Ryanair have in the past employed many pilots without European passport, the Irish authorities being particularly " obliging" in granting variations allowing diverse licences/nationalities to be accepted ,and suitable work permits issued. These situations have tended to be in times of pilot shortage, and there would obviously be no need for them to request something similar in the current situation. If they really need you they will find a way, if they don't they won't. I don't believe this is unique to RYR, I think all need EU nationality OR right to work whichever company you look at, normally both options should be equally acceptable.
BelArgUSA, happy to say I am a long way from Blighty
, I had heard merely that in recent times, the guys didn't anymore have the good time off that you enjoyed, also heard that you needed a crash pad in the Duchy as they wanted you on a kind of SBY for some of the time. Anyhow, all 2nd or 3rd hand, but for sure , like everything else, the halcyon days you had there are probably sadly long gone.