Munster Express Online

Tim Ryan, who passed away suddenly on October 14th at the age of 66, was a quiet, popular man and avid supporter of the Déise Hurlers.

Tim, who lived at Scartlea, Kilsheelan, passed away at South Tipperary General Hospital and is deeply mourned and sadly missed by his loving family, many friends and neighbours.

Only a year and a half had passed since his retirement from Glanbia’s agri-business branch in Fethard. He was born on May 11th, 1945, the third eldest of seven children of the late Annie and Nicholas Ryan of Scartlea.

On leaving school aged 14, Tim worked for a period at the Power Farm at Horse Pasture, Powerstown, Clonmel before securing a job at Ballypatrick Creamery.

During his 43-year career as a storeman with Avonmore and later Glanbia, he worked at the company’s creamery/agri-business branches at Suir Island, Clonmel, Springmount and Derrygrath.

The last eight years of his career were spent in the Glanbia Branch in Fethard, from where he retired in May 2010.

Tim was an avid GAA fan and loved nothing more than following the fortunes of the Waterford hurling team and St Mollerans of Carrick Beg and enjoyed going to hurling and football matches.

Just days before his untimely passing, Tim enjoyed watching the Carrick Davins and Mullinahone play in the South Tipperary Hurling Final and on the same day attended the Waterford Football Championship semi-final between The Nire and Stradbally.

Tim was a regular at Waterford’s Championship matches every year and loyally supported his county team through the good times and bad. He always travelled to the big matches on the bus from Wall’s Pub in Carrick Beg.

On his retirement last year, Tim’s colleagues at Glanbia presented him with a gift of a Waterford team jersey, and at his funeral it was placed at this coffin alongside a Hurley signed by Waterford hurling stars Dan and Maurice Shanahan.

Tim was a quiet, kind, easy going and very popular man whose sudden passing has shocked and saddened all who were lucky enough to have known him.

The huge crowd of mourners that gathered to pay their last respects to him at his funeral was a testament to the high esteem in which he was held.

Tim’s remains were removed from Walsh’s Funeral Home in Carrick to St Mollerans Parish Church in Carrick Beg.

Requiem Mass was celebrated the following morning by Father Peter Ahearne, PP of Powerstown, Clonmel.

Readings at the ceremony were recited by James Ryan and Tim’s niece Ann-Marie Mifsud and prayers of the faithful were read by his nephew Dermot Ryan, nieces Martina Ryan and Clare Ryan and by Michelle Doyle.

Mala Raggett sang the poignant ‘Parting Glass’ at Communion, and in tribute to Tim’s great love of Waterford GAA, ‘Dungarvan My Home Town’ was played at the Offertory and ‘The Déise’ song was sung by Mala as his coffin left the Church.

Tim was buried at Churchtown Ceremony following the Requiem Mass.

He is survived by his loving brothers Nicholas, Paddy, Tom and Michael, sisters Nellie and Rita, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephew, grandnieces and grandnephews.

He will be dearly missed by all his family, particularly by his brother Nicholas and sister Nellie, with whom he lived all his life at the family homestead in Scartlea.

Tim’s month’s mind Mass will be held at St. Molleran’s Church on Friday the 18th at 7.30pm.