Celebrity pals join Ryan at mother’s funeral

RADIO presenter Gerry Ryan was comforted by a host of celebrities yesterday as he laid his mother to rest.

The RTÉ host was shocked over the holidays when his mother, Maureen Ryan, suddenly passed away at her Clontarf home on Christmas day. She was in her 80s.

Joined by his son Rex, Gerry Ryan carried his mother’s coffin into the waiting hearse outside the Church of St John the Baptist in north Dublin yesterday.

Outside, a large contingent of Mr Ryan’s celebrity friends showed their support and commiserations, including U2 frontman Bono, fellow RTÉ anchors Marty Whelan and Joe Duffy as well as Irish actor Colin Farrell.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had been among the mourners who paid their respects at Mrs Ryan’s removal earlier on Wednesday.

At her funeral yesterday, Maureen Ryan — mother of three sons, Gerry, Michael and Manno — was praised as a wonderful person. Her involvement and that of family’s with the theatre, was also high-lighted.

Her late husband Vincent died of cancer in 2001. Ryan was accompanied by his wife Morah and five children, Charlotte, Rex, Bonnie, Elliot and Babette.