Ronan Tynan tells Tom O'Gorman about his struggle to overcome disability and reach the top in the world of classical music

Ronan Tynan is one of Ireland's best known classical singers. As one of the founding members of the successful Irish Tenors' group, he has enjoyed international acclaim, performing to huge crowds here and in the US. As well as playing to sell-out crowds, Ronan has also sung at high-profile events such as the funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan (on the invitation of his widow Nancy) and the Finals of the Rugby Sevens Tournament in Manchester in 2004.

Last month, he struck out on his own with a new solo career and album, simply entitled Ronan. Next month, he begins a nationwide tour of Ireland, heralding the next stage of his upward climb to music stardom.

Ronan Tynan's success has not come easy, however. It was not born purely from natural talent, but from hard work and determination.

He had to overcome serious obstacles to get here, but his dedication and will to win have enabled him to reach each new goal he set himself.

He grew up on a farm in Co. Kilkenny with his brother Tom and sister Fiona. Being born with a lower limb disability didn't not stop him from being very active as a child and having an enthusiasm for sport which endures. "I loved sport, I adored sport and I still love to be active," he says. But his passion for athletic pursuits was cruelly circumscribed when he had to have his legs amputated after suffering severe complications in a road accident when aged only 20.

The process of rehabilitation and recovery was a harrowing period in his life. "It's like bereavement. You go through the anger, you go through the frustration and then eventually you come to acceptance."

He said it was a year before he really adjusted to never having the full use of his legs again.

But the experience only made him stronger. Within months, he was training to take part in the Paralympics. Between 1981 and 1984, he won 18 gold medals and 14 world records in different events. An "inner strength" helped him to come to terms with his disability, and it was this strength that motivated him to compete and to win in the Paralympics. "I think that was in-built in me from the word go. I was constantly determined to win. I had the will to prepare to win and keep on preparing," he says.

From there, Ronan decided to pursue study in the area of physical education, becoming the first ever disabled person to get a place in such a course in Ireland. He followed this up by doing research in prosthetics in London, and after some years he returned to Ireland to study medicine, gaining his degree from Trinity College.

He was well into his residency as a medical doctor, at age 33, when he really considered formal training for his voice. Medicine had always been in his mind, something that he felt he could excel at, but it wasn't until his father encouraged him to take his singing more seriously that he decided to use his talent. "When I was in college, I sang and got free beers. I suppose, I never took it too seriously until one day my dad said to me, 'why don't you do something with the voice?' and then I started to think about it."

Ronan's parents, Edmund and Therese Tynan, have always been a central influence in his life, so it was natural for him to respond to his father's encouragement in this way. "They were the foundation for everything. When you get a chance to recollect everything they've done for you, you realise how lucky you are."

He speaks about them with great affection, fondly remembering his childhood on their farm in Kilkenny. "It was a healthy influence. I had chores, both in the house and outside, I used to clean out stables and milk cows."

He also remembers the interest that his mother took in him and his brother and sister, especially their education, sitting down with them and helping them with maths. She was particularly keen to encourage them to read.

"She used to get National Geographic every month and Time magazine every week and encouraged us to read an article out of it," he said. But it was their constant support of Ronan that was their greatest gift.

"They were great believers in me and they encouraged me right throughout my formative years. A healthy, positive attitude developed within me that couldn't be shaken. That's what the folks instilled in me."

Ronan has also been sustained by a sincere faith. "I've a huge belief in God. I believe you're nothing without Him. I certainly wouldn't be where I am without the Man above."

He added: "I think that we all need someone. The Man above is a fairly important person in my life." Prayer plays an important part in his life, "every time I go to perform".

Ronan soon showed that he had plenty of natural talent to match his determination, winning the BBC talent show Go For It and the John McCormack Cup in the Tenor Voice category less than a year after beginning voice training.

It wasn't long until he got a call from Bill Hughes, who had been a judge on Go For it, to get involved with The Irish Tenors. He agreed, and the group, which comprised himself, Anthony Kearns and John McDermott, was formed in 1998. For many people, a move from the medical profession to a singing career would be a big jump. But Ronan disagrees, arguing that both careers have a healing aspect.

"Medicine is healing with your ability to analyse results, singing is where you are giving of yourself to possibly heal somebody. Every one of us listens to a song and we either have nostalgic memories or it makes us feel happy or expressive or it allows us to cry." From that point of view, Ronan believes, music has a therapeutic value. For most people, a singing career is the work of a lifetime, the fruit of hours of singing practice over a long number of years. But Ronan Tynan is a late starter. "I'm lucky. I didn't have vocal training until I was 33.1 didn't have the chance to learn mad things, tricks. I still sing very naturally."

His decision to leave the Tenors and pursue a solo career was the result of a busy schedule and a reluctance to stand in the way of the group as a whole, he says. There was nothing more to it. "I just thought I'd take a break, do my own solo stuff, but I'm still very friendly with the lads," he says.

Musically, his solo offerings mark a shift in style. While Ronan's album contains some classical standards, there are also some tunes which have a more contemporary feel, such as original compositions by well known songwriters Richard Marx and Desmond Childs.

Ronan is dearly a man who will never stand still. "The biggest risk in life is not taking them," he says.

While his latest career move poses new challenges, he knows that he has already overcome some of the toughest personal obstacles anyone could face. Now, the sky's the limit

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