Ronan Tynan
An Irish tenor whose powerful voice, forged in athletic triumph over adversity, has moved audiences from stadiums to Ground Zero.
Born 1960 (age 66)·Irish singer·Birthday: May 14·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ronan Tynan's life reads like a story of dual destinies. Born with a lower limb disability that led to a double amputation in his twenties, he first channeled his formidable spirit into sports, becoming a champion Paralympic athlete who won multiple gold medals and set world records. Medicine was his other early calling, and he became a qualified doctor. But it was his third act that brought him global fame. Discovering a natural, robust tenor voice, he trained classically and rose to prominence as part of The Irish Tenors. His rendition of "God Bless America" in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks resonated deeply, making him a recurring, comforting presence at major American events, including Yankees games and presidential inaugurations. His journey—from the race track to the operating theatre to the concert hall—is a profound testament to human resilience and the unexpected paths to finding one's true voice.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ronan was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ronan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Ronan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records as a Paralympic athlete in track and field.
- Earned a medical degree from Trinity College Dublin and practiced as a physician specializing in orthopedic sports injuries.
- Performed as a member of the popular classical crossover group The Irish Tenors from 1998 to 2004.
- Sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of the 2001 World Series, a performance that became iconic after the 9/11 attacks.
Did You Know?
He lost both his legs below the knee at age 20 after a motorcycle accident.
He is an accomplished equestrian and has competed in disabled riding events.
He was the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education in Ireland.
He performed at the funerals of both President Ronald Reagan and President Gerald Ford.
“"The man who has no imagination has no wings."”
