February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
It will be the first time for Johnson, but Tynan is already an established favorite at the Bronx Bombers’ home ground.
He estimated that he will sing at more than 20 games this season and owner George Steinbrenner has also tapped him to sing at several charity events for the club.
Tynan, who was raised on a family farm in County Kilkenny, has another busy year ahead of him. He has just launched a new album, “Ronan,” which features some new material by leading songwriters as well as some standards. And the tenor, who officially went solo and full-time in 2004, will tour extensively.
His work ethic is paying off. Said a reporter on ABC’s “Prime Time” last week: “He’s America’s singer — even though he’s not an American citizen.”
In the Bronx, he belts out the long version of the anthem written by another musically gifted immigrant, Irving Berlin — all 2 minutes, 30 seconds of it. His rendition has even led to complaints from at least one visiting manager, who said his pitchers’ arms were getting too cold during the extended break.
Tynan himself is amused at what he sees as a media-invented controversy. “You have to have somebody to throw the book at,” he said.
In general, he loves the camaraderie and competitive banter found among baseball fans.
“In New York, it’s really heightened,” he said. “I love singing at the games. You hear the epitome of patriotism there. To have 58,000 singing ‘God Bless America’ with you is quite phenomenal. It’s a thrill every single time.”
Last summer, Tynan also sang at a rather different type of venue on a somber occasion — the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan.
The tenor, whose mother is an Alzheimer’s sufferer, had met and chatted with Nancy Reagan at an event in California a few years ago. “I told her that if she ever needed me for anything at all, she only had to pick up the phone,” he recalled.
Reagan once told his wife that whatever arrangements were made for his funeral, she should have “a voice that would fill all the walls.” So as the 40th president approached death, the former first lady’s office contacted the Irish singer.
Tynan said: “I was greatly honored as the only soloist.”
Despite his very high profile, last week’s ABC show was the first time many Americans heard the outlines of his remarkable story.
Tynan was born with bilateral abduction of both ankles and a failure of the fibula ankle to form completely, and from an early age walked with the aid of prosthetic devices. Then a car accident at age 19 led to the amputation of his legs below the knees.
In 1981, Tynan was the first disabled person to be accepted to study at Limerick’s Thomond College of Physical Education.
Although when talking in the context of the Yankees, Tynan describes himself as “just a fan,” he’s had an extraordinary career in sports in his own right.
He competed for Ireland in the Paralympics, the major world gathering of disabled athletes that takes place shortly after the Summer Olympics in the host country. He won honors in the long jump, the discus and the shot put, and some of his records still stand.
His first love in sport, though, is equestrianism. His father bought him a white pony when he was little, and he developed into an accomplished horseman.
A few years after graduating from Trinity College’s medical school, Tynan entered and won the BBC talent search show “Go for it!” — a title that seemed to sum up his own adventurous and determined approach to life. Soon afterward, his medical colleagues raised the money for him to study for a year at Royal National Opera School in Manchester.
He teamed up eventually with John McDermott (who was replaced in time by Finbar Wright) and Anthony Kearns to form the Irish Tenors.
Leaving the group that made him famous to pursue a full-time career has also meant giving up his sports medicine practice, which he’d pursued in Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny.
Tynan said he missed one aspect of that job.
“The noticeable help you can give to people — somebody comes into you doubled up with pain, and suddenly get great relief. You see the appreciation and joy in their face,” he said.
He also misses home, but gets back as often as possible. He’s particularly looking forward to his first ever tour of Ireland, which will be the first part of a European tour. President Mary McAleese will attend the opening concert in early May.
His family in Ireland includes his mother, his sister, who’s school principal, and his brother, who’s the vice-president of a food company.
“Mum doesn’t know me now,” he said.
One of the new songs on the new album is a tribute to her.
“It took me a long time to write it and initially it was like a short prose essay,” he said. But he then perfected the words with Margaret Byrne, whose composer son Brian wrote the music.
He has always credited his positive attitude and his drive to efforts of his mother and his late father.
Tynan, who is much in demand as a motivational speaker, believes that simple encouragement is a key element in child development.
“Life isn’t a solo flight,” he said. “Success is a team effort. The people around you are the match that light your dreams.”
The tenor, who speaks typically to employees of major corporations such as IBM and Johnson & Johnson, believes his message has a positive influence.
“If they go home and tell their kids: ‘You’re great. Keep going. We’re 100 percent behind you.’ That’s a huge gift,’ ” Tynan said.