Widespread sadness has been expressed since the Toland family announced the sudden, untimely death of Mr. Ryan Patrick Toland, AKA 'Kappa', aged 29, who passed away at his home in Portstewart on March 7.

Ryan was laid to rest on March 12 at Maghernenagh New Cemetery, Belleek.

Ryan is the son of Josephine Toland and the late Derek Swanson, and leaves behind his children, Daisy, Blake, and their mother, Danielle.

He leaves behind his beloved brother, Maurice, and sisters, Mary and Patricia; partners Donald, Crawford and Paul; and cousins, Nathan and Adam.

Ryan attended St. Patrick’s Primary School in Derrygonnelly, moving on to Erne Integrated College and Fermanagh College of Further Education.

He demonstrated a flair for cooking and showed early signs of becoming a successful chef, completing a Level Three in Hospitality and Catering.

While attending secondary school, Ryan started working at a local garden centre as he immensely enjoyed the sun, nature, and learning about flowers.

Ryan was one of four students selected by Fermanagh College to represent Northern Ireland in Iceland, and completed a six-week placement alongside other chefs at the Hilton Hotel.

He later worked at Franco’s award-winning restaurant, the Railway Hotel and Granny Annie’s in Enniskillen, through which Ryan often talked about his love for cooking various types of dishes.

He thoroughly enjoyed cooking for his family at home, and in Ryan’s words, “Good food is also about good presentation.”

Ryan took up art in his later years, showing great promise as a shadow artist, and made specific pieces of sculpture for his family.

He enjoyed socialising with his family and many friends, and was known to many as 'a gentle giant'.

Everyone who knew Ryan found him to be polite, caring and well-mannered, and always showed great support and empathy to those around him in greater need.

Ryan loved life, and on his Facebook page, he had placed his life’s focus in a heading of, 'Live life to the max'.