Strong local links to athlete in Olympics action this evening
Athletics star Cathal Doyle - who is currently representing Ireland in the Olympic Games in Paris - has strong Westmeath links. A member of Clonliffe Harriers AC, Cathal grew up in Swords, Co. Dublin and is a son of Michael Doyle from Moate.
Michael played Gaelic football for both Moate All Whites and Castledaly, as did his brothers Eugene and John. Cathal's grandfather Paddy hails from Castledaly and, along with his late wife Kathleen, they raised their family of five sons (John, Eugene, Michael, Padraig and Damien) and one daughter (Doreen) at Dublin Road, Moate. Cathal has many cousins in the Castledaly and Moate areas, including Alan ('Dab'), David, Colin and Darren Doyle.
Castledaly GAA club extended best wishes Cathal in the Olympics, describing him as being "part of the great Doyle family sporting dynasty".
Doyle finished ninth in his 1500 metres heat yesterday (Friday) - a heat which included reigning world champion Josh Kerr from Scotland, representing Great Britain. Cathal's time was 3.37.82 but his 1500m PB is 3.34.09, which he recorded in June of this year.
In a heat stacked with top quality athletes, Doyle showed admirable battling qualities and finished strongly to take ninth place of the 15 competitors in the race.
This means he will take part in the repechage heats at the Stade de France this evening (Saturday), along with Irish colleagues Luke McCann and Andrew Coscoran.
All three will be looking to seal one of three spots on offer in each repechage race, having been unable to progress to the semi-finals at the first opportunity. Doyle and McCann have been drawn in the first heat together which is due to take place at 6.15pm, with Coscoran racing in the second (due to start at 6.26pm).
Cathal has represented Ireland in cross country and mountain running as well as in track and has had a great 2024 season, taking over two seconds off his personal best and moving to sixth on the Irish 1500m all-time list.
The reigning three-time Irish 1500m champion, Doyle has twice been a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) semi-finalist for the University of Portland where he did a Masters in business after obtaining a degree in education at DCU. Coached by Jon Bigg, Cathal (26) is based in Bettystown, Co. Meath.
Team Ireland's squad for the Paris Olympics sees 30 of the 32 counties represented, when home counties of ancestors for competitors born outside Ireland are included. Westmeath and Leitrim are the exceptions but the presence of Cathal Doyle means the Lake County has a close link to at least one athlete.