In the remarkable book, James Ryan and the Development of Independent Ireland, 1892–1970, author Michael Loughman traces the Wexfordman’s life from his early years as one of 12 children to a Redmondite farmer in Taghmon, to studying medicine in UCD; treating the wounded in the GPO in 1916, to being imprisoned with Michael Collins in Wales during the War of Independence.

From there, entering the Dáil on the anti-Treaty side in 1927, he was appointed Minister for Agriculture in the first Fianna Fáil government of 1932, a post he held until 1947.

These were traumatic times – the 1930s saw a bitter economic war with Britain over the refusal of the new Irish government to pay land annuities to London. The retaliation in blocking the importation of Irish beef and cattle into the United Kingdom as well as the emphasis on self-sufficiency and protectionism caused widespread disruption and in many cases, severe hardship.

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With the economic war barely solved, the Second World War created a whole new set of almost insurmountable problems for the country. The first priority was to try and ensure the population was fed.

James Ryan had, during the economic war, overseen the creation of a compulsory tillage policy that increased the acreage of wheat from 23,000 acres in 1932 to over ten times that amount – 255,000 acres – by 1936 and further developed that policy during World War Two.

The difficulty the country had getting access to fertilisers, animal feeding stuffs and fuel – both coal and oil-based petrol and diesel – saw pig numbers halve and land fertility plummet.

Nevertheless, the country survived and in the immediate aftermath of the war, Ireland donated £3 million worth of foodstuffs to hungry European countries including the Netherlands.

In 1947, Ryan became Minister for Health and Social Welfare and in 1957, took on the role Minister for Finance where he worked alongside the legendary TK Whitaker in producing the seminal plan for economic development.

This laid the foundations for entry into the European Community. His ministerial career ended in 1965 and he died suddenly in 1970, aged 82. We will carry a full review of the fascinating book, published by the Four Courts Press in the Irish Farmers Journal in the coming weeks.

Ned O’Callaghan – RIP

I was sorry to hear about the death of Ned O’Callaghan. For many years, he was head of agri business banking in AIB. His judgement and discretion were legendary. There are many businesses thriving in the Irish agri sector whose potential was noticed and financially backed by AIB on Ned’s advice.

He also saved the bank from becoming embroiled in companies which inflicted catastrophic losses on prominent participants in the banking sector.

He retired well before the 2008 financial collapse of the Irish economy and spent his post-banking years providing guidance to a number of key players in the sector.

He is survived by his wife Phil, daughter Clare and son Eamann. May he rest in peace.