Mr Patrick Ryan was born in Toomdeely, Askeaton, Co Limerick, Ireland on 28 February 1880.

He was the son of Thomas Ryan (b. circa 1833), a farmer, and Ellen O'Donoghue (b. circa 1843) who had married on 2 March 1867.
Patrick grew up in a bi-lingual Roman Catholic household and was brother to eleven known siblings: Mary (b. 12 February 1868), Margaret (b. 22 January 1869), Ellen (b. 13 March 1870), John (b. 7 May 1871), Johanna (b. 18 May 1872), Bridget (b. 30 November 1873), Eliza (b. 18 December 1875), Michael (b. 1 December 1877), Hanoria (b. 14 May 1882), Thomas (b. 20 June 1883) and James (b. 12 March 1885).

Patrick and his family appear on the 1901 census living at house 10 in Toomdeely North (Tuaim Dhaoile Thuaidh) in Askeaton, Co Limerick and he was described as a farmer's son at the time. His mother died following a stroke on 5 April 1908; the remaining family appear on the 1911 census living at house 1 Toomdeely North and he was one of several siblings still living with their widowed father.

A friend from his locality, a New York policeman Daniel Moran, had returned from the USA for a visit, possibly tempting Patrick to join him on the return to America. He therefore joined the Titanic in Queenstown on 11 April 1912 as a third class passenger (joint ticket number 371110 which cost £24, 3s).  He was travelling with Moran and his sister Bridget. Another local travelling with them was Margaret Madigan. Ryan was travelling to an address in Bronx, New York where he allegedly had a job waiting for him the in the New York Police Department.

Bridget Moran and Margaret Madigan were the only survivors from the group; Patrick Ryan was lost in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His elderly father later sued the White Star Line over the death of his son, claiming negligence on the Line's part, and the case later went to court in London. He was later awarded £100 for Patrick's loss (see Ryan v. OSNC research article). He remained in Toomdeely for the next few years and passed away in 1918 aged 85.

Patrick Ryan is remembered on the family headstone in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland (plot L1-MTPL-0005).