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Hi

Apparently there is a family story about a curse placed by the Bishop of Thurles on my particular Ryan family (Michael Ryan - see Thurles Parish Ancestors).  I was wondering if anyone else has heard of this or seen something about it.  It goes like this:

After Mass one Sunday in Thurles, one of Michael's forebears became embroiled in a heated argument.  This same forebear emphasised his point of view by cracking his verbal antagonist over the head.  For having spilt blood on Church ground he received from the Bishop a curse which came to be known as 'the curse of the Ryans'.  The offender was told that his breed would become extinct.

Well we can safely say that this branch of the Ryans is still going strong but just putting it out there!

Love to hear if anyone has also heard of this.

Cheers

Maggie

Maggie

Wednesday 30th Jan 2019, 07:13AM

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  • Hi Maggie: 

    Thanks for your post.  I have asked our Thurles volunteer to comment on this.  You should receive a reply in the next week or two.  Your story sounds fascinating, and we would love to hear more about this "curse" when you have more information. 

    Kind regards, 

    Jane

    Jane Halloran Ryan

    Thursday 31st Jan 2019, 12:31PM

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    Maggie,     

    I am a direct descendant from Thurles Ryan’s(John M Ryan-14 Liberty st)

     There is a story that has passed down that the family was cursed with the “Irish Shroud”. I don’t know the history of how the curse came about, but it was taken seriously by family members. My line of Ryan’s was almost wiped out by a tuberculosis epidemic in the mid-1880’s. My great-grandfather, John E.Ryan was one of two who survived, emigrated to US in 1892 and was killed in a mining accident(Butte, Montana) in 1904. The other family survivor was Mary Ryan. She died at the Cathedral in Thurles during Easter Service of natural causes in 1943. 

    I have no idea if my Ryan family is connected to yours but that story has been taken seriously by some ancestors and some very tough incidents have occurred through the years. 

     I’m not prone to that view of tales on my (possibly your) lineage, your post did give me pause when I read it.

     

    Patrick Ryan

    Phoenix,Az.

     

     

     

    pryan

    Sunday 3rd Feb 2019, 11:04PM

  • Hi Patrick

    Thanks for taking the time to share your Ryan family "curse",  I can see why your ancestors didn't entirely dismiss it.  I have never heard the expression "Irish Shroud" it certainly sounds sinister when coupled with 'curse'!

    Kind regards

    Maggie

    Maggie

    Monday 4th Feb 2019, 12:26AM

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