User:Its.dendo/sandbox

Family Life
Phyllis was the younger of two daughters that were born to father, Thomas J. Ryan. Thomas served time in the (British Army) and later worked as a civil servant. Thomas became an estranged father from the family shortly after Phyllis was born but was later introduced to Phyllis as her uncle but was later revealed to Phyllis as her stepfather. Phyllis is said to have no recollection of her father’s presence. Phyliss and her family lived in several places across southeast Dublin but finally ended up settling in Palmerstown Road, Rathmines. Both Phyllis and her sister, Doris, were raised by then single mother ‘May’ (or ‘Maisie’) Ryan (née Murphy) who was simultaneously seeing Dublin Evening Mail editor 'Joseph Anderson' who was living with them at the time. Phyllis initially attended Alexandra School and College until the age of 13 where she was accepted into The Abbey Theatre School of Acting. Phyllis also went by the nickname of 'Bambi' due to her frail bodily appearance and her facial similarities to that of a timid animal.

Phyllis later got married to stage manager at the Gate Theatre, Sean Colleary in 1941 in (Greystones), Co Wicklow. The marriage failed due to Colleary suffering with a nervous disorder which forced him to flee for (London) to work after being unable to provide for his family in Ireland. He later died in 1965, both he and Phyllis remaining legally bound the entire time they were separated. The former couple had one daughter and one son during their relationship, Jacqueline Colleary, who herself has also previously performed as an actor and Rev. Graham (Gregg) Colleary. Ryan later dated Irish poet, and journalist, Liam MacGabhann who was married at the time until his subsequent death in 1978.