in 1986 he became the head of london european airways , a business in which ryanair had bought an 85 % stake . this position , however , swiftly faded as the carrier became ryanair airlines and was then merger in with ryanair . over the second decade , cathal worked both on the operational board of the carrier and as a pilot , although he graduated from the latter by 1996 . he continued with ryanair until leaving the board 2002 , by which time he was a double - millionaire due to the growth of the organisation .
Ryan was Cathal's father.