It was with huge sadness that we awoke to the news on Friday morning that Fr. Martin Ryan after whom the St Martins club is named passed away. Born in Muckalee in 1929 he attended St. Kierans College and from there went to the Colombian Fathers Missionary Seminary in Navan. Fr. Martin lived an extraordinary life spending fifty years as a Columban Missionary in the Philippines leaving Ireland at twenty five to promote Christianity throughout the Phillipines. An avid sportsman throughout his life he was obsessed with those who represented the parish over the years. His book entitled “From Muckalee to Mindanau and back, a Missionary Journey” is a must read for anyone with an interest in a life less ordinary and accounts in extraordinary detail the sporting successes of men and women from our parish. He took great joy in St. Martins and Muckalee achieving success on the sporting fields and the closing part of many a sermon were dedicated to getting St. Martins over the line. Often letters would arrive at homes throughout the parish congratulating young players on their successes with both club and county from the Phillipines. He will be sadly missed by everyone who was blessed to have encountered Fr. Martin throughout the years.
“Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.”
Reposing at St Columban’s, Dalgan Park Navan. Evening Prayer on Sunday at 7.30 o’clock. Concelebrated Mass on Monday at 11 o’clock in Dalgan. Reposing at Cody’s Funeral Home, The Square, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on Tuesday from 2 o’clock with Rosary at 8 o’clock, followed by removal to St. Brendan’s Church, Muckalee. Funeral Mass on Wednesday at 11 o’clock followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery. No flowers by request, donations if desired to the work of the Columban Missionaries.
(Credit Picture: Kilkenny People online)
By Mary Morgan Sat 16th Jun
