Tony Ryan’s ‘Ireland’s Aviator’ launch at Excel in Tipperary

The book launch of the biography of Tony Ryan, titled, ‘Ireland’s Aviator’ took place during the Premier Late Late Show at the Excel Simon Ryan Theatre.

Thomas Anthony ‘Tony’ Ryan (February 2, 1936 to October 3, 2007) was born in a cottage in Limerick Junction, three miles from Tipperary Town and became an Irish billionaire, philanthropist and businessman and has been described as one of the most remarkable Irishmen of the twentieth century.

Speaking about the previous private launch of the book in Dublin, Tony’s brother Kell Ryan told the Nationalist that the launch at the Excel, near his brother’s birthplace, would have meant a lot to him, as he never forgot where he came from.

In the early 1990’s when he lost everything, how did Tony overcome that on a personal quality level to get back up and rebuild?

“Well I think you have to be a really strong person because coming back from a failure like that can be devastating and I know it was devastating for him and the people that he worked for,” said Kell. “Maybe Tony remembered his father’s favourite saying that is quoted in the book which is, “only the strongest steel goes in the hottest fire” and I think this stood by him and that along with his determination and his belief that there was always another way to do things.”

Richard Aldous authorised biography has been described as, “independent in his judgments and frank in his examination of Tony Ryan’s shortcomings and eccentricities. “We’re pleased that the book concerns itself with the human aspect of Tony as well as the business side,” said Kell.

The Premier Late late Show was based on RTE’s  show with Tipp FM’s Fran Curry hosting a series of live onstage interview with some of Tipperary’s  well known natives.Kerry Ryan, daughter of the late Simon Ryan and niece of Tony Ryan said it was fitting that a launch took place in Tipperary.