1902 - 10 June,  1944

Born in Elton, Co. Limerick. He became a member of the Gaelic League as well as the IRA officers training corp. He opposed the Treaty in 1921 and joined the East Limerick Brigade in 1922. Fought in the civil war until being wounded in June 1923 and captured. Released that same November. Later became an editor of the IRA's journal and later An Poblacht. In 1929 he was elected to the Army Council and travelled to America in 1930 to represent the IRA at the Clann na Gael Convention. Imprisoned for stints of two months and then three months in 1931. In 1933 he became the national organiser for Fianna Eireann. After the beginning of the Spanish Civil war, an Irish Brigade led by Ryan joined the International Brigade against Franco. He came back to Ireland briefly in 1937 but returned to Spain later the same year. Was imprisoned the following year by italian Fascists and after being court martialled he was sentenced to death. This was later commuted to 30 years penal servitude. He escaped in 1940 thanks to German Intelligence officers who thought he would be useful to them. He did not prove so and became, to all extents and purposes, a prisoner of the 3rd reich. He died in Dresden in 1944. His remains were re - interred at Glasnevin Cemetary Dublin in 1979.