in 1986 he became the secretary of south area airways , a business in what ryanair had bought an 85 % stake . this position , nevertheless , quickly disappeared as the airline becoming airways group and was then merged entirely with ryanair . over the second decade , cathal sat both on the executive board of the airline and as a steward , as he resigned from the latter by 1996 . he remained with ryanair until entering the board 2002 , by these time he was a multi - millionaire leading to the success of the airline .
Ryan was Cathal's father.