Dane County Shamrock Club

The DCSC announces Ryan Dunn as its Irish Person of the Year for 2023.Ryan lives in Sun Prairie with his wife Natalie and children Patrick & Violet. A former history teacher, he currently manages grant programs for the State Department of Agriculture.Ryan is fiercely Irish and always happy to discuss it; he and Natalie married on the holiest day of the year, they topped it off with a honeymoon to the Emerald Isle (second time he’s been), not to mention his son’s name! A large proponent of a United Ireland, Ryan is also an interested observer of both modern-day and historical times with Michael Collins being his favorite figure.Originally from Hartford, Ryan was brought up hearing of his heritage often, or in somecases wearing it: when he was a kid, his mother would paint his nose green the eve of St.Patrick’s Day for school the next day. His father was a huge fan of Notre Dame football and would pass on his love for the Fightin’ Irish to Ryan, who continues to cheer (too?) loudly for the Blue & Gold every Saturday in the fall.A 2001 graduate of Marquette University, Ryan lived in Milwaukee for 12 years prior toliving in the Tampa Bay area for eight years. After the birth of Patrick, Ryan and Natalie decided to move back to Wisconsin to be closer to family. During his free time, Ryan is an avid golfer and a semi-outdoorsman. He also enjoys spending time in his wood shop.