Patrick (Pakie) Ryan was born on 22nd April 1935 in Ileigh, County Tipperary, Ireland. His father was John Ryan and Mother was Mary Ryan (formerly Dwan). They lived in a small house next door to Ileigh Church. He was one of 8 children, although sadly 2 of his siblings died in infancy – (Eileen and Vincent) who are buried with their parents John and Mary Ryan in Ileigh graveyard. He had an older sister called Mary (Maureen) and his brothers were Thomas, Michael, Edward and Frank.
The family moved from Ileigh to a farm in Gurtnara Upperchurch while the children were young and this became the family home for many years to come, remaining in the family until 2015.
Pakie worked on the family farm in Upperchurch. He also worked on other farms in the area, particularly Tom Quinlan’s and also on his own Uncle and Auntie’s farm in Ballyroan in nearby Borrisloeigh. During the winter months Pakie was employed in a factory in Thurles for the annual sugar beet campaign where the sugar beet was processed.
His sister Maureen left Ireland at a young age to start her nursing career in England and in the early 1960’s Pakie also decided to travel to York, England to meet up with his sister and try a new lifestyle. He stayed with a close friend of Maureen’s called Mrs Levy and found work at the Glass Works factory in York. Pakie enjoyed his time in York but never really settled and after a year or so returned to farming in Upperchurch.
When his father John Ryan died in 1973, Pakie took over the running of the farm assisted mainly by his brother Michael (Mikey). His brother Eddie helped occasionally and also had his own small stock of sheep and goats.
Pakie had a major health scare in the early 1980’s when a massive heart attack nearly killed him. He amazed doctor’s by making a full recovery and promptly gave up his heavy smoking and drinking habit.
His sister Maureen and her children regularly returned ‘home’ to Gurtnara and spent many Summer holidays on the farm.
Pakie returned to York a number of times in the 1980’s and 1990’s to visit his sister Maureen and her children Suzanne and George.
Pakie had a close relationship with his niece and nephew Suzanne and George and would often take them for rides on his tractor and play games around the farm. In later years Suzanne used to visit with her son Jordan who also had fun on the farm.
On 17th August 2007 Pakie collapsed and died suddenly while working on the farm in Upperchurch. This was a big shock to his family, and the farm at Gurtnara was never the same again. Fortunately his sister Maureen and nephew George had visited only a few weeks before his death and spent a lovely week with him on the farm.
