Frank Ryan (tenor)

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Frank Ryan (1900-1965) was born in Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland in October 1900 and moved to Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland at an early age, 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, in fact, the possessor of a magnificent tenor voice which won for him the Tenor Solo award at the Dublin Feis Ceoil in 1931 and the Feis Mathew on four occasions. He joined the Fermoy Choral Society in 1935 and took leading roles in The Gondoliers, Pirates of Penzance, The Geisha, The Yeoman of the Guard, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado and in later years, Lilac Time.

His beautiful tenor voice soon attracted attention around Ireland, which led the adjudicator, Topliss Green to comment "a new McCormack is born", when he awarded him top marks at the Dublin Feis Ceoil in 1938. 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 travelled extensively, appearing in London (Albert Hall, Festival Hall, Seymour Hall), Glasgow, Belgium, Italy, France, Malta, and the USA. He gave many concerts all over the States including The Royal Academy, Brooklyn, and a full recital in famed Carnegie Hall, New York (where he sang 32 songs).

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