Great Dungarvan Characters

James Fitzgerald Ryan

Jan 1881
I fear no foe as a Nationalist and Republican.

Meeting of Town Commissioners

Ryan (to James Lynch) - You are but a boat boy. My father lived here in opulence when you were but a pauper.

James Lynch - It was I set your father up in business.

Ryan - You are telling a lie.

Ryan then attacked M.A.Anthony saying he was a jobber and owed money.

M.A.Anthony - Point me out a single man to whom I owe money. I was a Town Commissioner when a puppy like you would not be allowed into the room.

Kennefick - I have had long dealings with Mr Anthony and he does not owe me one penny.

Ryan - You are more fortunate than most.

Lynch - Send for the police and have the fellow removed.

Ryan - I fear no foe as a Nationalist and Republican.

Jan 1881
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FRIEND MICHAEL DAVITT

James F.Ryan ordered off platform at Land Meeting at Stradbally attended by 7,000.

Robert Dower (in Chair) - Only reporters and speakers to the resolution could be on the platform.

Ryan - I am here on behalf of my friend Michael Davitt and if you object to me here I will get up a meeting myself.

Dower - There is no objection to you doing so. You will leave if you please.

Ryan - I am speaking on behalf of the National Land League (cheers).

Michael Walsh, Carrick Castle - Your name is not on any of the resolutions.

Ryan - I am here by the directions of Mr Davitt whose letter I have. If you have an objection to my addressing the people from the platform I shall address them from that hill yonder.

James Power, secretary Kilrossanty Land League - This platform is my private property and I order you off it.

Ryan - You have ordered me off the platform, the man who has been agitating for your benefit, James Fitzgerald Ryan of Dungarvan.

Ryan then left. Subsequently he got on a jaunting car and he held forth denouncing one of the speakers at the meeting.

(At the next meeting of the Dungaravan Town Commissioners, when Ryan boasted again about his connections to Michael Davitt, M.A Anthony said "Mr Davitt knows as much about you as he does about that ink bottle there.)

Nov 1895
YOU ARE LIKE DEMOSTHENES IN THE JIGS

Deputation from the Band Committee attended meeting of Town Commissioners to ask permission to use the Town Hall for practice.

Thomas O'Conner objected to the Band using the Town Hall because there was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, Head Constable Brady, on the Band committee. O'Conner repeated what he heard Father O'Gorman say to the Catholic Young Men's Society about the R.I.C forty years ago : "Young men beware of them, for the moment they put on that jacket they put on the British collar with secret service money in their pockets."

Michael.J.Casey moved that the request be granted.

James F.Ryan ( to Casey) - You are a hell of an orator. You are like Demosthenes in the jigs.

Casey - I don't pretend to -

Ryan - Then sit down.

Robert Knowles was objected to O'Conner's attack on Head Constable Brady.

Ryan ( to Knowles) - When you are done with your rhapsody I will speak. You are like a Madagascar monkey in a menagerie.

Ryan - Mr Chairman and gentlemen of the Town Commissioners of Dungarvan I as a member of the Band Committee took the liberty of introducing this deputation and I stand before you as a member of the committee to oppose this application mast-head high and to endorse every word that has fallen from Mr O'Conner's lips. I am 45 years of age. I was born in 1850. I have been warned since my earliest infancy against the intrigues of the Royal Irish Constabulary. I am their determined hater and I shall be to my death bed. I am the grandson of Captain James Fitzgerald - honest Jas Fitzgerald who built the first slated house in the town of Dungarvan - and for 750 years my ancestors have lived here. I have never disgraced them. I am an old Trinity College student and I was not a dunce. It was by the merest accident that I missed the wig and gown. As a young man I lived for 6 years in the Australian bush, and I came here in a sailing ship now lying in the docks. I saw four men washed overboard and I saw life and death, but of all the sufferings I ever endured I got it from a fellow member of the Band Committee, Head Constable Brady, who is here beside me . He looked me up in a cold cell with 8" of water on the floor. All to keep me from attending a meeting of the Band Committee.

After a good deal of shouting and noise Head Constable Brady started to speak. He denied Ryan's allegation and then said it was his own idea to start a fund for the band.

Ryan - I deny that. It was in my brain the idea was pupped.

James Dunne - I beg your pardon, I was the man that proposed it.

Dunne also said that at one time Ryan had referred to Brady as a prince and a gentleman.

Ryan - Yes, but that was when he was sucking my brains.

Brady said there was no necessity for the observations that had fallen from his friend, Mr Ryan.

Ryan - Your friend? Your eternal enemy as long as life lasts.

Dec 1895
RYAN REPORTS POLICEMAN TO THE AUTHORITIES

(Edmond O'Shea, the Dunagarvan correspondant for the Waterford Star, claimed that the Star had sent a cheque for a £1 to Ryan by mistake and when they asked for it back he only returned 10s. The cheque should have gone to the Star Cappoquin correspondent J.F.Ryan. Other accusations he made against Ryan were that he invited Head Constable Brady into his house for a drink and then reported him to the authorities for having taken it and that he borrowed money for horse betting from a bank clerk and when the clerk asked for his share of the winnings he reported him to his superior officer for using his employer's money on horse racing.)

Jun 1896
By Jesus, I will make Dublin Castle shake

Ryan in court for abusive language to Jack Leahy one of the Moresby rescuers. Ryan claimed Leahy was threatening him and he went over to constable Corcoren and said "By Jesus, you won't arrest that ruffian up there; you are one of Brady's blasted cubs, by Christ if you turn yourself around for a bit I will knock the blasted face off you. " He then ran into his house and came out with a bundle of telegraph forms and said to the constable "By Jesus, I will make Dublin Castle shake."