The death occurred on December 31st of Billy Ryan, Ballybeg,Littleton, the last surviving member of the famous hurling family. Billy who was approaching his 70th year was ill for some time but still his passing came as a great shock to his family and parishioners. The Ryan family of Ballybeg were one of Tipperary's greatest GA.A. families with their deeds on the hurling fields not alone appreciated in Moycarkey-Borris, Co. Tipperary but throughout Ireland. There were seven brothers Paddy, Timmy, Johnny, Mutt, Larry, Timmy and Billy who contributed so much to Gaeldom and their deeds are remembered even today whenever hurling is discussed. Billy, the youngest of the family, came on the scene in the 1950's, at a time when hurling in the parish was going through a transitional period. He usually played in the back line where his burly figure often thwarted the best forwards of that era. His early success came when he helped the club to win a Mid Tipperary No. 2 junior hurling championship and he immediately graduated to the senior team. In 1952 he was a member of the senior side to lose in the opening round to Thurles Sarsfields, a Moycarkey team that included Johnny Everard, Robert Manton and John Hassett from the Moyne-Templetuohy club. Playing with him that day were his brothers Johnny, Timmy, Larry and Mutt. Sarsfields ended their hopes again the following year when the annual pilgrimage to Gaile once more proved unfruitful for them. In 1954 Moycarkey-Borris caused somewhat of a sensation by withdrawing from the Mid Senior Championship but the decision proved a correct one in ways for the club who then went on to win the Mid Tipperary and Co. Tipperary No. 1 Hurling Championships. Billy contributed much to the successes operating at centre half back. He was there again the following year when back in senior ranks but even with Thurles Sarsfields agreeing to play Moycarkey-Borris in Littleton the townsmen went on to win after a good first fifteen minutes by the homesters holding the then strong team scoreless. In 1956 Moycarkey-Borris beating Boherlahan-Dualla in the first round of the Mid senior competition and hopes were hlgh that the team would win a first Mid senior final since 1945 but once more Thurles Sarsfields proved their undoing with a big win. In 1957 Billy, picked up a Mid league medal and with Moycarkey-Borris the only senior medal won by the club since 1943, a trend that was to continue until 1965. Billy Ryan returned to the senior side in 1958 after missing the first round and played his part in a heart-warming display which ran Sarsfields so close in the divisional decider in Templemore. This more or less ended Billy's senior career but he continued on to play football with Baile Daith and was on the losing side in two Mid junior finals. Like his brothers, Billy, too wore the Tipperary jersey representing the county at Munster junior Ievel in 1955 and played on Mid interdivisional teams. In later years he was to serve on club committees and was a selector on the parish minor hurling team, Co. Tipperary champions in 1983 and was part of the Tipperary minor hurling selection committee in 1984. Outside of hurling Billy Ryan was an active member of Muintir Na Tire and called the numbers at Friday night bingo sessions for years and was also involved with the Littleton Drama Group under the tutorage of Neddy Gair and was a member of the Sean Treacy Pipe Band in their early years and other local community organisations. Following Mass in St. Kevin's Church burial took place in the local cemetery. Celebrant at the Mass was Fr. Joe Tynan assisted by Fr. George Bourke, Fr. John O'Keeffe and Fr. Danny O'Gorman. The Moycarkey-Borris G.A.A. club paid their tributes with a guard of honour and the coffin was draped in the club colours. The Sean Treacy Band played appropriate music at the obsequies. Billy is survived by his wife Maura, daughters Mary and Ita, sons Pat and John Paul, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, relatives, neighbours and friends. Rest in Peace. Courtesy of the Tipperary Star 19 January 2008 Tweet

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