John Doyle (12 February 1930 – 29 December 2010)
John, a native of Glenbane Lower, Holycross was known as one of Tipperary’s greatest hurlers, a legend of the game. He played as a left corner-back for Tipperary Senior team between 1948-1967 with 54 appearances for the county team. His club hurling career with Holycross/Ballycahill spanned the years 1947-1968 winning 3 county titles with them. Other titles during his Tipperary career were; 10 Munster titles, 8 All-Ireland titles, 10 National Hurling league titles and 6 Railway cup titles.
John is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. He won Cú Cualinn awards as well as being named Texaco hurler of the year in 1964. He is repeatedly voted on teams of sports greats, including at left corner-back on the hurling team of the millennium in 2000, and the hurling team of the century in 1984.
He was a member of the Tipperary full back line dubbed in G.A.A. folklore as ‘Hell’s kitchen’. John with P.J. O’Meara was the instigator of the original idea to hold a Gymkhana to raise funds for the Holycross Abbey restoration in 1970 and was one of the show committee for many years.
