English Shipping. Passengers, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 November 1873, p 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13326888:

Per William Duthie, For Sydney. [...] Rev. P.D. Ryan, [...]

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The Country, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 14 May 1898, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239564820:

Tamworth, Friday.
The Rev. P.D. Ryan, R.C. parish priest here, will celebrate the 25th year of his entry into the priesthood, and the 23rd anniversary of his advent to Tamworth, next month. At a meeting of members of the church last night it was resolved to present him on the occasion with a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address.

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Death of the Very. Rev. P.D. Ryan. Parish Priest of Tamworth, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 7 October 1899, p 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111074075:

"A typical parish priest, thoroughly Irish, big in body and in soul, very charitable and very hospitable, whose mission in life was to do good, with a smiling face—an apostle of Christian cheerfulness." In this way a Protestant visitor to Tamworth summed up Father Patrick Dwyer Ryan. The good priest breathed his last on Friday. He was spared a long illness. Father J. J. O'Neill administered the last rites of Holy Church.

Father Ryan, who was conscious almost up to the last moment, quietly breathed his last in the presence of his sister, Miss Ryan ; his cousin, Mr. Eugene Ryan, of Sydney ; Mr. R.J. Dunford, a very old friend, also from Sydney; the Rev. Father O'Neill, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Mooney, Mr. and Mrs. Paul, and the nurse, Miss Tarran.

The remains were interred on Monday in the cemetery, West Tamworth. The Solemn Office and Requiem Mass were solemnized in St. Nicholas' Church, his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Torreggiani (Bishop of Armidale) being the celebrant; Dean O'Connor (Armidale) deacon, the Rev. Father Harrington (Armidale) sub-deacon, the Rev. Father O'Neill (Tamworth) master of ceremonies, the Rev. Father Robinson (Walcha), assistant master of ceremonies. In the sanctuary were his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Murray (Bishop of Maitland), Father Hearn (Narrabri), who acted as Bishop's chaplain; and Father Macguinness (Moree). The church was thronged. The funeral procession started at half-past 2, and was a mile and a-quarter in length. The vehicles numbered 200. The prayers at the grave were read by Dean O'Connor. Every section of the community was represented at the funeral. Several Protestant ministers attended.

The deceased, who completed his 24th year as parish priest at Tamworth in September, was born in 1848 at Knocklegan, a village lying under the historic rock of Ballyneety, Co. Limerick. His early studies were supervised by a Mr. Loudon, a classical teacher who resided in his native village. His thoughts turning towards a religious life, he, in 1867, commenced a course of training for the priesthood at St. John's, Waterford, in the Archdiocese of Cashel. There he remained for two years, and in 1869 he went to St. Patrick's, in the same Archdiocese, where his education was completed. On the 15th June, 1873, he was ordained a priest by the late Right Rev. Dr. Leahy, Archbishop of Cashel. Shortly after his ordination he volunteered for the Diocese of Maitland. Father Ryan arrived in Australia towards the close of 1873, and his first appointment in this colony was as an assistant priest in the Diocese of Bathurst, which post he occupied for nearly two years. In 1875 he was appointed to the charge of the parish of Tamworth.

Father Ryan "roughed it" a good deal in the early days of his career in the Tamworth district, but difficulties served only as an incentive to energetic and courageous work. The element of determination was strong in him, and he leaves as memorials of well-directed efforts the fine parish church at Tamworth, and churches at Attunga, Goonoo Goonoo, Dungowan, Manilla, and Nundle. When, in 1876, a community of five Sisters belonging to the Dominican Order went to Tamworth, Father Ryan gave up his presbytery to them. Father Ryan lived in temporary quarters for eight years, and when the handsome Dominican Convent was completed in 1883, he returned to his old house, which he had considerably enlarged and improved in 1887. Early in 1879, St. Nicholas' Church, Tamworth, was completed, and was handed over to Father Ryan by the contractor, Mr. W.S. Dowel, who also built the convent. In January, 1886, the church was blessed by his Eminence Cardinal Moran, on which occasion there was a large gathering of eminent prelates and clergy from all parts of the colony. In 1886, the late Rev. Father Ryan went for a twelve months' trip to his native land, and so immensely popular was he that prior to his departure his parishioners and the townspeople made him accept a purse containing over 200 sovereigns to defray the expenses of the journey. Scarcely fifteen months ago Father Ryan celebrated his Silver Jubilee, and in order to properly commemorate the event, his parishioners, with the hearty support of the general public, organized celebrations the like of which had never before been seen in Tamworth. These celebrations were held on the 15th June, 1898, not the least pleasing incident being the presentation of a congratulatory address and a purse of 250 sovereigns. The presentation took place at a conversazione held in the Alhambra Hall, which was attended by a great assemblage of people of all creeds.

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Ryan, Patrick Dwyer

Born Knocklegan, Balleneety, Co Limerick, Ireland 1848. Studied at St John's Seminary, Waterford and St Patrick's College, Thurles, archdiocese of Cashel. Ordained at Thurles on 15 June 1873. He volunteered to go to the diocese of Maitland, arriving in Sydney in late 1873. His first appointment was as assistant priest in the Bathurst diocese, where he remained for 22 months. In 1875 he was appointed to Tamworth, where he remained for many years. Just after his arrival in Tamworth the mission district was divided into three, with priests based at Tamworth (briefly Michael Gough, who retired, and then Ryan), Wallabadah (William Kerwick) and Gunnedah (Thomas English). In 1876 a start was made on St Nicholas' church, Tamworth, the foundation stone laid in March 1877, completion in 1879, consecrated January 1886 by Cardinal Moran. When Tamworth was transferred to the Diocese of Armidale in September 1887 he also transferred to the diocese and remained in Tamworth. He celebrated his 25th anniversary of ordination on 15 June 1898 in Tamworth. He died in Tamworth on 29 September 1899 after a short but painful illness, and was buried in Tamworth cemetery.
(Sources: O'Hanlon, FJ 4 Jun 1898 p 19, 25 Jun 1898 p 18, 7 Oct 1899 p 7, 14 Oct 1899 p 17, Advocate 21 Oct 1899 p3 Supp, Manilla Historical Society records, MDHC A-Z R93).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)