{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox Christian leader | honorific_prefix = [[The Very Reverend]] | name = Laurence Ryan | title = Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin | church = Catholic Church | diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin|Kildare and Leighlin]] | appointed = 17 July 1984 | term_start = 10 December 1987 | term_end = 4 June 2002 | ordination = 17 June 1956 | consecration = 9 September 1984 | consecrated_by = [[Patrick Lennon (bishop)|Patrick Lennon]] | birth_date = 13 May 1931 | birth_place = [[St Mullin's]], [[County Carlow]], Ireland | death_date = 13 October 2003 (aged 72) | death_place = [[Beaumont Hospital, Dublin|Beaumont Hospital]], Dublin, Ireland | education = [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth|Maynooth College]] }}
'''Laurence Ryan''' was an Irish priest, theologian and [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]].
==Biography== Laurence Ryan was born in 1931, to Michael and Brigid Ryan of Ballycrinnigan, [[St Mullin's]], [[County Carlow]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130217185541/http://www.carlowpeople.ie/news/bishop-ryans-distinguished-career-735230.html Bishop Ryan's distinguished career] Carlow People, 13 June 2002.</ref>
He was educated locally and at [[St. Mary's Knockbeg College]]; he went to [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth|Maynooth College]] to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1956 and following postgraduate studies awarded a doctorate in 1958; subsequently he was appointed to the staff of the [[St. Patrick's, Carlow College|St. Patrick's College, Carlow]]. He studied in Germany for a year gaining a Doctorate in Theology.
He served as President of Carlow College from 1974 to 1980,<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/Bishop_Ryan.htm Diocese mourns Bishop Ryan (1931-2003)] Laois Nationalist Thursday, 16 October 2003.</ref> and was appointed in 1975 Vicar General for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
Leaving Carlow College, Ryan served as parish priest of Naas, County Kildare, from 1980 to 1985.<ref>[http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/news/news-13october2003-deathofbishoplaurenceryan.html Death of Bishop Laurence Ryan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119101652/http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/news/news-13october2003-deathofbishoplaurenceryan.html |date=2007-11-19 }} Catholic Communications, 13 October 2003.</ref> He was award the title of Monsignor.
Ryan was appointed coadjutor bishop in 1984 and became Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin on 10 December 1987, succeeding Bishop Lennon. Bishop Ryan resigned 4 June 2002 and retired.
During his time at Carlow Cathedral, he presided over some changes to the altar which were controversial.<ref>[http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/1998/oct1998p10_544.html Cardinal Ratzinger: the Church does not require dismantled high altars] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420095247/http://ad2000.com.au/articles/1998/oct1998p10_544.html |date=2013-04-20 }} Bernard Caesar, October 1998.</ref>
Ryan died on 13 October 2003, in [[Beaumont Hospital, Dublin|Beaumont Hospital]] in Dublin.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/news/baltinglass-mourns-death-of-bishop-laurence-ryan/27824655.html Baltinglass mourns the death of Bishop Laurence Ryan] Wicklow People, 16 October 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/1013/bishop.html Former Bishop of Kildare Dies] www.rte.ie. 13 October 2003.</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{succession box | before = [[Patrick Lennon (Bishop)|Patrick Lennon]] | title = [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]] | years = 1987–2002 | after = [[James Moriarty (bishop)|Jim Moriarty]] }} {{s-end}} {{Roman Catholic bishops of Kildare and Leighlin}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Laurence}} [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2003 deaths]] [[Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth]] [[Category:Bishops of Kildare]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:People educated at St Mary's Knockbeg College]] [[Category:Academics of St. Patrick's, Carlow College]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Carlow]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]]