William Patrick Ryan was born in 1852 and was the son of the Dublin architect John Ryan to whom he was articled. He also trained as a civil engineer at Trinity College, Dublin and studied in Paris and Rome.
During his time in Rome, Ryan fought with the Papal Zouaves on the side of the Papal States against Garibaldi during the Italian War of Unification. He also fought with the French army during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871.
He subsequently returned to Ireland and commenced independent practice as an architect in Dublin and Limerick in 1873. In the 1880s he formed a partnership, Morris & Ryan, with John Warrington Morris. By 1891 Ryan had moved to London where he practised as Morris & Ryan (although Morris had by then died). Ryan was elected a Member of the Society of Architects (MSA) in 1884. He died at his home in Hampstead, London on 31 May 1921.
Roman Catholic churches: Baileyboro', Moate, and Franciscan, Limerick. Convents: Kilkee, Ballymahon, Crispin Street. London. Hospital: St. John's, Limerick. Schools: Convent Schools, ' Kilrush; St. Joseph's Schools, Gun Street, E.C. Girls' Home, Gun Street, E.C. Technical Institute, Limerick; married soldiers' quarters, Limerick; Recreation Institute; Now Barracks, Limerick; Military Gymnasia, Templemore and Fermoy. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914