Bio Full Biography »

A founding member of the Irish Tenors, Ronan Tynan's story would be inspiring even if he'd never pursued a musical career. Born May 14, 1960, in Dublin, Tynan spent three years in the hospital after a difficult birth that claimed the life of his twin brother. Raised in Johnstown, County Kilkenny, his lower legs and feet never completely developed, leaving him disabled; worse, at age 20, Tynan was forced to have both lower legs amputated after complications arising from a car accident. Undaunted, Tynan was walking capably on prosthetic limbs just weeks afterward; he graduated from medical school with a specialization in orthopedic sports injuries, and also designed prosthetic feet. In addition, Tynan became an accomplished athlete, setting numerous world records in track-and-field events for his amputee class. In the meantime, encouraged by his father, he sang on an amateur level until winning an award at Dublin's prestigious Feis Ceoil singing festival in 1992. The following year, he b...