Priest praises broadcaster for giving hope to listeners

“NONE of us who knew Gerry Ryan will ever let him die,” Fr Brian D’Arcy declared during the funeral Mass for the popular broadcaster.

He told mourners to comfort one another with Mr Ryan’s innumerable stories and to weave them together in the fabric of a great compassionate coat of many colours, which his life undoubtedly was.

“I am lonely and broken like the entire nation, whom he regaled every morning with his compassion,” he said.

Fr D’Arcy, who was delivering the homily during the con-celebrated Mass, said Mr Ryan had plenty of attitude, brains in abundance and courage without measure.

“He used those gifts to speak for the poor, the down-trodden and the voiceless and that’s what Gerry did although he did not get much credit for it,” he said.

Every day he gave faith to those who listened to him – faith in themselves mainly.

“And he gave hope to his listeners. No matter how bad the news was, no matter how angry he became, no matter how he ranted at blatant injustice, he always turned his listeners back to hope.”

Fr D’Arcy, who knew Mr Ryan for more than 30 years, said he admired him, was in awe of him, counselled him and was counselled by him.

“He had a heart as big as a mountain. His vision had no limits. His intelligence was at times bewildering – to him and to me,” he said.

Fr D’Arcy also revealed how he only discovered he was the godfather of one of Ryan’s sons, Elliot, last Sunday when he visited Mr Ryan’s family home.

“He must think me the meanest godfather ever,” he said.

“I also discovered that when Gerry’s lovely mother, Maureen, a lovely, saintly woman, was around, she sent a present and a card to Elliot every year from his godfather,” he said.

While religion was very important to Mr Ryan, like a lot of people he had a love/hate relationship with the Church and often wondered what it was all about.

“But he did not allow the sins and crimes of a few members of the Church to black out the glory and beauty of a loving God. His faith was that strong.”

Not that long ago he was contacted by Mr Ryan asking to meet him for a chat and they spent some time chatting in a hotel talking about the Murphy Report into child sexual abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

Mr Ryan, had been reading the priest’s newspaper articles and listening to his interviews about the report, urged him not to let others steal his joy.

“It was good advice,” said Fr D’Arcy.

He also revealed that the broadcaster always worried whether he was good enough and what sort of way his life was going – he was a bit lost within himself.

Fr D’Arcy said he could see a cloud lifting from Mr Ryan when he reminded him that God only wanted people to try to be better, not perfect.

Making his final farewell to the broadcaster, the priest declared: “We will never forget your goodness and the indescribable gift of yourself.

“The cold touch of bony death will never steal the gift of love and hope which you enfleshed,” said Fr D’Arcy.