Greystones Loses Another Icon

It would be so, so easy to get sentimental about Liam Doyle…

Here is a man, after all, who partied pretty much every day. Like it was 1999. Like it was 1979. Like it was 1929.

Man, Liam Doyle lived a life. And packed a lot of life into his time too. And he really wouldn’t have the time nor the patience for sentimentality.

But, hey, he’s going to have to grin and bear it this one time.

Born just after World War One – yes, World War One! – Liam spent his early years travelling the world as a sailor before landing, somewhat inevitably, in San Francisco. Where he and his beloved, Tilly, seemed to perfect the fine art of partying 25/7. No one else has been able to work that one out as yet.

Family brought them to Greystones, and Killincarrig Road, where the couple ran a nursing home before a short-lived adventure in the big city saw them joyfully living out their never-ending lost weekend back in Greystones once again.

No Christmas was complete without a party back in Doyler’s. On more than one occasion, even Santa turned up. Which would explain why everyone in Greystones got the wrong present that year.

Still, all good lost weekends must come to an end. Especially by Tuesday. Tilly passed a few years ago, and now Liam has gone on to join her. He’s late, of course. But then, he is a Doyle.

Given the good life that Liam has led – and this is a man who liked nothing more than dancing until the break of noon, right up until the very end – it’s a true wonder that the sly dog made it to the grand old age of 94. In Vincent’s hospital, after they did some tests last weekend, the doctor bringing back Liam’s liver results described them as “deranged“. Beat that, Keith Richards.

If Liam had a secret to living a long and happy life, I’m guessing it would have been, live each day to the fullest. And live each night like its your last.

Much love to Liam’s deadbeat son, Declan, and his wayward daughter, Louise… x

You can read Liam’s My Greystones entry from January 2015 here. It’s a sad week in Greystones. We’ve just learnt that another icon, Sean Magee, passed away on Tuesday, June 7th. Another sly dog who also managed to wangle his way to the grand old age of 94…