James L. "Séamus" Ryan (1937[1] – 11 February 2023) was an Irish priest. He was a renowned lecturer and gifted hurler who played at senior level for the Limerick county team, winning the Munster Senior Hurling Championship title in 1955, alongside his older brother Liam (who also became a priest and lecturer in sociology in Maynooth) who captained the side. Their father Willie Ryan had also played inter-county hurling.
From Cappamore, Co. Limerick, he went to St Patrick's College, Maynooth to study for the priesthood. At Maynooth he earned a doctorate and was ordained a priest in 1961. Fr. Seamus with the benefit of a German Government scholarship to the University of Munster in Westphalia, Germany, studied under young Professor Ratzinger later Pope Benedict.[2]
Returning to Ireland in 1964, Ryan lectured in theology in St. Patrick's College, Thurles up until 1990 when he was appointed parish priest to St Matthews Parish, Ballyfermot Upper in Dublin. He retired as parish priest of St Matthew's in 2016, returning to his native Cappamore.[3]
Ryan died on 11 February 2023.[4]
Honours
- St. Flannan's College
- Dr. Harty Cup: 1952, 1954
- Cappamore
- Limerick
References
- ^ "James L Ryan in 1937". Find My Past website. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Limerick priest taught by Pos is not surprised by decision by Donal O'Reagan, Limerick Leader, 2 May 2013.
- ^ Parish priest retires amid many tributes by Maurice Garvey, www.echo.ie, 2 May 2016.
- ^ "'We've lost a saint': Parish mourns death of priest and Limerick hurler". Limerick GAA website. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
This page was last edited on 24 June 2023, at 21:25