Canon Michael Kennedy Ryan (4 October 1867 – 3 April 1925) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

priest, teacher and supporter of the

Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional ...

Biography

Michael Kennedy Ryan was born at Knockfune, Newport, County Tipperary, on 4 October 1867. (Other sources give an alternative birthdate of 29 September 1868.) He was educated locally at Toor National School before going to Mount Mellery. He went to study for the priesthood in

St. Patrick's College, Thurles Mary Immaculate College, (MIC) Thurles is a third level college of education in Thurles, County Tipperary. Formerly a seminary, the college specialises in humanities courses in accounting, business studies, Irish and religious studies. History M ...

, and from there he proceeded to

Maynooth College St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

where he was ordained in 1893.Remembering Canon Michael Kennedy Ryan
Nenagh Guardian, 13 February 2010 He served as Chairman of the Tipperary County Board of the GAA. He taught at the seminary of

for four years. The New Stand, ''Ardán Ui Riain'' in

Semple Stadium The Semple Stadium is the home of hurling and Gaelic football for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. Located in Thurles, County Tipperary, it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland (after Croke Park), with a capacity of 45,690. ...

is named after Canon Ryan.Canon M K Ryan
Tipperary GAA website. The ''Canon Ryan Memorial Hall'' in

Lattin, South Tipperary Lattin () is a village and civil parish in south County Tipperary in Ireland. It is within the historical barony of Clanwilliam, and is also one half of the 'Lattin and Cullen' parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Latti ...

where he served as parish priest is also named after him. His family were heavily involved in Gaelic sports and Irish nationalism, and two of his brothers were significant figures in the GAA. His nephew Paddy Ryan (Lacken) played a significant role in the war of independence in Tipperary (Newport GAA's ''Lacken Park'' is named after him) and was elected TD for Tipperary in 1923. Another nephew

Martin Ryan Martin Ryan may refer to: * Martin Ryan (politician) (1900–1943), Irish politician * Martin Ryan (rugby league) (1923–2003), English rugby league * Martin Francis Ryan (1874–1935), American labor union leader See also * Ryan Martin (disa ...

was a Fianna Fáil politician who represented Tipperary North in the Dáil.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Michael Kennedy 1868 births 1925 deaths People from County Tipperary Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth Alumni of St. Patrick's College, Thurles 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests 19th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests