow and because of his military experience was actively recruited to train the local insurgents in guerrilla warfare, not unlike Tom Barry who had also served in the British army.

Michael Doyle Royal Dublin Fusiliers

In the interim Michael Doyle had enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, he had previously served in the 8th Kings Royal Rifles, a local Carlow Militia. He enlisted in 1903 at Naas. He was then posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force at the outbreak of WWI and was captured fighting a holding action with the Battalion rearguard during the retreat from Mons. He spent the remainder of the war as a POW returning to Ireland in 1918.

Tullow 1919

Of course by now civil war loomed high on the horizon and there was no heroes welcome for the men who thought they were serving Irelands effort to attain home rule.

Larry Doyle 3rd Inf Bn 1931

3rd Bn Curragh Camp 1930's

His son Laurence Doyle enlisted in the 3rd Infantry Battalion in 1931 and served throughout the emergency until 1946. He married May Byrne daughter to Matt Byrne.

Doyles Larry & Matt

His sons Matt and Laurence also served on the Curragh. Matt, continuing the tradition, with the 3rd Battalion until his retirement.

Laurence Doyle Jnr had three sons (Myself-Stephen, Laurence and Mark )in the Defence forces. “Mark” now with the Gardai.

Larry Doyle 2nd Cav 1990's

Laurence is a serving Sgt with the IWW Mc Donagh , Mill Coll. And I am currently serving with Sp Coy 3rd Inf bn, now based in Stephens brks kilkenny, having served 8 years with the Mill Coll also.

Stephen Doyle 3rd Inf Bn recently

So that’s a brief outline from the period 1879 until present.

Hope you found it of interest , I enjoy checking the site and seeing who I might know or just reading the interesting articles.

Continued good luck with it.

Stephen.

[andybrennan]

Even though I know the Doyles , Matt ,Laurence (Larry) and Mike I was surprised at the extent of this article an eye opener for me . I know the lads from the times I spent with my cousins the Codds in Tullow , Still run into Mike when I visit . I enjoyed this article.
Regards Andy

[Ray O'Neill]

Interesting reading of a local family whom I've known for many year's, well done Matt and Steve.

[pamchetland]

Hi I have a John Doyle b abt 1842 in Dublin who was living with his parents Michael Doyle and Catherine on the 1861 census in Margam Glamorgan South Wales, Michael Doyle and Catherine gave their place of birth as Kildare Ireland, I cannot find anymore about the parents thereafter and think they may have returned to Ireland
John Doyle however married Frances Norah Finnegan in 1869 in Gosport Hampshire and they had 9 children quite a few in different locations as John Doyle was in the Army, on his son's MC he was described as Quartermaster Sergeant in the 13th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry although I am not sure how accurate that is
By 1878 he was living in Kilsyth Stirlingshire Scotland but was still an Instructor in the Army and by 1901 he was a clerk in a Quarry
Why I am so interested is that my mother before she married used to come from Newbridge Co Kildare to visit relations in Kilsyth who were Millers but she also talked about Arthur Doyle who was a descendant of the above John Doyle
My mother's father was Scottish but her mother was Irish and after her father retired from the Army they settled in Newbridge and I know that both my grandfather and g grandfather who was also in the Army had connections to the Curragh Camp and my mother went to school there
I am hoping that this might jog some memories