Ryanair founder Tony Ryan dies

Ryanair founder Tony Ryan has died at the age of 71.

The Tipperary-born businessman had previously worked with Aer Lingus before setting up Guinness Peat Aviation in 1975 which was at one time the largest aircraft leasing company in the world.

He set up Ryanair in 1985 with one 15-seater plane.

Dr Ryan who held an honourary degree from the University of Limerick was a noted philanthropist donating a marine science institute to NUI Galway and an academy of entrepreneurship to Dublin City University.

He had also supported a wide number of cultural and community projects in Tipperary, Clare, Limerick and Kildare where he had lived in recent years.