Longford’s Republican leader Seán Lynch (1933 – 2024)

Seán Lynch, the legendary Longford Republican, passed away in Our Lady’s Manor Nursing Home, Edgeworthstown on 17 April last. Seán was the voice and face of Sinn Féin and Republicanism in County Longford for over sixty years.

On Easter Sunday 1955, Seán Lynch went to Newtownforbes to his first Easter Commemoration, accompanied by his father Seán F, and there he met Ruairí Ó Bradaigh for the first time. These two, Ruairí and Seán, charted the course of Sinn Féin for decades. Ruairí was a leader at national level and Seán was the undisputed figurehead in County Longford.
Seán’s father, Seán F, had been a member of Longford County Council for thirty-five years, from 1934-1969. When Seán F died suddenly in 1969, there was a general expectation that his son would be co-opted in his place.
However, in a surprise move, Fianna Fáil, who held a majority on the council, decided to co-opt one of their own to the Lynch seat.

At the next local elections in 1974, Seán Lynch, as a Sinn Féin candidate, took the seat. This was the first time in over fifty years that a Sinn Féin candidate won a seat on Longford County Council.
In 1980, Sinn Féin held the balance of power on the council, and Seán Lynch was elected to the position of Cathaoirleach.
This was during the dramatic period of the H-Blocks campaign and the hunger strikes. In an effort to secure the demands of the hunger strikers, a number of republican prisoners were chosen to run as candidates in the Dáil election of 1981.

Martin Hurson, then on hunger strike in Long Kesh, was chosen to run in the Longford/Westmeath constituency and Seán Lynch was appointed his Director of Elections. Seán worked exceedingly hard on the election campaign and Hurson came very close to taking a Dáil seat.
At the next local elections in 1985, Lynch lost his council seat, due to boundary changes, but he regained it in 1991.
By this stage, the Republican Movement had suffered another split in 1986 and Seán Lynch continued as a Republican Sinn Féin councillor.

There was an eight-year gap until the next local elections in 1999, when Lynch retained his seat, but he lost out at the 2004 election.
In all, Seán Lynch held a Sinn Féin seat on Longford County Council for thirty years from 1974 to 2004, apart from the period 1985-1991. Sheas Seán mar ionadaí do Shinn Féin in Olltoghchán na bliana 1982.

Martin Hurson, died on hunger strike in Long Kesh on 13 July 1981, as a result of British intransigence on the hunger strikers’ demands and Seán Lynch was asked to deliver the oration at his graveside in Galbally, Co Tyrone. This was undoubtedly the most momentous occasion in Seán Lynch’s life and one that he frequently spoke about. Seán maintained links with the Hurson family and Galbally throughout the rest of his life and, fittingly, Bernadette Donnelly, (who was engaged to Martin Hurson), paid a final visit to Seán in the nursing home in Edgeworthstown on 17 April, the very day he passed away. Fuair Seán bás níos déanaí an tráthnóna céanna.

Seán Lynch knew the hardship of being a Republican, as did many others, over the course of his lifetime – his house being searched, his moves being watched.
During the Troubles, his home was raided on numerous occasions by Gardaí and Special Branch, and it was even searched twice in the same day.

Seán Lynch also had a lifelong involvement in the GAA, as a player, mentor and supporter. He served as club secretary, vice chairman, county board delegate and treasurer.
A vivid memory is that of Seán walking the sideline at Colmcille’s club games in the 1960s, with cap in hand, trying to collect contributions, at a time when there was no such thing as gates or turnstiles at GAA pitches.
He was on the Fr McGee Park committee which developed the fine playing facilities in Colmcille, and he organised reunions of many successful Colmcille teams.

Seán will be mourned not only by his immediate relatives and friends, but also by the wider republican community, and especially Republican Sinn Fein, of which he was a dedicated member.
People of all political persuasions recognised his dedication to the cause of Irish unity and the goal of a 32-county Irish Republic. Fittingly, members of Colmcille GAA had a guard of honour at Sean’s funeral, as did members and former members of Longford County Council.

Reporting on his death, Sinn Féin Poblachtach said of him “A dedicated and faithful Republican, Seán Lynch was Cathaoirleach of Comhairle Chonnacht, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, for many years.
He was elected Life-Vice President in 2018 and Patron of the organisation on the death of Peig King in 2019”.
Sincere sympathy to Seán’s sisters Anne Murray, Kathy Lee and Ita McLoughlin, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and extended family.

Tá ceannaire na bPoblachtach i Longfort ar lár. Le breis is trí fichid bliain bhí sé ina cheannaire. Fear a bhí dílis, dúthrachtach agus a chaith a shaol ag tacú le Sinn Féin agus leis an gCumann Lúthchleas Gael. Ní dhéanfar dearmad ort go deo a Sheáin.
(Seán Ó Súilleabháin)