MICHAEL Doyle, former manager of Killarney Racecourse and Senior Steward of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, passed away on Tuesday and was laid to rest on Friday. He was 87.

He managed Killarney Racecourse from 1992 to 2003, having been a director of the track since the mid-1980s. He was appointed Deputy Senior Steward of the INHSC in 2007 and become Senior Steward in 2009 for a two-year period. He also served on the board of Horse Racing Ireland and acted as a raceday steward for many years at Limerick, Listowel, Galway, Cork and his beloved Killarney.

For 40 years he worked with the post office and held a senior role there. He was also very involved in the local community, promoting his town Fossa and Killarney.

A statement issued by the local Chamber of Commerce said: “Michael Doyle worked tirelessly all his life to create a better community and he did everything on a voluntary basis and with a very generous hear and giving spirit. He will be a huge loss to Fossa and to Killarney.”

John Moloney, another former Senior Steward of the INHSC, said: “Michael had a great interest in racing and was very generous with his time. From Killarney, he was prepared to drive for hours to attend a stewards’ meeting. We served together as stewards and one of the biggest developments at that time was the introduction of EasyFix hurdles at several tracks. I stewarded with him at Killarney as recently as last year.”

Michael is survived by his wife Bridie and six children.