TRIBUTES have poured in for well-known Limerick veterinary surgeon Brian Ryan, who died while on a recent cycling holiday near Bordeaux, France.
Mr Ryan, from Farnane, Cappamore, who died on October 5 last, and was laid to rest on October 15 in Doon Cemetery, was a senior partner at Mulcair Vets in Cappamore and Newport.
Highly regarded in his field, the father of three qualified in 1984 from University College Dublin and initially spent the first six years of his career working in Wales before returning to his native Limerick.
Known for his calmness and steady hands, Mr Ryan had a passion for working with horses, but he was also responsible for overseeing bull fertility testing for farmers across Limerick and north Tipperary.
Paying tribute to Mr Ryan, his colleagues at Mulcair Vets said: “Brian’s relaxed and friendly manner ensured that he soon established a rapport with farmers and the wider community. Brian had many attributes which contributed to his reputation as an exceptional vet.”
“He had great hands and he could get through unbelievable amounts of work without fuss. He enjoyed meeting people and always made time for them no matter how busy he was.”
“He loved all animals, although he always had a special grá for horse. He was always cool, calm, and collected, no matter how dangerous or stressful the situation. One of our clients put it best when he recently described Brian’s ‘infectious calmness’.
“Brian was very proud of his profession and was respected nationally within the veterinary community. His enthusiasm for learning and upskilling was undiminished.
“An incredible number of students and young vets sat in Brian’s passenger seat over the years and he remained their friend and mentor, always at the end of the phone when needed. He will equally be missed by all the staff, past and present at Mulcair Vets.
“He was always the ‘go to’ man in times of trouble – he was never flustered and always lead by example.”
Colleagues said that, alongside his many interests and pastimes, his love of sport – especially rugby, football, golf and GAA – “anyone who knew Brian was never in any doubt that the most important thing in his life was his family”.
In an online tribute to Mr Ryan, the organising committee of the annual summer Cappamore Show said that “Brian’s calmness was infectious, he shared his knowledge and diagnosis with his clients and we as a committee are lost for words at Brian’s loss”.
Brian Ryan is survived by his wife Anna, and three children Aoife, Ciaran, and Kevin.
