T.J. Ryan of Moyroe House, Cranny

Markhams of Derryguiha (c) copyright

Remembering TJ Ryan
Remembering the life of a Cranny-born republican The life and times of a West Clare man who travelled all over the world and returned home to take part in the struggle for the country’s independence are recalled in a new publication which was launched in Cranny last Friday night . The title of the booklet is TJ Ryan, Derryniddane (Moyroe), Cranny and its author is Paul Markham from Kilmurry McMahon. It was launched in the Tir na nOg premises by local parish priest, Fr John O’ Keeffe, before a large attendance. He was born in Moyroe, Cranny, on June 7, 1896, the youngest in a family of four to Thomas and Mary Ryan (nee O’Neill). The Ryan family was an old and respected one tracing its origin to Moyroe in Limerick. Educated at Cranny national school and Kilmihil, TJ trained as a wireless operator and afterwards he took up duties with the British Marine Services. He travelled the major waterways of the world but because of ill health due to malaria, he returned home. With many others he became involved in the struggle for the country’s freedom. During the civil war he was an active republican and took part in the demolition of bridges in the locality. He was an excellent boatman and he and others often crossed the Shannon for a safe hiding place. On one occasion while returning TJ was carrying a bomb and waiting for him on the Clare side were a number of State troops. He made his escape by diving under the water and swimming to safety. TJ was IRA commander in West Clare because he was intelligent, fearless and receptive. He remained a true republican until his death. He was on a visit to Scotland for some time before his death in St Mary’s Hospital, Dublin on February 5, 1962. Paul Markham says that TJ’s death brought about the end of an eventful career. One could hardly find enough adjectives to pay tribute to one of Clare’s proud sons. In his foreword to Paul’s book well known author, Joe Queally states that it is of utmost importance that stories about people like TJ Ryan are told because these people built the bridges we are now crossing and they paved the roads we are now walking on. He said that TJ was a true republican who devoted the early part of his life to free Ireland from British occupation. Probably one of the great sadness in his life was the civil war between the IRA and the Free State army. TJ was uncompromising in his beliefs, no one or nothing stood in his way of fighting to the bitter end to have a 32 county Irish Republic. Kilmurry McMahon native, brother Sean McNamara, who attended the launch. encouraged people to get a copy of what he described as a a most informative and interesting booklet. It can be got direct from Paul Markham, Derryguiha, Kilmurry McMahon (065-9053091/086-8105141 or email ppmarkham@eircom.net Paul Markham has already compiled and edited a history of Kilmurry McMahon and Kilofin, Clonderlaw Castle and Neighbourhood as well as a History of the West Clare Creameries which he published in 2001

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