Sue Doyle: A close friend who was a wonderful person and great to know

SUE Doyle and I were terrific friends, who spent every Christmas in each other’s company. We had known each other for around 35 years and I am godmother to her youngest daughter Bella. So I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the tragic accident that led to her death last Saturday.

She was a wonderful, colourful person who did a lot of things in her life despite only being 59. Bella and her sister Tamso, who is on maternity leave from her job in marketing at Horse Racing Ireland at the moment, have been amazing since it happened. The funeral on Thursday was emotional but it was really a celebration of their mother’s life, which is how she would have wanted it, because she was always upbeat. She was into everything; a great person to know.

I did a reading at the graveside and Bella read out a poem that she and Tamso had written last year for her birthday. It was called An Ode to Our Mad Mother. Sue loved it but that’s how it was. It drew plenty of laughs on Thursday too.