Tenor sings praises of his mum and dad

Dr. Ronan Tynan -- horseman, athlete, doctor, singer and author -- spoke those words last week at The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

But he began with a song, his lilting Irish tenor holding the audience spellbound as he performed "a little-known song that is actually the preface to 'Danny Boy.'" When the applause died down, he began his lecture, "Living Life to the Fullest."

Leg troubles

He struggled for years trying to "live life as a normal child." But his disability kept him back as he attempted to play soccer, ride horses and keep up with his peers through his teen years.

"Where did the spirit of accomplishment really come from, that allowed that little boy to do what I did?" he asked the audience. "It came from the belief of others in me and a continued reinforcement of that belief that allowed me to fulfill all my dreams."

Family support

"We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are," he said. "The many acts of love, encouragement, dedication and help that my family showed to me are the things which help a person change and grow.

"Every day of my life, my dad would say to me, 'you know, you're great!' -- even though I often felt like a failure. He was the best father a young boy could ever have had. When you are continuously told things like this, after a while, you begin to see in yourself what others see in you. You learn to look in the mirror and say, 'I am great!' Eventually, you begin to believe it."

In the saddle

Shortly after, relying on artificial legs, Ronan was climbing the steps of his college dorm. Within a year, he began competing in the Paralympic Games in track and field, and as an equestrian in the steeplechase. Between 1981 and 1984, he won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records.

He then went on to become the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education in Limerick. Subsequently, he attained a medical degree in sports medicine.

Man of note

"Again, it is to the credit of my dad's support that I was able to pursue this dream," he said. "He was my strength, always present to encourage me, always keeping me on track. I learned to revel in the fact that my disability made me take risks. As a result, my focus has always been on the end results for me: what I would be able to accomplish, how far I could go."

In less than a year, Dr. Tynan won a BBC talent show that made him a singing star in Ireland and England. The following year, he won an international opera competition in France. His first album debuted in 1998 and became a hit. Dr. Tynan is now one of the three world-renowned Irish Tenors, who have rocketed to stardom.

"I currently wear two hats: a small medical cap [as a doctor in sports medicine], and a top hat and tails [as an opera singer and performer]. I love doing them both," he declared.

Life story

"My mum is a typical Irish mom," he said. "She always had her feet deeply planted in 'terra firma.' She was also the practical parent. I guess she always knew that someone like me with a physical challenge would need to be a strong person. She gave me my strength.

"My dad was the dreamer, he knew that for me to be a whole person, I would need to know how to love and be loved. More importantly, he knew that I would have to love myself. He spent my whole life teaching me how to love myself, to take pride in what I accomplish. What a combination [the two of them made]."

(03-28-02) [[In-content Ad]]