John Tighe Ryan

John Tighe Ryan (1870 – 20 September 1922) was an Irish-Australian journalist, newspaper editor, and anti-conscriptionist.

Early life John Tighe Ryan was born in Milltown, Clonoulty, Tipperary, Ireland, in 1870.

He moved to Queensland, Australia, with his widowed mother, Margaret née Tighe, and five siblings, some years after the death of her husband Phillip Ryan in 1881. They lived at Ipswich, in the south of the state.

Nicknamed "Tighe", Ryan attended St Joseph's Christian Brothers' School, in Brisbane. He grew to medium height, with a slim wiry build, but had a commanding personality, and drew respect when he spoke. "The Press" was a cheap alternative to The Freeman's Journal, selling at half the price.

As a "fearless and outspoken journalist"

Ryan took on a personally-felt battle in print against conscription during World War I, from 1916 onward. Prior to that he had been more willing to publish pro-conscription articles, such as speeches by the fourth Archbishop of Sydney, Michael Kelly, who was known for his piousness. Although Christians mainly believed the war to be necessary, and Australians in general were loyal to the British Empire, some Catholics opposed conscription and were "left cold" by the machinations of the Empire. Ryan's anti-conscription editorials included "Conscription: the racial and industrial suicide of Australia" and "Conscription is slavery". so that, despite partly similar views, he had disagreed in 1905 with Sydney's third Archbishop Patrick Francis Moran, who veered more towards socialism.

Following his death, the editor role of The Catholic Press was assumed by journalist Patrick Scott Cleary, who however lacked Ryan's "provocative brilliance" and his confidence in a democratic pluralist society.

Personal life Ryan had three sisters who became nuns. He never married himself, and resided with his mother until she died in 1908. His social life included prominent priests, politicians and authors.

Ryan may not have been especially physically hardy. It has been suggested that his health became worn down by the stress of opposing the pro-conscription movement, which was supported by The Freeman's Journal and by Archbishop Kelly.

On 20 September 1922, Ryan died from a cerebral haemorrhage, at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. He was 52 years old. Buried in Rookwood cemetery, his headstone, in the form of a Celtic Cross, was unveiled by the Right Reverend Monsignor J. P. Moynagh following the burial. Ryan was said to possess a "magnificent character", to never disappoint his friends, and to have been "a genuine born journalist, a genuine Catholic, and a most genuine Irishman".

The estate, valued at £4459, was donated to poorer schools in the Sydney archdiocese.