GAA, culture, and music figure with great administrative skills

OBITUARY: Liam Ryan, Kiltale

Liam Ryan, who was prominent in sports, music, and cultural circles, and in later years, when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, became an advocate for those with disabilities, died on 10th June.

The Tipperary native who married Eileen Callaghan of Kiltale set up home at Kilcarty Lodge, Dunsany, and was father to a family of six. Liam operated a successful sweet and confectionary supply business to retail outlets prior to his illness.

Organisations he was involved with, from Kiltale Hurling Club to Scurlogstown Olympiad and Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann, have been paying tribute.

Kiltale Hurling and Camogie Club said that Liam immediately got involved with the hurling club as a player after his marriage to Eileen in the 1970s, and also served as secretary for many years.

“Liam worked as a sales rep for various confectionary suppliers and all the Kiltale young hurlers used to love to travel in his car to underage away matches as there were many boxes of treats to be had before and after the games!” the club wrote. “If he didn’t happen to have any sweets in the car, Liam was guaranteed to stop in a shop on the way home and treat the lads. As he travelled the country he was able to source great hurls in Wexford and Tipperary, much appreciated by the club at the time.

“Many great club trips were organised down to his native Toomevara – a bus load would travel down and the team would play a match and a great social evening would be had by all afterwards.

“Liam was also a major fundraiser for the club, organising many great ventures such as the talent contests in Warrenstown Arms. When it came to the senior final in 1982, Liam was the man organising the flags and hats. Indeed he was on the Kiltale winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and a was very proud to witness the recent success of our teams over the last 15 years. A great Gael, he be remembered forever by everyone in the club and parish of Kiltale.”

A born administrator and organiser, many other organisations benefited from Liam's involvement, from Comhaltas to the Olympiad group, and he acted as master of ceremonies at events such as the Celtic Queen competition. Liam was the public relations officer of Scurlogstown Olympiad for many years. Under his stewardship, they travelled to Listowel for the All Ireland wrenboy competition in the early 1990s. The many celebrations of street pageantry were another showcase for his personable talent, whether it was Bainis na Bliana, the hiring of the spailpíns or the notorious evictions of Rathcore.

He was secretary of Trim Comhaltas, and along with chairperson, the late Joan Farrelly, treasurer, Noel Castles, and Maire O Raghallaigh, organised the Leinster Fleadh Cheoil hosted in Trim in 1997. Féile na Ríona in Summerhill was another event he was involved with, and in 2003 both the Trim and Summerhill CCE organisations came together to honour him at a function in the Station House Hotel in Kilmessan.

Liam played accordion, and was known for playing slides in the Tipperary tradition, moreso than jigs and reels. He was a great proponent of young musical talent, always providing encouragement at sessions in the Warrenstown Arms venue in its heyday.

It is apt that he lived to witness the recent opening of a new theatre in Trim, as he was a key mover in the Dúchas Folk Theatre that ran in Castle Street in the late 1990s, afterwards becoming involved in the Cluain an Dúchais group which funded and promoted the vision of a new theatre in the town.

He ran for Fianna Fáil in the Trim electoral area in the 1999 council elections, and later, following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, as he became less mobile and more aware of the issues surrounding disabilities, he became very vocal on these issues.

Liam worked for some years with the Meath County Council Centenary Programme, established by the late county manager, Joe Horan, which saw 25 people with various disabilities employed by the council at the Enterprise Centre in Navan.

The nurses and staff of St Joseph's Community Nursing Unit in Trim provided wonderful care and attention to Liam and made it home from home for him for the past six and a half years, and he also stayed for periods in Knightsbridge. Despite his curtailment, he continued to enjoy life and remain involved in as much as he could in recent years, delighting in his family and many grandchildren.

Formerly of Kilkeary Cross, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Liam died peacefully at St Joseph's CNU on Saturday morning, aged 75. Predeceased by his daughter, Louise; parents, Rody and Mary; and brother; Tony, Liam is survived by his wife, Eileen; family, Avril, Ronan, Deirdre, Grainne and Steven; 15 grandchildren; in-laws and partners; brothers, sisters, extended family, neighbours and many friends. Graveside eulogies were delivered in Kiltale by Paddy Kelly of Kiltale GAA, Pat Farrelly of Scurlogstown Olympiad, and Sean O'Leary of Comhaltas, following a funeral Mass celebrated by Fr Janusz Ługowski, CC, Moynalvey, and Fr David Brennan, PP, Kentstown. CCE members from across the county performed.