Irish tenor Ronan Tynan quits New York for Boston after death threats

Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 at 03:54 AM

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Ronan Tynan has decided to leave New York after death threats, boycotts and angry emails put him under pressure to move.

The Irish-born Tynan is quitting New York for Boston and has not ruled out singing ‘America the Beautiful’ at Red Sox games. Since 9/11 up to last year he had become a fixture doing the same at Yankees games.

The Irish tenor has now purchased an apartment in Boston. His relationship with the New York Yankees ended since he was accused of anti-Semitic remarks by a woman looking at an apartment in his building last October 16th.

Tynan stated to The New York Times that death threats, angry emails and a surgeon who wrote saying he would let him die on the operating table were particularly difficult.

Tynan also told of an experience where a leading chef would not let him sit with a table of customers because one of them, a Jewish man, refused to meet him.

“It hasn’t driven me out, because I love this city so much, but it has saddened me. I’ve cried and I’ve laughed with New Yorkers, irrespective of creed or whether they’re Jewish or Catholic or Protestant.

“I made a comment that was misunderstood,” said Tynan, a medical doctor who first shot to fame as part of the Irish Tenors.
He had both of his legs amputated below the knee as a child because of a congenital condition.

"If anyone knows the pain of discrimination, I do,” he told the newspaper.

Tynan made what he admitted was an anti-Semitic remark on October 16, which he said was in jest after two Jewish women had looked at an apartment in his building.

Subsequently the real estate agent told him the apartment had been sold and Tynan replied, “As long as they are not the Jewish ladies.” A Jewish woman with the real estate agent overheard the remark and complained to the building and the Yankees.

The Yankees quickly banned him and never relented despite his best efforts. Tynan has now sold his apartment and bought one in Boston.

The Yankees issued a terse statement saying, “We wish him all the best,” when the news broke. Tynan wore a World Series ring when interviewed by The Times.

As for singing for the Red Sox, Tynan would not rule it out “We’ll see", he said.

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owainglyndwr16 | Mar 04, 2011, 07:06 PM EST

Its that Zionist comnjoured Anti Semitic lie again !! most Jews are not even Semitic ... Or should i say the ones who take offence are not semitic .. I have semitic friends .. Arabs and Jews and guess what? They don't recognise the state of Israel !!

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Bushothehill | Mar 07, 2010, 09:39 AM EST

Despite making his apologies and giving a benefit concert for the Jewish organization, they still wanted the blood of this decent man who had overcome all kinds of medical and physical disabilities to succeed. One doesn't need to look further than the jackals to see where the bias and prejuidice is rooted.

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kickstar | Mar 07, 2010, 01:01 AM EST

I guarantee you that if this treatment of a fellow Irish person is at the behest of Jewish America then Irish/Jewish relations may plumb a new low

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CanadianPat | Mar 06, 2010, 03:20 PM EST

There must be more to the story!Death threats,and such for what seems innocent enough. If he had said "the Italian ladies ' or such you would say he did like those two ladies not that he was anti-Italian. I have close Jewish connections and they would very likely say the same thing.So what's up? Is there more to the story?

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Devlino | Mar 06, 2010, 03:08 PM EST

Just more evidence that Jews run America. It is amazing that they can say whatever they want about the "goyim" but God forbid that you say anything about them. This is just one more reason to hate the Yankees - and the people they pander to!

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grandmaguns | Mar 06, 2010, 10:34 AM EST

God bless Ronan. May he be happy in Boston. He can sing "God Bless America" any where he likes in this great country. Amazing that people can knock the Irish all they want but stay away from their heritage because it becomes a federal case.

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johnozed | Mar 06, 2010, 10:34 AM EST

I sincerely doubt there were threats on his life. The work dried up because he's an ass.

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mikemeboy | Mar 06, 2010, 09:31 AM EST

Well, what will New York City be like without Ronan and Rush? Better off I say, I guess that maxim is true: "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". I don't think death treaths is the appropriate response to what were insensitive remarks on his part. We Irish should never forget that we were the victims of such discrimnatory remarks, etc. So long fellas, don't let the door hit you where the Lord split ya.

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