BREEDER John Doyle of Barrettstown Farm House in Newbridge, Co Kildare, was laid to rest yesterday. He died peacefully on Tuesday in the Hermitage Clinic after a long illness.

From a well-known farming and auctioneering family in Blessington, John ran a butcher shop in Dublin’s Pearse Street where he had a reputation for looking after the locals in tough times.

He became more involved with horses through his late wife, Gemma. Together they bred many group race and blacktype winners. In recent years foals consigned by Barrettstown Farm House have fetched strong prices, reflecting the respect in which John Doyle was held by those in the business.

Family friend Maurice Burns of Rathasker Stud said: “Loyalty and honesty are the two qualities I associate with John. He was the sort of man who would do you a good turn if he could. He was also a great mentor to a lot of young people.

“The Doyle family are very good breeders and nice people. John and Gemma bred a Royal Ascot winner in Irony, and many other good horses.”

John’s two children are very involved in the sport. Shane is race planning manager with Horse Racing Ireland and Ciara is an executive with the Curragh Racecourse.