Funeral of Noel Ryan to take place in St Mary's Church on Thursday

The funeral of Noel Ryan, the popular retired businessman from Athlone who died tragically last week following a drowning accident while on holidays in Malta, will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in St Mary's Church.

Removal from his residence will take place tomorrow morning to arrive at St Mary's Church for Mass of the Resurrection at 12pm, followed by burial in Coosan cemetery.

Noel is pre-deceased by his parents Frank and Margaret and most recently by his twin brother Brendan. He is deeply regretted by his heartbroken wife Deirdre, daughters Aoife and Sinèad, his grandchildren Beibhinn, Freya and Toby, son-in-law Brian, brothers Fr Aidan, Joe (Australia), Fran and Ciaran, sister Mary, brother-in-law sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.

The death of the 78-year-old was met with widespread shock and great sadness in Athlone, where he ran the Noel Ryan clothes shop on Mardyke Street for almost 50 years until his retirement in 2014.

Noel's tragic passing occurred on Tuesday of last week in an area called Xatt is-Sajjieda, in St Julian's, Malta, where Noel was on holiday with his wife, Deirdre.