'The Ryans of Tipperary & Limerick' will be available locally from this Saturday.

Launch of Ryan family history book

A local history researcher will this Saturday present his latest work, a study that will be of great fascination to many from these parts.

'The Ryans of Tipperary and Limerick: Their Origins in Owney and Owneybeg' is the latest offering from Australian author Brian Patrick Kennedy. Having written six intriguing books on Kennedy family history, Mr Kennedy has now taken on the challenging task of researching and compiling the Ryan story.

“This story is long overdue,†Mr Kennedy writes in introducing his latest work. “The Ryans are too important an Irish family to have their story go untold. Numerically, they are one of the top ten families in Ireland and their contribution to Ireland and to the world is well and truly worthy of the recognition it deserves.â€

The author is currently on his 27th visit to Ireland and last week joined in the Rearcross-based 'Kennedy Gathering', an annual event in which he is intrinsically involved. His previous research includes tracing the Kennedy line back to Cennétig Mac Lorcáin, father of Brian Ború. He has also put forward credible evidence that John F Kennedy's ancestors came from Knigh.

His latest foray into the past centres on the baronies of Owney, near Newport, and Owneybeg in the Slieve Felims. Going back over 700 years, Mr Kennedy says the series of events he that has presented will be of keen interest to all Ryans and descendants of this enduring family synonymous with all parts of Tipperary.

“That the strength and unity of the Ryan family was such that they were able to resist the depredations of conquerors for several centuries bears testimony of their resilience as a family,†Mr Kennedy notes. “The fact that the Ryans remained in one geographical area and multiplied over so many centuries indicates that there were strong bonds among them as a sept.â€

Mr Kennedy's own forebears left Rearcross for Australia in 1863. He can trace his family line back to Ballycapple in the fifteenth century. 'The Ryans of Tipperary & Limerick' came from requests for a similar study from members of local Ryan families, and the author hopes to have met their expectations with his objective study from afar.

“Writing this book in a country away from Ireland has allowed me a perspective that is not clouded by being too close to the intricate detail of Irish history, wonderful though it may be,†he writes. “I have aimed to present a work that is informative, and at the same time, interesting, without it becoming the massive tome that such efforts can become.â€

Mr Kennedy wanted to particularly thank Derek Ryan Bawn of Nenagh for his support with the new book. He will give an illustrated lecture on the history of the Ryans when he launches the book at O'Sullivan's Lounge in Newport this Saturday, July 15th, at 8pm. The book will be available locally thereafter. More information can be found at the Facebook page, 'Ryan Clan of Tipperary and Limerick'.