Mark F. Ryan
Encyclopedia
Mark Francis Ryan was an Irish
revolutionary, a leading Member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
and author.
, a few miles from Tuam
, County Galway
. The eldest son of John Ryan, a native of Kilconly, and Bridget Mullahy, of Seephin, in the parish of Kilcommon
, County Mayo
. There were eight children, with three of the four boys, (Michael & Paddy) including Mark becoming doctors. John Ryan had farms in three different parts of Kilconly, one which was held from a landlord known as "French of Tirowen," which is near Gort. Mark was three or four, when the family were evicted, which took place during the famine years. This became one of his earliest memories, though he says he did not realise the full tragedy of this at the time.
The second farm was in Umane, land held by a landlord by the name of Dominick Jennings. The family lived here for five or six years, till the landlord died and they were again evicted. They were given shelter for a time from Mark's uncle, Michael Ryan at Bailenagittach. After some time John obtained another holding from Richard Jennings, brother of Dominick in Ironpool. The family lived here for only a few years, until they were "once more thrown on the roadside," according to Ryan. After this, John Ryan took his family and emigrated to England.
Mark would go on to attend schools at Lisaleen, the teacher being a man named Courtney, and Tubberoe were the teacher was Harry Sweeney. As with the previous schools instruction was entirely in English, though according to Ryan every child in the parish knew Irish.
The National School system at the time was strongly opposed by the Catholic Archbishop MacHale
which he regarded as a proselytising agency. This view was given credence by a statement made by the first Commissioner appointed to serve on the National Board, the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Whately who said “the education supplied by the National Board was gradually undermining the vast fabric of the Irish Roman Catholic Church.” Ryan was to comment that it was “National” only in name.
by Michael Davitt
in 1865. He joined the Supreme Council of the IRB, was leader of the Irish National Alliance (1895) and was co-founder of the Irish Literary Society. Ryan composed an autobiography entitled Fenian Memories. Ryan in his Forward to Fenian Memories, was to say next to his religion, Fenianism had been the greatest thing in his life.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
revolutionary, a leading Member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
and author.
Family
Mark Ryan was born in Uracly in the parish of KilconlyKilconly
Kilconly is a small rural village near Tuam which is north of Galway City in County Galway, Ireland. It is situated about seven miles north west of Tuam town on the Ballinrobe road ....
, a few miles from Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. The eldest son of John Ryan, a native of Kilconly, and Bridget Mullahy, of Seephin, in the parish of Kilcommon
Kilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. There were eight children, with three of the four boys, (Michael & Paddy) including Mark becoming doctors. John Ryan had farms in three different parts of Kilconly, one which was held from a landlord known as "French of Tirowen," which is near Gort. Mark was three or four, when the family were evicted, which took place during the famine years. This became one of his earliest memories, though he says he did not realise the full tragedy of this at the time.
The second farm was in Umane, land held by a landlord by the name of Dominick Jennings. The family lived here for five or six years, till the landlord died and they were again evicted. They were given shelter for a time from Mark's uncle, Michael Ryan at Bailenagittach. After some time John obtained another holding from Richard Jennings, brother of Dominick in Ironpool. The family lived here for only a few years, until they were "once more thrown on the roadside," according to Ryan. After this, John Ryan took his family and emigrated to England.
Education
His early education was not very satisfactory. In Umane he attended school held in a barn by a teacher named Brannick. The teaching was very poor, spelling being the only subject. The instruction was given entirely in English, a strap being used to punish the boys every time Irish was spoken. The second school he attended was in Kilconly, and was held in the chapel, with the parish priests Father James Gibbons permission. The instruction here was much better and consisted of reading, writing and arithmetic, again entirely in English. The teacher was a one armed man named Mark Roche, who afterwards Ryan believed became a National School teacher.Mark would go on to attend schools at Lisaleen, the teacher being a man named Courtney, and Tubberoe were the teacher was Harry Sweeney. As with the previous schools instruction was entirely in English, though according to Ryan every child in the parish knew Irish.
The National School system at the time was strongly opposed by the Catholic Archbishop MacHale
John MacHale
John MacHale was the Irish Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, and Irish Nationalist.He laboured and wrote to secure Catholic Emancipation, legislative independence, justice for tenants and the poor, and vigorously assailed the proselytizers and the anti-Catholic anti-national system of public...
which he regarded as a proselytising agency. This view was given credence by a statement made by the first Commissioner appointed to serve on the National Board, the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Whately who said “the education supplied by the National Board was gradually undermining the vast fabric of the Irish Roman Catholic Church.” Ryan was to comment that it was “National” only in name.
Irish Republican Brotherhood
Ryan was recruited to the Irish Republican BrotherhoodIrish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
by Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
in 1865. He joined the Supreme Council of the IRB, was leader of the Irish National Alliance (1895) and was co-founder of the Irish Literary Society. Ryan composed an autobiography entitled Fenian Memories. Ryan in his Forward to Fenian Memories, was to say next to his religion, Fenianism had been the greatest thing in his life.
Sources
- Fenian Memories, Dr. Mark F. Ryan, Edited by T.F. O'Sullivan, M. H. Gill & Son, LTD, Dublin, 1945