Matty Ryan, racing figure and bon viveur, dies

MATTY RYAN, the well known Thurles-based jeweller, bon viveur and racing figure, has died. He was 65.

He had suffered with cancer in recent years and died suddenly in hospital in Clonmel early on Sunday.

Matty Ryan: "wonderful character"

 
 

Ryan was a racing enthusiast, who acted as a steward at many racecourses including Thurles, Tipperary and Clonmel and was a member of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.
He also hunted with the Tipperary and Golden Vale Hunts.

Thurles racecourse manager Pierce Molony said on Monday: "Matty was a wonderful character who believed in enjoying life to the full. He had been a steward at Thurles since the mid-1970s.

"Everyone knew himand liked him. He was a great storyteller and a lot of the stories he told were against himself. He loved racing and racing people and supplied many trophies and jewellery to people in the racing game.

"He was also a great worker for different charities and was chairman of the North Tipperary Hospice for many years."

Ryan was 36 when he rode the mare Frescobaldi, whom Edward O'Grady trained for him, to victory in a bumper at Clonmel in August 1981.

Speaking on Monday, O'Grady said: "Matty's passing is very sad. He was a marvellous character and we are all going to miss him a lot. He had never ridden a racehorse when he rode out for us one morning. He told me he liked it. He was enthusiastic and was intent on riding in a race. He rode Frescobaldi a few times and got a great thrill when he won on her at Clonmel."

In 2001, Ryan topped a poll in Social and Personal magazine to find the top 100 party people in Ireland and was quoted as saying: "I get home at six in the morning and I am at work at nine. I couldn't give a damn if I went two weeks without sleeping - enjoying oneself is far more important than sleeping."

He is survived by his brother, Thomas, and sisters, Gladys, Anne, Phyl and Mary and will repose at his home from 3pm to 7.45pm on Tuesday before arriving at Thurles Cathedral at 8.30pm.

The funeral mass will take place in the Cathedral at noon on Wednesday and will be followed by cremation in Little Island, Cork. Donations, if desired, can be made to the North Tipperary Hospice.