John Ryan RIP - former Chairman of St Sylvesters

 John was our Hall of Fame recipient January this year and was uncle to prominent players Mark and David Ryan and to Brian, Martin and Declan Barnes and and we send our condolences to John Ryans family. He was a lovely man  with a great big smile and he will be missed.

Hall of Fame Award 2012 - Citation

Our Hall of Fame 2012 nominee’s football career and association with the GAA goes back decades.

He played at a time when we did not have the benefit of the club structure that we have today. It was not uncommon for Clubs to find themselves in great difficulties maintaining a presence in some localities because of forced emigration, lack of facilities etc. Our own Club had similar such ups and downs in our nominee’s time.

With no minor team in Malahide in the 1950s he played with neighbouring Club, Fingallians where he won the Thomas Ashe Cup which was the premier minor competition at the time.

He transferred back to play in Malahide in the mid-fifties and served on the Club committee with his father until they disbanded in 1959/60 .

When St Sylvester’s was re-constituted following a fallow period our Hall of Fame nominee became a major focal point for building a team together with a number of other local notables.

Participation in the GAA was something of a family occasion. His brothers Paddy and Donald played as did his brothers-in law and other members of his extended family and many of the next generation continue to be involved today.

A consistent quality star performer he captained St Sylvester’s to win the Dublin Junior championship in 1963. This was a superb football team which swept all before them winning the Fingal Cup, the Loving Cup, the Feis Cup, the McArdle Cup, Jubilee Cup, Nugent Cup, the Priest Cup and the Balgriffin Tournament in that year. A string of successes that would be hard to emulate and clearly a team that would have given even our Senior team of today a run for their money !!!.

Described by those who saw him in action as a very classy footballer, a centre forward who was quick of mind and knew how to distribute the ball to great effect and involve all his forwards. 

His accuracy as a free taker was renowned and often compared to that of the great Ollie Freeney.

In the 1970s when St Sylvester’s Club was experiencing some difficulties he was called back to active duty He responded with great heart and worked to help steady the Club. He served on the Executive Committee in different capacities and was Chairman of the Club between 1980 and 1986 and was also Club president.

His period as Chairman proved to be as successful as his playing days where he again displayed his flair and imagination culminating in the acquisition of our beloved Club House at No 2 Church Rd. opened by Uachtarán na hÉireann Pádraig Ó hIrghile in 1984.

There is no doubt but that he guided the Club through some difficult times to lay the foundation for the Club’s subsequent successes in the following years and we are all continuing to benefit from his work and effort today.

Ladies and gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to announce on behalf of the Trustees of the Club the winner of the 2012 ‘Hall of Fame Award’

John ‘Skinner’ Ryan

2 February 2013