‘He will be sorely missed’ – tributes to Kilkenny All-Ireland winner who passed just months after brother’s tragic death
Warm tributes have been paid to former Kilkenny All-Ireland winner Harry Ryan, who passed away just five months after the tragic death of his brother Lester.
Harry passed away in St Luke’s General Hospital yesterday.
Clara GAA paid tribute to Harry and to his exploits on the field on social media this morning.
“Harry first came to attention as a swashbuckling wing back on a St. Kieran’s All Ireland winning team in 1975,” the club said in a statement.
“That same year he captained the Kilkenny minor team to All Ireland glory. By the time he donned the senior county jersey he had reinvented himself as a teak tough attacker and collected a winner’s medal in his first final in 1983.
“By the time he retired in 1988 he had scored a very respectable 4-43 in 17 championship appearances for the Cats. He had also won 2 National Leagues, an All Ireland and three Leinster titles. And in 1986 he had lined out proudly with three of his brothers on the first Clara team to win a senior county championship.
“Though small in stature, Harry had very broad shoulders and certainly never shirked a tackle. His onfield toughness was in direct contrast to a very gentle demeanour off the field and he was known as a very affable and likeable individual off the field. He will be sorely missed.”
Harry is survived by his wife Mary, his children Liam, Jill and Seb, his brother Kevin, sisters Mary, Breda and Rita, and the Clara and Kilkenny sporting community that he represented for many years.
