James Vincent Coyle

James Vincent Coyle was a senior Civil Servant who served as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture in Northern Ireland between 1921 – 1930.

Early Life Coyle was born at 7 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin on 15 December1864, the eldest son of Charles Coyle (Secretary of the Catholic Cemeteries Committee) and Anna Maria Duggan. He was the older brother of Joseph Alfred Bernard Coyle, who founded Coyle & Co. insurance brokers in 1903 (later Coyle Hamilton - now part of the Willis group).

Education Coyle – like his two brothers - was educated by the Jesuits at Belvedere College, Dublin, before studying law at Trinity College, Dublin. In the University Calendar for 1889, he was listed as having passed general examinations in 1888 in Civil Law, Feudal and English Law, and International Law; and in the University Calendar for 1897, he was listed as having passed examinations in 1896 in Civil Law, and Constitutional and Criminal Law, and was listed as one of the prizemen in Civil Law in those exams.

Coyle was called to the Irish Bar (King’s Inns, Dublin) in 1896.

Civil Service

Collector-General’s Office In 1884, Coyle entered the Collector-General of Rates Office, Dublin, as a Junior Clerk, having come first in the examination for Junior Clerks held on 25 August 1884. He was First Class Clerk therein between 1892 – 1900. The Collector General’s Office was closed on 30 December 1899, having been abolished under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.

Department of Agriculture On 5 October 1900, Coyle was appointed to the staff of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, where he continued to serve until 1921. During that period, he held the following senior positions:

1914-1921:

Principal Staff Officer and Deputy Chief Clerk, Department of Agriculture and Technical Institute.

1919-1921:

Chairman Agricultural Wages Board, Ireland.

Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Ireland Between 1921 and 1930, Coyle served as Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Ireland.

In 1926, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Other appointments Coyle was one of the founding members of the Belvedere Union in 1906 and served as President, 1931 -1932.

He also served as Chairman of the Committee of Management, Peabody Sanatorium, County Dublin, 1934 - 1943.

Family In 1889, Coyle marred Grettie Mary O'Sullivan, daughter of J. O’Sullivan of Drumcondra, Dublin and had 7 sons:

Charles Coyle (1891-1973)

Insurance broker.

Gerald Coyle (1893-1894)

Dr. Cecil Coyle (1894-1993)

Medical Superintendent, The Whittington Hospital, London (after whom the Coyle ward is named).

President of the Hunterian Society.

Fr. Rupert Coyle SJ (1896-1978)

Prefect of Studies, Belvedere College, Dublin.

Vincent Coyle (1900-1943)

Industrial Chemist.

Eoin Coyle (1905-1987)

Insurance broker.

Fr. Desmond Coyle SJ (1912- 1962)

Professor of Dogmatic Philosophy, Milltown Park, Dublin.

Coyle died on 5 July 1948 and was buried in the Coyle family plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

Coyle’s descendants include:

Dr. Nuala Mary Brigid Mitzi Macey-Dare

Dr. Nessa Coyle

Thomas Charles Macey-Dare KC

Societies

Royal Dublin Society Royal Zoological Society of Ireland Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, Belfast

Arms

By Letters Patent dated 15 September 1935, Sir Nevile Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms (acting through his Deputy, Thomas Sadleir) confirmed arms on Coyle and on the other descendants of his father Charles Coyle.

Escutcheon:

Or six barrulets azure

Crest:

A hind’s head erased proper

Motto:

Exspecta Dominum Viriliter Age (wait for your master act like a man)