John Ryan (artist) facts for kids
John Ryan (1925–1992) was an important Irish artist, writer, and publisher. He was also a broadcaster and ran a famous pub. Ryan was a well-known figure in Dublin's creative scene during the 1940s and 1950s. He started a magazine called Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art to help Irish writers. He was a friend and helper to many struggling artists and writers, like Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan. His book, Remembering How We Stood, tells about literary Dublin from 1945 to 1955. John Ryan also helped organize the very first Bloomsday celebration with Brian O'Nolan.
Contents
About John Ryan
Early Life and Family
John Ryan was born in 1925. He went to school at Clongowes Wood College and later studied art at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. His father, Séamus Ryan, was a member of the Irish parliament. His mother, Agnes Ryan, was a supporter of artists like Jack Yeats. John's sister, Kathleen Ryan, became a famous actress. Some of John's own children also became involved in the arts, including his son John Ryan, who became a journalist and actor.
Artist and Designer
Even though he studied at NCAD, John Ryan mostly taught himself to paint. He was known for his careful observations and his love for the land, sea, and Irish traditions. He often showed his paintings at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) starting in 1946. He also designed sets for many famous theatres in Dublin, such as the Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, Olympia, and Gaiety Theatres. He even acted in and produced some plays himself.
Publisher and Writer
John Ryan started Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art (1949–1951) because of strict rules in Ireland about trade and censorship. He also edited The Dublin Magazine from 1970 to 1975. As a writer, he wrote for many magazines and newspapers. He published two memoirs: Remembering How We Stood, which is about Dublin's literary world after World War II, and A Wave of the Sea, which is about the ocean.
Broadcaster and Publican
From the early 1950s, John Ryan was a regular voice on Radio Éireann (RTÉ Radio), especially on the show "Sunday Miscellany." In 1957, he bought The Bailey pub. This pub became a very popular place for writers and artists like Patrick Kavanagh and Brian O'Nolan to meet. Ryan was known for helping many artists and writers who were struggling, including Brendan Behan, Anthony Cronin, and Patrick Swift. He even rented a cheap space above his family's shop on Grafton Street. This space became a famous meeting spot for many creative people.
John Ryan and James Joyce
John Ryan was one of the first people in Ireland to truly support the work of the famous writer James Joyce. At a time when Joyce was often overlooked in his home country, Ryan worked hard to celebrate his legacy.
The First Bloomsday
In 1954, John Ryan and writer Brian O'Nolan (also known as Flann O'Brien) organized the very first Bloomsday celebration. This event marked 50 years since the day described in Joyce's famous novel, Ulysses. They planned a journey following the path of the book's main character, Leopold Bloom. Other writers like Patrick Kavanagh and Anthony Cronin joined them. They even had two old horse-drawn cabs, like those in the novel. The group took on roles from the book. However, the journey ended early when the group became tired and decided to stop at The Bailey pub, which Ryan owned.
Saving Joyce's History
John Ryan also played a big part in preserving items related to James Joyce.
- In 1951, he published a special edition of his magazine Envoy dedicated to James Joyce.
- He edited a book called A Bash in the Tunnel, which featured essays about Joyce by Irish writers.
- He saved Leopold Bloom's front door from 7 Eccles Street when the building was being torn down. He first put the door in The Bailey pub. Later, in 1995, it was moved to the James Joyce Museum in Dublin.
- Ryan helped arrange for the James Joyce Tower to become a museum.
- He served as the Secretary of the James Joyce Society of Ireland from 1970 to 1974.
Envoy Magazine
Envoy, A Review of Literature and Art was a magazine founded and edited by John Ryan. It ran from December 1949 to July 1951. Ryan started Envoy because many Irish writers had to publish their work outside of Ireland due to strict trade rules and censorship.
During its short time, Envoy published many different Irish and international writers. It was the first magazine to publish J. P. Donleavy and some of Brendan Behan's first short stories and poems. It also included a part of Samuel Beckett's novel Watt. Envoy famously featured Patrick Kavanagh's monthly "Diary." Brian O'Nolan was also a regular writer for the magazine and was a special editor for the issue about James Joyce.
Remembering How We Stood
This book is John Ryan's memoir, or personal story, about the creative and lively Dublin scene in the 1950s. It shares warm and friendly memories of his time with writers like Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh, J. P. Donleavy, and Anthony Cronin, along with other interesting Dublin characters.
Patrick Kavanagh's Seat
Many people know about the statue of poet Patrick Kavanagh sitting on a bench by the Grand Canal in Dublin. This famous bench is on the north side of the canal between Baggot Street Bridge and Eustace Bridge. It was unveiled in 1991.
However, there is an older, less known seat for Kavanagh. It is on the south side of the canal, near the lock gates by Baggot Street Bridge. Patrick Kavanagh had hinted to his friends that he wanted a simple seat by the canal to remember him. After he passed away in 1967, John Ryan and Denis Dwyer formed a committee. They collected money to buy materials and pay for the work to build this first seat. This original seat was put up by his friends in 1968 to honor the poet.
