Well-known as a man who would never miss a day's racing, Paddy Ryan was out viewing the latest development at the Galway racecourse in Ballybrit only days before his death this week at the age of 84.
Proprietor of the long-established Anthony Ryan General Drapers at Shop Street and the Ardilaun House Hotel in Taylor's Hill, former mayor of Galway Patrick (Paddy) Ryan passed away at his home in the early hours of Tuesday.
Ryan will long be remembered for the huge contribution he made to the business, tourism and social life of Galway over the past 50 years. Although he did not enjoy the best of health in his latter years, he loved to relate how he had been informed by doctors more than 26 years ago that he might not last a fortnight before chuckling aloud and making his way on.
This ever-present good humour he brought to both his public and personal lives along with his courage, generosity, kindness and modesty. He will be remembered by those who knew him as a man who was always seeking to do things to make life better, not just for himself and his family, but for the good of Galway in general.
Born on March 10th, 1920, in the family home above the drapery shop that his father, Anthony, had established at 18 Shop Street in 1909, Ryan spent some time working in Dublin before returning to join the family business.
He was about nine when the Ryan family moved to the beautiful Forster House in Forster Street where he had lived ever since.
He married a Meath woman, Breda Ryan (née Fitzsimons), on April 29th, 1953, at St Michael's Church in Dún Laoghaire. She first captured his attention as she cycled up Shop Street in a yellow dress while he was dressing the shop window.
The Buttermilk Lane area of the city had become very dilapidated, and Paddy Ryan began to buy up the houses there as they became vacant, gradually extending the business over the years.
Ever since, the shop had gone from strength to strength, holding on to its older loyal customers while attracting new ones along the way, and Ryan's now extends right back to Middle Street.
His maxim was always good quality and value for money, and he prided himself on never selling any shoddy goods.
In 1960 he was elected as an alderman for the east ward, serving two seven-year terms. He was elected mayor of the city in 1962 and during his term he had the honour of welcoming President John F. Kennedy to Galway and bestowing on him the freedom of the city.
His term as mayor was extended for two weeks to include the presidential visit, and on the dull and overcast day of June 29th, 1963, he met the president's helicopter at the sportsground on College Road and accompanied him in the open-top limousine cavalcade through the town along with the Taoiseach of the day, Seán Lemass.
As Ryan lived in Forster Street, he asked the president to wave to his mother who was standing at the gate of the house, but defying the tight security measures that had been put in place for his visit, Kennedy stopped the car, got out and greeted Ryan's five children and neighbours, to their utter delight.
In 1961 the Ryans bought Glenard House and five acres of surrounding land at Taylor's Hill and on St Patrick's Day, 1962, they opened the doors to the Ardilaun House Hotel. While the hotel has undergone many changes, extensions and revamps over the years, the Ryans have always tried to maintain as much as possible the original features of the lovely old house.
As well as being involved in the development of the Galway Oyster Festival and bringing ocean-going liners into Galway docks, Paddy Ryan had a long involvement with the Galway Races.
He was a member of the Galway Race Committee in 1958 and chairman from 1985 until 1991. He retired from the committee in 1999 and was succeeded by his son, Anthony. Paddy Ryan oversaw huge development at the Ballybrit racetrack in his time including the growth of the event from a two-day to a seven-day meeting and the construction of the new amenity building.
He was at the racetrack last week to view the most recent development there, the new weigh room.
He was president of Galway Chamber of Commerce from 1957 to 1959 and was made an honorary life member in 1991. He was captain of Galway Golf Club from 1955 to 1956 and president from 1965 to 1968. In 1994 an honorary doctorate of law was conferred on him by NUI Galway.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Breda, their children, Margaret, Deirdre, Anthony, Patrick, Elizabeth and John, his 10 grandchildren, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many friends.
Paddy Ryan: born March 10th, 1920; died April 13th, 2004