Coyle, Anthony (1728–1801), catholic bishop of Raphoe, poet, and antiquarian, was born in Listack, near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, son of a farmer. Educated at the Irish college in Paris, he was expelled in his fourth year for various mischiefs, including writing a pamphlet accusing the college of not feeding the students properly. Some accounts say that he later returned as a professor to the college. Coyle completed his education at Nantes, where he took his doctorate of divinity, and then Rome. Returning to Ireland, he became parish priest at Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, where he established and taught in a classical academy. He became vicar-general of the diocese of Raphoe in 1773. Coyle was always a controversial figure: his opponents claimed that he was uneducated, dissolute, and devious. In 1774 it was even alleged that he had forcibly held the bishop of Raphoe, Philip O'Reilly, at his house to prevent an investigation into abuses.
In a report to Rome at this time Coyle estimated that there were 40,000 Roman Catholics in the Raphoe diocese. He was appointed coadjutor to O'Reilly, with right of succession to the diocese, and consecrated 14 September 1777. After Hugh O'Donnell, parish priest of Killibegs, accused Coyle of simony, forgery, and having struck another priest, Coyle excommunicated him 17 November 1777. At least eighteen of the Raphoe clergy opposed Coyle, although many also spoke in his defence. An investigation took place in 1778 but he was cleared. He succeeded O'Reilly as bishop of Raphoe in 1782.
Far from uneducated, Coyle was a skilled theologian. Two of his works were widely read: a tract on purgatory, and an analysis of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He published many works, including Collectanea sacra or Pious miscellany in prose and verse (Strabane, 1788–9) and a Poem on the passion of our Saviour (1799). Some of the best-known poems recited by ‘Zozimus’ (Michael Moran (qv)) were written by Coyle, including St Mary and Zozimus. Coyle had a great interest in Irish antiquities and the Irish language, and was something of an expert.
Politically conservative, in 1800 he gave enthusiastic support to the act of union. He had a severe autocratic and authoritarian streak, and his name was tarnished by the numerous allegations and damaging reports that were frequently sent to Rome. The Franciscans, for example, were highly critical and alleged that Coyle was attempting to bring about the extinction of their friary in Donegal. Nevertheless, he was an energetic bishop and engaged in many improvements in Raphoe. He worked tirelessly to check alcohol abuse among elderly priests and deprived two of their parishes after they refused to stop drinking. As his health deteriorated in the 1790s he sought a coadjutor, and on 19 January 1796 James Dillon, vicar general of Armagh, was appointed. Coyle died 22 January 1801 and was buried in Templedouglas, Co. Donegal.