Eoin Ryan Snr | |
|---|---|
| Senator | |
| In office 14 December 1961 – 25 April 1987 | |
| Constituency | Industrial and Commercial Panel |
| In office 22 May 1957 – 14 December 1961 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1920-06-12)12 June 1920 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 14 December 2001(2001-12-14) (aged 81) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingEoin |
| Parents |
|
| Education | |
| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ireland |
| Branch/service | Defence Forces |
| Years of service | 1940–1943 |
| Rank | Captain |
Eoin David Ryan (12 June 1920 – 14 December 2001) was an IrishFianna Fáil politician, and aSenator for thirty years.[1]
Ryan was born inDublin. When Ryan was born, his father and mother were actively engaged in theWar of Independence.[2] His motherMáirín Cregan was arrested when he was a baby in February 1921 and held in prison for a short time at the same time as his father. She later made her name as a writer. His father,James Ryan, was a founder member ofFianna Fáil and a member of successive governments. Eoin Ryan was educated atPresentation College,Bray, and later atMount St. Joseph Abbey,Roscrea. He joined theDefence Forces during the emergency years ofWorld War II and rose to the rank of captain between 1940 and 1943.[2] He later returned to his studies atUniversity College Dublin, achieving aBachelor of Arts in economics and a diploma in public administration. He went on to study atKing's Inns and was called to the bar in 1945.[2]
Throughout this time, Ryan had an intense interest in politics although, unlike his father, who was a Minister for most of his 30 years in theDáil, the young Ryan was reluctant to enter full-time politics. He preferred putting his views forward on the governing bodies of the party, where he served for many years on the national executive and as vice president of Fianna Fáil. Ryan was first elected toSeanad Éireann in 1957, winning a seat on theLabour Panel, although he switched to theIndustrial and Commercial Panel in 1961.[3] For four of his years in the upper house, 1965 to 1969, his father was also a Senator serving after his retirement from theDáil. He was Leader of the Seanad from 1977 to 1981 and leader of the Fianna Fáil group from 1973 to 1977.[2]
He married Joan Dowd in 1949; and they had four children.[2] One son, also calledEoin Ryan, was also a member ofSeanad Éireann,Dáil Éireann, and was aMember of the European Parliament forDublin.[2]
Eoin Ryan Snr died on 14 December 2001.[2]
