Michael Kennedy Ryan was born at Knockfune, Newport, County Tipperary, on 4 October 1867. (Other sources He served as Chairman of the Tipperary County Board of the GAA. He taught at the seminary of
St. Patrick's College, Thurles for four years. The New Stand,
Ardán Ui Riain in
Semple Stadium is named after Canon Ryan. The
Canon Ryan Memorial Hall in
Lattin, South Tipperary where he served as parish priest is also named after him. His family were heavily involved in Gaelic sports and Irish nationalism, and two of his brothers were significant figures in the GAA. His nephew
Paddy Ryan (Lacken) played a significant role in the war of independence in Tipperary (Newport GAA's
Lacken Park is named after him) and was elected TD for Tipperary in 1923. Another nephew
Martin Ryan was a Fianna Fáil politician who represented
Tipperary North in the Dáil. ==References==