Mr Patrick (Pat) Ryan

Mr Patrick (Pat) Ryan, Knocknabola, Kilmeena.  The death has taken place of Mr Patrick (Pat) Ryan, Knocknabola, Kilmeena, Westport, a retired member of the local farming community.

A member of a well-known and highly-regarded Kilmeena family, Pat was son of the late James and Kate Ryan. He was aged 85 years and was predeceased by his wife Peggy several years ago.

Apart from his farming skills, he was a stonemason of considerable repute, and his craftsman’s knowledge was always much in demand.

He worked all his adult life as a stonemason with Mayo County Council, and he always took great pride in his work; indeed his workmanship was much admired by the general public for its high quality. Pat’s only method of transport at the time was his sturdy bicycle, and he used it to travel near and far to his work locations.

His great recreational interest in life was music. A talented musician himself, he set up the Ryan Brothers’ Band with his brother John, and they played at dances all over West Mayo. The band enjoyed great popularity in rural dance halls, and Pat and John were later joined by Pat’s musician sons, John and Paddy. It’s a family musical tradition that lives on and continues to prosper.

Pat, however, lost interest in travelling to dance venues following the tragic death of his brother John in a motor accident in 1968. However, he never lost his love of music and continued to play locally with family members and friends.

The greatest sadness in his life occurred in 1985 when his beloved wife, Peggy, passed away. He bore his grief with quiet dignity and continued on with life to the best of his ability.

Pat took a great interest in many aspects of life. He loved to see progress – economic, agricultural, social and so on. He took a great interest in the achievements of his sons and his grandchildren, and his love and care for all of them was very richly reciprocated.

Following his retirement he liked nothing better than to socialize in Newport, as he himself would say ‘for a drink and a debate’ with his many friends, young and old.

He will be very sadly missed by his sons, John (Dublin and Kilmeena), Paddy, Michael and Vincent (all Kilmeena), and his daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, extended family, neighbours and many friends. He was predeceased by his brother, John, and sisters, Nora, Annie, Bea, Margaret and Kathleen. Pat’s popularity was reflected in the very large attendance at his removal from St Dominick’s Funeral Home, Newport, to St Brendan’s Church, Myna, Kilmeena, where Fr Jim Walsh, PP, officiated at the reception ceremony, assisted by Fr Denis Carney, Westport.

Fr Jim Walsh was the main celebrant of Pat’s Funeral Mass. Family members read the lessons and prayers of the faithful and brought the offertory gifts to the altar.

Music during the Mass was by Pat’s son, John; granddaughter, Aoife; and friends, TP Lynn and Frank McCaffrey. The readings were beautifully complemented by the singing of Kilmeena Church Choir.

In the Mass homily, Fr Walsh paid tribute to Pat for his role as husband, father and grandfather, a man who was highly respected by all sections of the community.

His great love of music had been passed on to his children and grandchildren, and that was something that would have made him very happy.

“He was a great community man, and, on behalf of everybody in the parish, I extend sincere sympathy to his sons, grandchildren and extended family,” he said.

Pat was given a musical farewell by his son, John, on the accordion, his granddaughter, Aoife, on fiddle and musicians TP Lynn and Frank McCaffrey, when he was laid to rest in Myna Cemetery, with Fr Jim Walsh officiating at the graveside ceremony.

May his caring soul have peaceful rest. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.