Ronan, Mike
May 21, 2011In life and death, he made a difference to the lives of countless people he touched through his consummate passion for forging friendships and helping all those whom he knew and loved. The abiding description of Mike from people of all ages was that he was like a father figure, constantly giving, always helping, forever passing on his knowledge, experience and lessons of a life well lived. He brightened many lives with his tremendous sense of humour.
Originally from Ballyhea in North Cork, he moved to Pallasgreen when he married his beloved wife Christine. He met Christine one Sunday night in the Royal George and four years later they wed. She was to be the bedrock of the man that Mike would become as they set out on their married life together.
Very quickly he was at the heart of his adopted Pallasgreen and contributed avidly to everything happening in the local community. He was a touchstone for all matters local was able to project his natural inspiration and leadership onto local affairs by injecting flair, humour and a social dynamic that would leave a lasting impression on his neighbours and friends in the region and beyond.
The untold popularity of the man who was so good to so many became plain to see for his family who were surprised by the overwhelming sympathy they received since his passing by those he had befriended in his life through his natural affinity and connection with people.
While he was taken away from Christine his daughters Tina and Michaela and extended family too early, they can take solace in how much he packed in to his rich and fruitful life.
Mike was the third youngest of six children John, Jimmy, Neilus, Breda and the late Kathleen.
Mike attended the CBS in Charleville and was an exceptional academic talent in school. Spotting his potential, the Christian Brothers offered to pay for his college tuition but Mike wanted to get out into the workplace, to start earning and give financial support to his family.
As a young man Mike was a talented hurler with Ballyhea. He played all over the pitch but gave up the game at an early age to concentrate on his burgeoning businesses. After leaving school, he worked with the Department of Post and Telegraphs. His brother John recalled that after Mike left the P&T, he got a phone call from his old boss in Charleville. The automatic exchange in the town had broken down but the best electronic engineers brought down from Dublin couldn't fix it. Mike had the problem diagnosed and resolved within the hour.
In 1973, Mike joined up with Dr Ed Walsh a man he greatly admired for his vision and foresight in bringing university education to Limerick- and was proud to be part of the team of forward thinking pioneers who founded the National Institute of Higher Education (now UL). He began working in the Electronics Department at the college where he enjoyed solving problems.
The experience of working at the emerging university left its impression as Mike often recalled how he had never known of the term entrepreneur until he heard Dr Walsh explain how Ireland needed to develop an enterprise culture and the role education would play in developing sustainable growth of indigenous Irish business. For the rest of his life Mike never failed to explain to people the impact that people like Dr Walsh would have in driving Ireland forward.
Beyond NIHE, Mike set up a thriving agricultural business. He was known to practically every farmer in Munster and further afield. In the eighties he expanded the business and bought Dick's, the main Massey Ferguson dealership in Chapel Street in Charleville, and also opened a business in Broad Street in Limerick City.
Mike had a world view perspective of business and through his natural curiosity and acumen he sought out and developed contracts abroad and started an importing business. Mike opened the market up for farmers by importing and distributing agricultural equipment at cheaper prices which made his a highly regarded and trusted player among his loyal customer base.
His business interests extended beyond Ireland when he opened up Ronan International in Cameroon and Sierra Leone and saw the burgeoning market and opportunity in China years ago. Indeed, he had plans to go to a global fair in Taiwan months before his death.
A proud Corkman Mike erected a red and white flag at his premises in Pallasgreen, which remains to this day which didn't go unnoticed by Cork Football manager Conor Counihan, when he visited Pallasgreen recently in search of a pre-fab for St Joseph's Foundation in Charleville. He was especially proud of the success of his nephews Neil, Darren, Ray and Ian on the hurling field.
In the 1996 All-Ireland hurling final between Limerick and Wexford Mike and his two daughters Tina and Michaela were part of the half-time musical entertainment in Croke Park for his adopted county. Mike donned the green and white that day, but did so by joking that he was the only Corkman to play for Limerick in an All-Ireland final.
Outside of work he was devoted to his wife and family and in, recent years, his granddaughters Michaela and Veronica. A violin, a harp and a Nintendo DS were among recent gifts for his granddaughter Michaela as Mike sought to pas on the value and his love of music and technology.
From helping to raise funds for the repair of St Josephs Secondary School in Doon- where Tina now teaches - to building props for local ICA shows, Mike was versatile in whatever he put his hand to. He was extremely comfortable on stage and because of his participation in local musical shows. Mike and his great friend Brian O'Neill started the Pallasgreen Variety Group in 1989.
An excellent public speaker the reached the highest grade with Toastmasters International as a competent communicator at the Raheen Club. He had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing Irish ballads, country and western and classical with the Sliabh Felim Singers.
A musical man, his daughters and granddaughters were encouraged to play music from a young age and he fostered in them a love of travel, different cultures, meeting people and languages. It is no coincidence that Tina teaches music and modern languages and Michael works in human resources with Kerry Group.
Mike proudly wore his Fainne demonstrating his love of the Irish language along with his pioneer pin.
He also had a strong belief in fairness and equality and never shirked from expressing his strong opinions on how politics and economics should be exercised to advance Irish society and the prosperity of the county.
Despite his illness, three months ago he was elected chairman of the committee established to drive the restoration of Nicker Church. Mike was diagnosed with cancer in January 2005. While initially devastating for him, the measure of the man was evidenced in the tremendous dignity and immense courage with which he bore his illness. He learned everything he could about his condition and became an expert on his treatment, medication and alternative therapies like stem cell research. The impressive knowledge he had acquired about his condition led to him being invited by consultant to address conferences on living with cancer.
Right until the end he received phone calls from people he met in the hospital and gave them counselling despite his own battle with cancer. His positive attitude and sense of humour never deserted him. When he was asked if he was frightened of death he said: "There won't be too much of a hold-up at the customs."That was Mike.
A deeply religious man, Mike had a deep faith and a love of Our Lady. Gone to his eternal reward to join his father Con, mother Lil, sister Kathleen, who he loved deeply.
Michael Ronan: born March 20 1947, died April 7 2011.
Donal O'Regan
Courtesy of the Limerick Leader
May 21st 2011 Tweet
