DEATH OF STEPHEN RYNNE

LEINSTER LEADER  20 DECEMBER 1980

DEATH OF STEPHEN RYNNE

Gentle luminary of the literary world, Stephen Rynne of Prosperous passed away on Friday at Dublin’s Richmond Hospital, after a long period of ill-health.  Aged 79, he left a legacy of writings, redolent of the earth and landscape he loved and of the people knowingly portrayed, and fragrant with the delicate touches of a master of wordcraft.

He was laid to rest on Saturday in the, as yet, bare Killybegs new cemetery, near the village, but as he might have put it “Never mind, it will fill soon enough, and I will not be lost for company.”

The distinguished writer and author, whose frail figure was familiar throughout the land, suffered the loss of a leg recently following blood-clot complications.  He was troubled, too, by the long illness of his dear wife and gifted word-weaver, Alice Curtayne.  Despite being confined to a wheelchair, her indomitable spirit gave her the strength to share in the Requiem Mass and the graveside prayers.

In a brief eulogy in ProsperousChurch, the celebrant, Rev. A. Murphy C.C., who was assisted by Very Rev. Jeremiah Bennett P.P., Caragh, spoke of Stephen’s contribution to the arts, and of his many sterling attributes.

The coffin was draped in the Muintir na Tire flag with its symbolic plough and cross emblem. Stephen was instrumental in the design of the flag of the movement, whose cause he espoused since its foundation.  He wrote a biography of the founder, the late Canon Hayes of Bansha. At the funeral, the President of Muintir na Tire, Mr. Michael Lynch, was represented by Mr. Pat Doyle (Borris, Co. Carlow) National Development Officer, and the attendance also included Mr. T. Roseingrave, consultant to Muintir na Tire.

Stephen is also mourned by his sons, Davoc and Dr. Andy Rynne; daughters Brid, the well-known sculptress and Catherine, the writer. There were many expressions of regret at his death, particularly in the community where he lived for over fifty years.

HIS CAREER

Born into a wealthy family in England, he spent his early youth in Limerick, and was a student at Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare, before moving to Downings House, Prosperous, where he farmed.  A prolific writer, who used his pen and typewriter increasingly, he was a contributor to many publications, especially THE IRISH PRESS, and he became very well known as a broadcaster with a perceptive outlook and sardonic penchant.

His love of the land and its culture came across vividly in his writings, and the preservation of all that was good was his raison d’etre.  His back-up work in support of the preservation and development of the Grand Canal was invaluable, and his writing skill was constantly available to the Robertstown Festa Committee.

It was his wife who nurtured his writing talent, and inspired publication of his first successful book “Green Fields.” This was followed by another fine work, entitled “All Ireland.” The writer and broadcaster Ben Kiely, who also contributed to

“Sunday Miscellany” on RTE radio, paid a handsome tribute to him by advocating that both books should be reprinted.

Stephen, while obviously enjoying his radio work, considered radio to be a poor medium for the writer, commenting in a recent interview by a “Leinster Leader ” journalist – published in  our centenary supplement – that he supposed “lazy people don’t read”.

He was unflinching in his support of any cause he espoused.  He described in the interview how he was court-martialled once in wartime, and accused of intimidating a farmer who did not join in a farmers strike.  In the event the charge was dismissed when the complainant did not give evidence and they remained good friends.

Thanks to Stephen Rynne, His Holiness Pope John Paul II has a golden memento of his visit to Ireland in September 1979 – a gold  St. Brigid’s  Cross (supplied by Jordan’s of Naas) presented to the Pontiff.  Generous people, including Stephen, subscribed.

An Appreciation

I remember Stephen ……..

Stephen Rynne farmer, writer, radio and television personality, historian and leader is dead.

Ireland has lost a most illustrious son, Kildare has lost a great leader and we in Prosperous, well, we have lost our star.

It has been my privilege and honour to have known him for over 40 years.  On many of his lecture tours on behalf of Muintir na Tire in many parts of Ireland I was his driver and companion.  His influence on very many people will never be known.

There in the dark they are waiting for you. The whole street is thronged and the pavement rattles with approaching feet. The people of Prosperous are gathered in the shelter of the church.

The lookout tells us you are coming. The countryside is illuminated with the comet tails of car lights. It is dark, chilly, and lonely where they stand. The dead bell tolls, the hearse and cortege do an S Bend into the Church yard and slowly comes to a stop.  The silence is broken. Mr. Rynne a grand man, a great neighbour. God rest him.

Eight pretty girls dressed in nurses uniforms stand smartly to attention to honour their favourite patient, at their nursing home.

Stephen, you are going to lie in your lovely church tonight. Your plain oak unpolished coffin is draped with the Muintir na Tire flag. The plough and the Cross. I know you will be pleased.

The Church is crowded; friend’s and neighbours, rich and poor. I sit in a corner. I am thinking of other times and places of 30 years ago.  Belfast, Grosvenor House with the cheering crowds around you. You told them a thing or two that night. ‘Bring down the barriers’ you said or make them so low it will take only a small step to cross.  If they had only heeded you then, how different it would be now.

Later in Dr. Harrington’s house in the Falls Road, the big wigs from Queens University were eating out of your hands. They loved you. What a night. You mind the nights too in lovely Cushendell and Cushendurr with the torch lights procession in your honour, and lonely Murlock Bay, Roger Casement’s grave at Fairhead.  You

held them spellbound at all you knew. They cheered you to the echo. What about the place where we were told to get lost, you wrote about it later and called it darkness in X.

How about the time you met Mr. De Valera with Canon Hayes in the bedroom in Killarney and how you talked for hours (as you said) about mistakes of the past and hopes for the future.  How you used advise the students in the colleges and urge them to take an active part in helping the people less fortunate and to use their talents and leaderships for the people.

You never spared yourself in Prosperous either Stephen. All the wonderful things you did and inspired. Arbour days, Christmas parcels for the poor, fairs, markets, library, parish office, small loans schemes for the young industries earrai mona, bringing down the Dublin people and throwing your house and farm open so the city people could see how the country folk lived.  How about the gold St. Brigid’s Cross presented to the Holy Father on his visit to Ireland last year.  You forget nothing.

My mind refuses to function.  I cannot remember the hundreds of other things you did or inspired others to do.  I can only remember your great kindness, your love of young people.  It delighted you to hear their laughter and song.  When you laugh together (You said) there is peace and the race of God.

Tomorrow we will lay you to rest in the new cemetery in Killybegs. We are glad you decided to stay amongst us. We feared you might be buried elsewhere. We are proud and honoured to have you.

The priest is making his final blessing. Your mass is over. I am glad I am in a dark corner. I fear for tears. Goodbye Stephen, remember us up there. Thanks for the memories.

Oliver Reilly. P.S. Be seeing you, I hope.

 Re-typed by Mary Mahon