OBITUARY: Shock and sadness at passing of 66-year-old Tipperary woman

It was learned with shock and sadness in her native parish of Boherlahan and in her adopted parishes of Hollyford and Sologhead of the death of Margaret Devane-Ryan which occurred at the Galway Clinic on Friday, 23rd December 2022.

Her untimely passing at the age of sixty-six was a source of deep regret for her husband Michael and family, relations and many friends. 

She was daughter of the late Laurence and Mary Devane (nee Maher), Nodstown and was predeceased by her father in 1961 and by her mother in 2014.

She hailed from a family of two boys and two girls.

Due to the premature death of her father before the birth of her youngest brother Lar, Margaret, as eldest of the family was a great support for her mother Mary and siblings.

Growing up in that environment enabled her to acquire a sense of place, a steadfast faith and a good work ethic in caring and sharing for family and community. 

After attending her local National School, she went to the Presentation Convent, Cashel, where she completed her Leaving Cert.

She was the first pupil in that school to obtain honours Maths in her Leaving Cert as she availed of Maths tuition given by the late Brother Vaughan, Christian Brothers School, Cashel, during after school hours.

This was followed by a career working in the Bank of Ireland, where she served for a number of years in various branches. 

In 1986 on marrying Michael Ryan from Hollyford, she resided in his parish for some time and enjoyed her involvement in this rural community before eventually settling down in Sologhead in the former Parochial Residence.

Family was very important to Margaret.

She was the rock of the household and all enjoyed her culinary skills. She was also very artistic and enjoyed painting and loved to sew.

She was a great gardener and had her mothers green fingers in nurturing flowers and plants. As a lover of nature and animals, she enjoyed the outdoor life. In everything she did, Margaret was meticulous. 

When her family was reared, Margaret decided to do further studies and acquire a Degree in Maths in Limerick IT, where she later taught for ten years in the Maths Department. Here, she as fondly remembered for her commitment and dedication. 

She was always very close to her roots and with her sister Majella Moloney from nearby Doon, she made regular trips to her Nodstown home to visit her brother John and her mother during her advancing years.

Here she enjoyed the tracing and the banter in the Devane household, steeped in hurling tradition.

She had a great interest in local history and was a contributor to the Boherlahan Dualla Historical Journal. She was in attendance at the book launches in the Parish as well as other events and local funerals. Margaret was a people’s person and always had a camera on the ready to capture faces and places. 

At her home in Sologhead, both Margaret and Michael shared their passion for genealogy and in tracing through the internet made contact with many relatives and friends throughout the world.

She also loved to travel and last October, with Michael, visited France, Italy and Switzerland. In spite of terminal illness borne with serenity, she always remained positive and active before ill health set in before her final passing. 

On Monday, December 26th 2022, her remains were reposing at her home in Sologhead and on the following day were removed to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Boherlahan for her Funeral Mass, celebrated by Fr. Joe Egan PP and assisted by Fr. Dan Woods PP Kilcommon and Fr. John Morris PP Sologhead.

Cremation took place on the following day. 

She is survived by her husband Michael, sons Martin and Lorcan and daughter Aoife. Also, by her sister Majella Moloney, her brothers John and Lar Devane, daughter-in-law Aine, sisters-in-law Anne Marie and Peggy, brothers-in-law Gerald and Rick (USA), nephews Gerald, Darragh, Laurence and Craig, nieces Marion, Patricia, Elaine, Aine and Kathryn, aunt in law Catherine (Australia), her Limerick IT colleagues, relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended. 

Peace to her Soul.