Ryan's last blast

Amid all the tributes to the late Tony Ryan ran the theme that the man had style and class in abundance.

It was never better illustrated than at his recent memorial service, for which the Ryanair founder had left meticulous instructions.

As hundreds of mourners made their way from a large marquis to the lake on a bright autumnal day in his Lyons estate in Kildare, Ryan's Gulfstream executive jet flew overhead.

It had barely disappeared into the distance when a Ryanair Boeing 737 buzzed those who had gathered to remember the former GPA boss. This was followed by a restored biplane and a helicopter owned by Ryan. All of this to the backdrop of opera music.

Ryan had reportedly wanted three Ryanair planes to send him on his way but Michael O'Leary said he couldn't spare them.

Mourners were left agog, no doubt just as Ryan had wanted.