ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Colonel John A. Ryan, Raheny, Dublin 5 on Sunday, 29th December 2024. Predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Joan, in 2023. He will be very sadly missed by his son Michael and heartbroken daughter Helen, Michael’s partner Kristen, nephews, nieces and children of the extended Ryan and Stafford families.
May He Rest in Peace
John Ryan was born in Dublin on 30th November 1928. His first involvement with the Defence Forces was in 1946 when he enlisted in the Local Defence Force with 11 Cyclist Regiment of the Cavalry Corps. He became a member of 21 Cadet Class on 25th May 1948, was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 8th May 1950, and posted to 12 Infantry Battalion, Limerick. Subsequent postings saw him serve as a Training Officer with the East Limerick Battalion FCA, as Adjutant 2 Infantry Battalion, as Second in Command 27 Infantry Battalion, as Officer Commanding 20 Infantry Battalion FCA, and at Headquarters 2 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Eastern Command. In Defence Forces Headquarters John was Director Planning and Research and, later, Provost Marshal and Director Military Police Corps. He retired on age grounds in 1988.
Overseas John served as a Lieutenant with the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) in 1958. This was the first Irish contingent to deploy overseas. He was the last survivor of the fifty Irish officers who served with this mission. John was a member of B Company, 33 Infantry Battalion in the Congo from August 1960 to January 1961, was Senior UNFICYP Liaison Officer to the Cypriot National Guard in Cyprus in 1975, and Military Assistant to the Force Commander, Lieutenant-General William Callaghan DSM, with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1985-1986.
Following retirement, John was active in the Voluntary Sector as a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Royal Canal Amenity Group Limited, the National Federation of Pensioners Associations, and McKee Officers Club (President 1995). He was a founding member of the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers, served as its Secretary, and was its President from 2001 to 2006.
Reposing in Stafford’s Funeral Home, Golf Links Road, Portmarnock on Thursday 2nd January, from 3pm to 5pm. Removal to Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace Church, Raheny on Friday morning for 10am Funeral Mass followed by burial in Saint Fintan’s Cemetery, Sutton. Family flowers only please. House private.
A live stream of John’s Funeral Mass can be viewed on the following link: https://www.rahenyparish.ie/watch-us-live/
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of John’s death notice on rip.ie at: https://rip.ie/death-notice/john-a-ryan-dublin-raheny-580048
