Frank Ryan (tenor)

Plaque of Frank Ryan in Tallow, Co. Waterford, at St. Patrick's Parish Hall

Frank Ryan (1900–1965) was a tenor born in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland in October 1900.

The family moved to Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland when Frank was six years old and where his parents ran a victualling business. His voice developed late and he was in his mid 20s when it was discovered that he was a tenor, which won for him the Tenor Solo award at the Dublin Feis Ceoil in 1931 and the Feis Matthew on four occasions. He joined the Fermoy Choral Society in 1935 and took leading roles in The Gondoliers, Pirates of Penzance, The Geisha, The Yeomen of the Guard, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado and in later years, Lilac Time.

When Frank Ryan competed for the Joseph O'Mara cup at the Dublin Feis Ceoil in 1938 he was commended by the adjudicator, Topliss Green, for his beautiful yet untrained voice:

We have heard one of the most beautiful tenor voices I have heard for a long time, but, don't run away with the idea that he has won the Cup. He has a long way to go, but I can assure you he has a most lovely voice, and, as I had the privilege of hearing John McCormack in his early days in London, I can tell you that this voice is quite as good a voice–perhaps, even better than John McCormack's was in those far-off days.

He turned professional when he joined the Dublin Operatic Society in 1939, and sang leading roles in Faust, Maritana, The Bohemian Girl, Ernani, The Magic Flute, The Lily of Killarney, Martha, Cavalleria rusticana and La boheme. He sang with famous leading ladies of the time such as Elena Danelli, Lena Menova, Joan Hammond, Marion Studholme and Marian Lowe. He traveled extensively, appearing in London (Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Seymour Hall), Glasgow, Belgium, Italy, France, Malta, and the United States. He gave many concerts all over the States including The Royal Academy, Brooklyn, and a full recital in Carnegie Hall, New York City, where he sang 32 songs.

He appeared regularly on Radio Éireann, BBC and RTÉ. His last public performance was in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland on June 29, 1965, just three weeks before he died on July 17, 1965, aged 64.