Craig Doyle has opened up on his late dad’s battle with dementia
As part of his new walking show, Craig revealed how his dad passed away and revealed some fun family secrets
Irishman Craig Doyle has opened up about his dad's sad passing from dementia
Craig with his dad Sean before he passed away
ITV presenter Craig Doyle strips down for his new show
Craig remembers all of his Bray promenade memories including school trips, dates with his wife and time with his dad
Craig Doyle opened up to millions of TV viewers this morning about his father’s death from dementia.
Dubliner Doyle revealed on ITV’s This Morning a touching photograph of himself and his father Sean, taken before his dad passed away from the disease.
Craig used to regularly visit Sean in an Irish nursing home, but he sadly succumbed to his illness shortly before Covid broke out.
Craig with his dad Sean before he passed away
The TV presenter was inspired to reveal the photo for the the first time as he kicked off a series of walking trips around Britain and Ireland, one of which focusses on his favourite walk from Bray to Greystones.
Craig (52) grew up in Kilmacud in South County Dublin, but now lives with his wife and young family in Co Wicklow.
“Ireland is well known for its luscious landscape and glorious coastline and although I have travelled all over the world for work, there is nothing like being back home in Co Wicklow,” he beamed.
As he looked over the sea in Bray, he raved how it “has something for everyone”, from people walking their dogs and others having chit chats and admiring the views.
Craig remembers all of his Bray promenade memories including school trips, dates with his wife and time with his dad
He added that the walk up to Greystones is particularly dramatic, with its clifftop pathway.
“But this bit is a particularly special place to me,” he said, as he pointed to the Bray promenade.
“Because when my dad was diagnosed with dementia, he was in a nursing home here and I was able to wheel him up and down this promenade and he could chat to people, and we got coffee and ice cream and it was really lovely happy memories of those days.”
ITV presenter Craig Doyle strips down for his new show
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For the new show Craig took the breath taking 7km Bray Head to Greystones cliff walk, which he raved as a “beautiful piece of Ireland, a beautiful piece of Wicklow”, and recalled going there as a kid on excursions, taking his wife on romantic dates and also bringing his own children there.
After his walk, he met up with the management of the Rise of the Cove coffee shop in Greystones, which is a social enterprise café linked with the local Tiglinn rehabilitation centre.
And Craig then stripped off to his speedos, showing that he still has a fit body despite later joking with fellow presenter Rochelle Humes that he has “a little bit of insulation”.
