About Us

For several years Michael Ryder has been involved in the local rental market, Steadily building up an impressive portfolio of business in this rapidly expanding Sector of the property market. It will remain of special interest to him, he hasten to add.

Michael is, of course, already a very well-known figure in the agri-supplies business Having spent much of his working life in animal feed sales to the West of Ireland farming Community, for McDonogh's of Galway, and more recently with Connacht Gold, through their Airglooney, Tuam, depot.

Before all that, Michael was in Farm Management, in Cork, Clare, and in Tuam: it was very good experience for him, he says, and work he greatly enjoyed, having qualified from Mountbellew Ag.

College after secondary school. “All my working life, in farm management and in animal feed I met really great people and learned a huge amount from them,” He adds. “I genuinely believe that’ll stand me in good stead in the very public business I’m going into now.

Michael two chief interests outside work, early in his life, were Macra na Feirme (the great national organisation for young people with mainly rural background) and Corofin Football Club. With Macra, Michael started out in the very active Cortoon branch and rose through the ranks to become both County Chairman and County P.R.O. Corofin Football Club is a way of life and a labour of love for him.

He is currently the Club treasurer, a responsible position in such a big club, but he takes it all in his stride. He is proud to have worn the famous Green and Saffron colours, for the 1996 Co. Junior championship and League-winning team, but his involvement is first and foremost as an administrator, from joining the club committee in 1985 to serving as treasurer for the past Ten years.

Married to Margaret Murphy from Craughwell – They have three children, Derek (16) and 14 – year – old twin sisters Emma and Lorraine (all footballers!) – Michael feels it is vital to have strong family and community support going into business in today’s tough fiercely competitive environment. “So many people have helped me, I wish I could thank them all here by name, but they are literally too numerous to mention,” he says. “I must say publicly, though that my fellow auctioneers in Tuam have been extremely helpful and I greatly appreciate their goodwill.” 

He has huge admiration for local business people who have not been afraid to expand And give a vote of confidence to their locality; he names Joe O’Toole, Martin Geoghegan and Johnny Mannion as three men he believe deserve great credit, and he will be adding his voice to calls for the I.D.A. to speed up their plans for the 45-acre factory units site at Dunmore Road, Tuam. He feels that his new office at the lower end of High Street, between the Fire Station and St.

Mary’s Cathedral is located in a very attractive part of the town. And as the name Varden House suggests, Michael Ryder is particularly pleased to be associated with a building that has a link to another dynamic Tuam man, Tommy Varden, The famous “name on the Jersey” as thousands of Galway people all over the world know Tommy since the glory days of winning the Sam Maguire Cup in 1998 and 2001.

The Michael Ryder and his family would like to thank everyone who wish us well, sent card, gifts, flowers, and there are all very much appreciated.