User:TheKingOfPark/sandbox

= Frank Doyle (Machinist) =

Francis Christopher (Frank) Doyle was born on new years day in 1937 to parents Hanna Doyle(nee Ben) and Gerard Doyle. Frank was one of thirteen children and was fortunate to be born into a loving family with very hard working parents who always provided for their children regardless of the dank economic situation in Ireland at the time (circa 1930's and 1940's).

Formative Years
During the period 1942 to 1950 Frank was enrolled in St. Patrick’s boys school on the Dublin road, Limerick. During his time at school Frank excelled in the subjects being taught which included Poetry and Grammar in both the English and Irish languages, History, Geography and Mathematics. After primary school Frank attended the Christian Brother's School (C.B.S.) on Sexton street, Limerick, where he gained his intermediate certificate in 1953. This was quite an achievement given the massive rates of emigration from Ireland in the 1950's. Once Frank had completed his intermediate certificate he was encouraged by his parents to learn a trade and start earning money. In 1953 Frank enrolled in the Technical Institute on O’Connell Avenue in Limerick city where he learned the fundamentals of mechanical engineering.

Parents
Frank's father Gerard, owned and operated a grey-hound training (dog track) facility that was located where the current day Richmond's Rugby Football Club is situated adjacent to the Canal Bank in Limerick city. Frank often worked for his father as an operator of the dog releasing mechanism. Gerard also kept a number of animals including dogs, chickens, horses, goats and homing pigeons. Gerard was often seen transporting goods using his horse and cart and regularly allowed his children including Frank to drive/control the horse and cart. Through this experience Frank developed great horsemanship skills and a respect for working animals. A draft horse Gerard had for many years, called "Captain" was remembered regularly and fondly by Frank in his later years.

Frank's mother Hanna prior to marrying Gerard worked as a confectioner in Cleeve's sweet factory in Limerick city. When women got married in Ireland prior to the 1960's they where required to give up their employment in order to give their full focus to child-rearing. Hanna and Gerard lived with their family on the "Well road" now called St. Patrick's road for a few years before moving to their new residence on the Park road, Limerick. Being surrounded by his numerous brothers and sisters and plenty of friends Frank developed a great sense of humor and kind and caring attributes to his personality.

Life and Times
After gaining his trade certificate Frank like the thousands of other Irish men emigrated to England to find work. He stayed with his older sister and her husband in a house in Kilburn in north-west London. Towards the end of the 1950's in Ireland the then government started to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland through generous corporate tax saving incentives. In 1959 the Irish government established the world's first Free Trade Zone. In 1960 SPS International established its manufacturing facility in the Shannon Free Zone. The hundreds of companies in the new Shannon Free trade zone generated more than 6000 jobs In 1963 Frank started work as a trainee fitter in SPS where he maintained Davenport machines. In 1985 when SPS established the Hi Life Tools sub-division Frank's work diversified somewhat as he was given charge of maintaining the production machinery in and around the Continuous Special Heat Treat Equipment (Furnace)

Frank's Favorite Quotes
~Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard~ Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear: Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. ~The Time of the Barmecides~ MY eyes are filmed, my beard is gray, I am bowed with the weight of years: I would I were stretched in my bed of clay, With my long-lost youth’s compeers! For back to the Past, though the thought brings woe, My memory ever glides,— To the old, old time, long, long ago— The Time of the Barmecides! To the old, old time, long, long ago— The Time of the Barmecides.