Philomena Frances Ryan was an Irish chemist and nationalist and wife of the 2ndPresident of Ireland, Seán T. O'Kelly.
Background
Born to John Ryan and his wife, Elizabeth, farmers in Tomcoole, near Taghmon, County Wexford, Ryan was the youngest of her six sisters and five brothers. They were a nationalist family. Her brother James Ryan was a senior Fianna Fáil Minister. Her sisters married Seán T. O'Kelly, Richard Mulcahy, and Denis McCullough. Ryan was educated in the small nearby national school at Caroreigh and in the Loreto Abbey in Gorey. For third level she went to University College, Dublin, where she graduated with a B.Sc. in chemistry in 1916, followed by her master's degree the following year. She was the only woman in her year and only the fifth woman scientist to have graduated from the National University of Ireland since it began. During her time in college, the Easter rising took place. She reported for duty at the General Post Office, Dublin with her sisters, where they acted as messengers. The Ryan sisters also attempted to get the British army to stop firing on Red Cross locations. In the lead up to the events she and her sisters had acted as cover for the men meeting up. They would accompany them to make it look like men out with their girlfriends. Later between 1919 and 1921, during the war of independence she divided her time between her work and both political and military activities. Ryan was a member of, and at one point a captain in Cumman na mBan, though she did not join in the very beginning. She escaped arrest. She also worked with the organisations supporting those who did get arrested. When the Irish Civil War began Ryan agreed with the anti-treaty side and wrote to her sister Min severing ties with herself and Richard Mulcahy for the duration.
Career
Ryan worked with Professor Hugh Ryan and published papers. Some of their research was funded by Nobels Ltd. Ryan went to London to train as a public analyst. When she came back to Dublin she worked in the college laboratory. Then in 1925, she started a private practice as a public analyst. She chose to hire women graduate chemists. Eventually Ryan was the public analyst for twelve county councils. For many years she was the only woman public analyst in Ireland. Ryan was a founder member of the Irish Chemical Association. She was on the committee of the Irish Chemical Association, and then vice-president and president. In 1934, Ryan became a member of the first industrial research council.
Personal life
In September 1936, Ryan married Seán T. O'Kelly. He was the widower of her sister Mary Kate. The couple needed, and received, a papal dispensation. They had no children. She was known as Mrs Phyllis O'Kelly or Phyllis Bean Úi Cheallaigh from then on. Her husband became President of Ireland in 1945, at which point Ryan gave up business and turned to trees and plants. Her hobbies included flower arranging and bridge. Her husband retired as President in 1959 at which point they moved to Roundwood, County Wicklow. He died in 1966, and she died 19 November 1983 in the hospice at Harold's Cross, Dublin and they are buried at Glasnevin Cemetery.
