Born in June 1927 John Joseph Ryan – a railway official- cut his teeth on political life as a member of Nenagh's Urban District Council before being elected to North Tipperary County Council.
He first took a seat in Dáil Eireann at the 1973 General election as a Labour Party Td for Tipperary North and was re-elected at each subsequent election until he lost the seat in 1987- That year he polled 4,558 votes but missed out to newcomer Michael Lowry who claimed the seat for Fine Gael and was elected along with Michael O'Kennedy and Michael Smith for Fianna Fail.
John Ryan was then elected to the Industrial and Commercial Panel of the 19th Seanad in 1989 and three years later he re-gained his Dáil seat in Tipperary North and retired at the 1997 general election.
During his time at Leinster house which spanned over two decades he also served as Leas-Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil from 1982-87.
The 86 year old passed away peacefully this morning and is survived by his wife Ina, daughters Diane and Paula and son Gerry.
He will be laid to rest on Saturday following 12 noon mass in Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh
