| Collection Description | The Ryan Papers as they exist today are very fragmented and represent only a fraction of the original collection. In 1985 Mr. Arthur
G. Ryan sold his family home and emigrated to New Zealand. He disposed of all of his property in Tipperary and, recognising their
importance, he entrusted what remained of his family papers to the care of Mr. James J. Condon who looked after them for 11
years. Unfortunately very little of the modern 20th century estate records had survived. For example there is not the volume of
correspondence with the Land Commission which would be expected, nor are there any records relating to the dispersal of the
estate. Balancing this however is a fascinating series of correspondence from the 18th century. These letters evoke the lifestyle and
aspirations of Irish Catholic families who sought to make a life for themselves amoungst the Catholic armies of Europe in the late
eighteenth century. [UCC Special Collections and Archives] |
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