ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Captain Thomas F Ryan of Moore Park, Newbridge, County Kildare. Peacefully at Naas Hospital, surrounded by his loving family on Friday 27th March 2026. Sadly missed by his loving wife Margaret, son David, daughters Eimear and Aileen, daughter-in-law Nancy, son-in-law Adrian. Grandchildren Tristan, Brendan, Sarah and their spouses Julie and Blake, great-grandchild Cormac, Defence Forces comrades and friends.
A long life well lived, may Tommy Rest in Peace.
Thomas F (Tommy) Ryan enlisted in Óglaigh na hÉireann as a member of 25 Cadet Class on 21st November 1950. He was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 24th November 1952 and posted to 6 Infantry Battalion in Athlone. He then served in the Equitation School in McKee Barracks before being posted to 3 Infantry Battalion in the Curragh Training Camp. Tommy retained a lifelong connection with the unit and contributed to the 3 Infantry Battalion Oral History Project in 2022, covering his service with the unit and in the Congo. Among the other units he served with in the Curragh were the General Training Depot, Depot Army Medical Corps and as OIC Equitation School Detachment in the Curragh Training Camp.
Overseas Tommy served with ONUC in the Congo with C Company, 35 Infantry Battalion from June to December 1961 and with UNFICYP in Cyprus as Second-in-Command, A Company, 5 Infantry Group from October 1965 to April 1966.
Tommy retired from the Defence Forces on 4th August 1972 to work for Bord na gCapall and completed his 1st Line Reserve annual training with 3 Infantry Battalion. Tommy, and his wife Margaret, lived in Lesotho between 1984 and 1990 when he was asked to run a pony breeding project to improve the country’s bloodstock. Tommy and his family loved their time in Lesotho. In May 2012, Tommy and Margaret renewed their acquaintance with Lesotho’s King Letsie III and his wife Queen Masenate Mohato Seesio during their three-day official visit to Ireland. Tommy had previously met King Letsie during his time in Lesotho.
Reposing at Anderson and Leahy’s Funeral Home, Henry Street, Newbridge on Tuesday from 4pm with prayers at 7pm. Removal on Wednesday morning at 10.30am to arrive at the Dominican College Church, Newbridge for Mass at 11am. Mass can be viewed on https://dominicansnewbridge.ie/live-streaming/ Funeral afterwards to Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross arriving at approx. 1.30pm. The service can be viewed on https://www.mountjerome.ie/garden-chapel-service/
Family flowers only. House private at all times, please.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Tommy’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/thomas-tommy-f-ryan-kildare-newbridge-626005
