Joe Coyle at his offices in Gaoth Dobhair. Photography by Paul Doherty.
A Donegal man is behind a unique logo which is receiving rave reviews as part of the 1916 commemorations.
Joe Coyle from Cill Ulta, Gort a’ Choirce, left his home county and went to Dublin in 1993 to study journalism. Having completed his education in 1998 he was hired by Matt Cooper, who was then the editor of the Sunday Tribune.
His design talent and his love of journalism led him to spending 13 years working with the Sunday Tribune, designing their news, features, sports and business sections from their Dublin offices.
After the Sunday Tribune folded in February 2011, Joe was recruited by the Irish Independent the following month, where he worked on the paper’s premium magazines and supplements.
Last April, Joe moved home to be with his wife Maria and their three children, whom had made the move two years earlier, as he describes it himself, the best decision of their lives was to move back to An Ghlaisigh in Gaoth Dobhair.
Joe commented: “It was a family lifestyle choice. ‘We always wanted to move back home, but the time just never seemed right. We wanted to raise our children at home, with the Irish language, and alongside friends and family that we’ve known all our lives. Both of our extended families are close by, and we now have a lifestyle that is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin city. The kids just love it here.”
Joe’s stunning 1916 logo.
“When I saw an advert offering enterprise and office space for lease to start-up businesses in Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair, I knew that this could be my opportunity. An office with a computer, a phone and internet access was all I needed. I could work remotely and still provide a freelance service to the Irish Independent and to other publishing houses. I contacted Údarás na Gaeltachta, who were so helpful, and before I knew it I had signed the lease,” says Joe.
“Since then I have been very busy with my work. I have been working on the 1916 Easter Rising supplements and I was commissioned to design the 1916 Easter Rising Logo. It incorporates the names of the 485 people who lost their lives during the Rising. The names on the list are from both sides of the conflict and are printed in alphabetical order. The names of the signatories of the Proclamation are prominent in the logo. To me there was something very powerful about a simple list of names. It’s a graphical way of telling the story and I felt this was an appropriate way to do it. Ryan Tubridy recently described my work as some of the best publishing design works he has seen in recent times! That to me was an honour. I have also been fortunate to win a contract with the Guinness Storehouse to showcase their 15th anniversary celebrations,” says Joe.
“Working in a rural part of Donegal has not hindered my capabilities of getting high profile clients and it has allowed me and my family to live a lifestyle that we had dreamt of for many years. I do travel when necessary to Dublin to meet with the clients, but most of the work is conducted over the internet and phone. I would say to anyone thinking of relocating or starting up a business locally to get in touch with Údarás na Gaeltachta and join us in the Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair,” concludes Joe.
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