Ronan Tynan
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Ronan Tynan (born May 14, 1960 in Dublin, Ireland) is a popular tenor, singing in the classical Irish style. He is most famous for his renditions of God Bless America performed at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankee games, such as Opening Day, nationally-televised games, and playoff games. Additionally he has sung for the Buffalo Sabres during their hockey games, and sang before 71,217[1] fans at the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic on January 1st, 2008 when the Sabres played the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is also known for participating in the 1984 Paralympics.
Tynan was a member of the Irish Tenors until he left to pursue his solo career in May of 2004. In this same year, he sang "New York , New York" at Belmont Stakes and less than a week later he was at the National Cathedral for President Ronald Reagan's funeral, where he sang "Amazing Grace" and Schubert's "Ave Maria."[2]
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[edit] Background
Born with lower limb disabilities, Tynan elected to have both legs amputated at the age of 20 due to complications caused by a car accident. Within weeks of the accident, he was climbing stairs at his college dormitory on artificial legs. Within a year, Tynan was winning in the international Paralympics. Between 1981 and 1984, he amassed eighteen gold medals and fourteen world records.
In the following years, Tynan became the first person with a disability ever to be admitted to the National College of Physical Education, Limerick. He worked for about two years in the prosthetics industry. Then he went on to prestigious Trinity College, Dublin and became a physician specializing in Orthopedic Sports Injuries, graduating in 1993.
Encouraged to also study voice by his father Edmund, Tynan won a series of prestigious voice competition awards and joined the Irish Tenors.
A devout Roman Catholic, Tynan has appeared on EWTN.
[edit] Presidential performances
Tynan has also performed in several events President George W. Bush has attended. Some of them include (bold face indicate those that took place at Washington National Cathedral):
- State funeral of former president Ronald Reagan
- George H.W. Bush's 80th birthday
- Prayer service marking Bush's second inauguration
- St. Patrick's Day reception with George W. Bush and Prime Minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern
[edit] References
- ^ ESPN - Winter Classic: We're live from Buffalo - NHL
- ^ McGrath, Charles. (July 12, 2004) New York Times A Tenor as Irish as Baseball and "God Bless America." Page E1.
Halfway Home: My life 'til Now by Ronan Tynan. 2002, Scribner ISBN 0-7432-2291-1
