Father says no words can describe family’s hurt
Parish priest for Ballyea, Fr Harry Brady, said yesterday Don Ryan expressed that sentiment when he visited the Ryan home following the violent death of Eoin at Cappabeg in Barefield, outside Ennis.
The law student’s body was discovered in a barrel on open ground 500 metres from a farmhouse just after 7am on Tuesday. A postmortem determined he died of head injuries.
Fr Brady said: “The Ryan family is absolutely shattered.” The priest described Eoin as “a very lively intelligent, popular, bright boy”.
He said neighbours and friends were at the Ryan home to sympathise with the family. “Nobody was saying anything. Neighbours were at a loss as to what to say. His friends are in a terrible shock. It is a terrible tragedy. There is nothing you can say but be with them and bear the pain with them.”
Eoin’s father is a former president of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), while he is the nephew of current mayor of Clare, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) and former Clare mayor, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF). The two veteran councillors declined to make any comment.
In a short statement, the TUI offered its deepest sympathies to Don Ryan “at the tragic passing of his youngest son, Eoin”, adding that the thoughts of all at the TUI “are with Don and his family at this extremely difficult time”.
A law student, Eoin Ryan started summer work at the Rowan Tree restaurant in Ennis last week and completed a day-time shift on Monday.
Owner of the Rowan Tree, Brian O’Neill, said yesterday: “Eoin was very, very polite and very pleasant. He was quiet and got on very well with customers and his colleagues. He could’ve become a very important member of staff here as he was very good at his job. All his colleagues here are shocked over what has happened.”
Eoin Ryan’s remains will repose at the family home at Newhall outside Ennis this evening and his funeral will take place at Ballyea Church tomorrow at 11am.
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