'A secret giver': Limerick locksmith for 60 years had keys to people's hearts

A LIMERICK locksmith who had the keys to so many people’s hearts for 60 years has sadly passed away.

William Ryan, aged 80, of Ryans Locksmiths on Upper William Street in the city, will be laid to rest on Thursday after he went to his God on Monday following a swift decline into ill health.

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The beloved husband of Carmel and adored father of Sinéad, Deirdre, Eoin and Con leaves a legacy as a wonderful family man, successful businessman and “a secret giver”.

One of his four brothers, Fr Damian Ryan, of Manister parish, said William had two families - his own and the community in Upper William Street.

“The people who came in the door of the shop - they weren't just customers, they were friends. One of the lovely things about being a locksmith is you can help people out of trouble. He loved that aspect.

“He loved being part of the fabric of the businesses in Upper William Street. He loved to see people do well and took a real joy and interest in the city. He was a proud Limerickman,” said Fr Damian.

William was one of the late Joseph and Betty’s four children - Colman, Damian and Joseph. Damian and the late Colman entered the priesthood while William and Joseph continued the family business started by their parents in 1948.

Ryans Locksmiths was originally on Gerald Griffin Street before moving to William Street in 1978.

The Ryans grew up in Glenmore Avenue in Roxboro. William attended CBS Sexton Street and then St Munchin's College. After school he got a job with the Limerick Steam and Coal Company and climbed the ranks to be a manager.

However, his mother Betty was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1966 when the youngest son Joseph was just three. William gave up his job and joined the family business to help his mum and dad.

He was later joined by youngest brother Joseph and then William’s daughter Sinéad made it three generations in Ryan’s Locksmiths. All his children helped out over the years. As a mark of respect the shop closed on Tuesday and will reopen on Friday.

“William never retired. He worked full-time until the end of last year. He loved it. He was an amazing guy and a very kind man. He would always go the extra mile for customers,” said Fr Damian.

William began to work half-days this year to help care for his wife Carmel.

They had a long and happy marriage, worked together in the shop and raised four children. They ran marathons in their youth, enjoyed holidays in the sun and sailing on the Shannon Estuary in their boat named Draiocht because they felt being on the water was magic.

A huge part of William’s life was his deep faith.

Fr Damian tells a story with a smile that when somebody asked what are the Ryan brothers like, the response was “well two of them are locksmiths and two of them are priests but one of the locksmiths should have been a priest and that was William”.

He was a daily communicant in the Augustinian Church, helped open the church every day, went to Medjugorje every year and was involved with the Redemptorists and Knights of Columbus.

Fr Damian said if you go into the shop, there's something very unusual behind the counter.

“There's an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. When they moved from Gerald Griffin Street in 1978 he lost something that was very valuable and was going to have very serious consequences. He prayed to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. He searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. He went back to the shop where there were just six bags of rubbish left as everything had been moved to William Street.

“He was desperate. He prayed to Our Lady, went back one last time to the old shop and there on top of the bags - where it couldn't be - was the very valuable item. He made a promise to Our Lady that her icon would always be in the shop and he kept his word,” said Fr Damian.

William continued the tradition started by his parents of never charging for church tabernacles.  

Many will remember seeing the crib built by William’s son Con in Ryans Locksmiths’ front window and wishing one and all a happy Christmas.

William didn’t just practice his faith, he lived it. Fr Damian said he was a “secret giver”.

“He learned from our father that if there are people on the street who are beggars or homeless, that it was our job to be kind to them. Ed Drew, of Danes bakery beside us on William Street, was the same. They would always look after people who were having troubles and they did that absolutely quietly. William continued throughout his life to be a secret giver,” said Fr Damian.

William will be deeply missed by his family, cherished grandchildren, extended family, friends, work colleagues and customers of Ryan’s Locksmiths.

Reposing at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Childers Road, this Wednesday, September 24, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, followed by evening prayers.

Requiem Mass on Thursday at 11am with funeral afterwards to Mount St Lawrence Cemetery (extension).

The Ryan family ask for donations in lieu of flowers to go to Milford Care Centre. They wish to acknowledge the doctors, nurses and staff of University Hospital Limerick, Milford Care Centre, Griffin Daly Medical Centre, St John’s Square, in particular nurse Geraldine Ryan, for their exceptional care and support.

May he rest in peace.