The late Dan Ryan Kilkenny hurling lost one of its most devoted supporters with the sudden death of Dan Ryan, Morell Park, Naas, on December 6, 2005. Dan was first and foremost a family man - devoted to his wife Eileen and his children Megan (12) and Shane (7). He had a great pride in his family, in the hurling achievements of his uncles and cousins, in his native club and county. He followed Kilkenny hurlers everywhere and when Megan and Shane were old enough to walk, he had them in tow at every venue, in all seasons. Dan, a native of Clifden, Clara and second son to Maurice and Margot Ryan, was educated in the Lake Infants School, Clara NS, St Kieran's College and Carlow Regional College. He joined the public service in 1978 and worked in various government departments including finance and health an children where he was employed at the time of his untimely death. Given his family background, it was inevitable that Dan would be involved in sport and indeed he was, passionately so, all his life. He played hurling for Clara at all levels from under-12 to senior, for St Kieran's Juveniles, Civil Service and Round Towers in Dublin, representing Dublin at Intermediate level. He was the driving force behind Melbourne Hurling Club during a sojourn in Australia in the 1980s. When Dan and Eileen moved to Naas in 1995, he joined Naas GAA club and was heavily involved with their senior and intermediate hurling teams right up to the time of his death. He also found time to represent Kildare Masters - marking the legendary Pat Fox last year - and was a dedicated juvenile coach and administrator with his adopted club. The huge attendance at his burial in St Corban's Cemetery, Naas reflected in their numbers and club colours the many associations he formed during his short but extraordinary active life and the great affection in which he was held by all who knew him. He followed all sports and had a formidable knowledge of all matters sporting. He organised Golf Classics - most notably the Department of Finance Sunny Society and his beloved Ryan Family Classic in which he nurtured contact with all his relations- especially the new generation. However, it was for his great sincerity and loyalty that Dan will be best remembered. All who knew him recalled his gentlemanly personality, his courtesy and thoughtfulness. He was the most genuine of men, a rock of dependability. As his uncle Fr Harry Ryan said in his eulogy, "...he was always going to help somebody else with something." Dan Ryan will be sadly missed by many, many people, but most of all by Eileen, Megan and Shane, by his parents Maurice and Margot, by Liam, Colman, Maurice and Margot, his brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, his nieces and nephews, his father-in-law Owen Callan and all the Callan family, his aunts and uncles, his host of cousins, his club colleagues in Naas, his workmates and his countless friends. He now joins his youngest brother, Cormac, who died in 1976. Solas na bhflaitheas ort, Dan. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 3 March 2006 Tweet

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