Diarmuid Lynch (10 January 1878 – 9 November 1950) was a member of the
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB; ) was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland between 1858 and 1924.McGee, p. 15. Its counterpart in the United States ...
and
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...
member of the
First Dáil
The First Dáil ( ga, An Chéad Dáil) was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919 to 1921. It was the first meeting of the unicameral parliament of the revolutionary Irish Republic. In the December 1918 election to the Parliament of the United ...
.
Early life
Lynch, born Jeremiah Christopher, was born in Granig,
Tracton
Tracton () is a civil parish in southeast County Cork in Ireland. Lying roughly 7 kilometres south of Carrigaline, it lies within the Dáil constituency of Cork South-Central. The area is named after Tracton Abbey, a Cistercian monastery tha ...
,
County Cork
County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns a ...
and was the son of Timothy Lynch, a farmer, and Hannah Dunlea.
His mother Hannah died from pneumonia in July 1878 when Diarmuid was a small infant; his father, who had remarried, died when Diarmuid was thirteen years of age.
In his autobiography, Lynch recalls being taken to a political meeting in
Cork city
Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city's ...
by his father in 1886 which was addressed by
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell (27 June 1846 – 6 October 1891) was an Irish nationalist politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1875 to 1891, also acting as Leader of the Home Rule League from 1880 to 1882 and then Leader of the ...
. He also describes attending a monster
Land League
The Irish National Land League ( Irish: ''Conradh na Talún'') was an Irish political organisation of the late 19th century which sought to help poor tenant farmers. Its primary aim was to abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farme ...
rally at
Minane Bridge
Minane Bridge () is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is in the townland of Minane, 20 km south of Cork city and 5 km south of Carrigaline
Carrigaline () is a town and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the River ...
which was addressed by
William O'Brien
William O'Brien (2 October 1852 – 25 February 1928) was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons o ...
and Dr.
Charles Tanner MP. He was politically influenced by his teachers, particularly Michael McCarthy, head master at Knocknamana
National School.
Career
Like other ambitious rural Irishmen of his generation, such as
Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to:
* Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician
* Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...
and
J. J. Walsh
James Joseph Walsh (20 February 1880 – 3 February 1948), generally referred to as J. J. Walsh, was Postmaster General, (later Minister for Posts and Telegraphs) of the Irish Free State from 1923 to 1927. He was also a senior Gaelic Athletic A ...
, Lynch found employment in the
Postal service. He began working as a sorting clerk in the Cork GPO and studied at
Skerry's College
Skerry's College was a series of colleges which primarily prepared candidates for Civil Service examinations.
History
1878-1885
Skerry’s College was inaugurated as a small training centre in Edinburgh in 1878 by George Skerry,Skerry's Colleg ...
for entrance to the
Civil Service. In an open competitive examination he secured a place as a "Boy Clerk" at the
Mount Pleasant money order office, London. Mount Pleasant would play a very significant part in the growth of the
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB; ) was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland between 1858 and 1924.McGee, p. 15. Its counterpart in the United States ...
(IRB), because it was here that individuals such as Collins,
Sam Maguire
Samuel Maguire (11 March 1877 – 6 February 1927) was an Irish republican and Gaelic football player. He is chiefly remembered as the eponym of the Sam Maguire Cup, given to the All-Ireland Senior Champions of Gaelic football each year.
Ear ...
and others first became acquainted. Lynch himself would become a member of the IRB Supreme Council. While in London he played
hurling with the London Gaels.
Emigration to US
Lynch accepted an offer of employment from his uncle Cornelius Dunlea in New York. His skill as an organiser was soon recognised having joined the New York Philo-Celtic Society in the summer of 1897. By December of that year, he had been elected secretary. Within a short period, membership in the organisation had almost quadrupled. The primary function of the society was the preservation of the
Irish language
Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...
and culture in the Irish-American nationalist community. Lynch "was convinced that restoration of the Irish language would increase the self respect of the Irish people." His activities in New York, and in particular his work for the Irish language, saw him elevated to the position of the State President of the
Gaelic League
(; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it emer ...
of the State of New York. It was this role which would bring him to the attention of the
Clan na Gael
Clan na Gael ( ga, label=modern Irish orthography, Clann na nGael, ; "family of the Gaels") was an Irish republican organization in the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries, successor to the Fenian Brotherhood and a sister org ...
leadership of
John Devoy
John Devoy ( ga, Seán Ó Dubhuí, ; 3 September 1842 – 29 September 1928) was an Irish republican rebel and journalist who owned and edited '' The Gaelic American'', a New York weekly newspaper, from 1903 to 1928.
Devoy dedicated over ...
, its president, and
Daniel F. Cohalan, two of the most important figures in Irish-American politics. It was Lynch and his persuasive powers that influenced Judge Cohalan to accept "that the propagation of the language, instead of hindering the objective of the Clan, was essential to its achievement."
As Lynch's reputation grew so did his sphere of influence. Before he returned to Ireland in 1907, he could boast a circle of friends, including
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa ( ga, Diarmaid Ó Donnabháin Rosa; baptised 4 September 1831, died 29 June 1915)Con O'Callaghan Reenascreena Community Online (dead link archived at archive.org, 29 September 2014) was an Irish Fenian leader and member ...
, Dr Thomas Addis Emmet,
Ricard O'Sullivan Burke, John J. Breslin and
Tom Clarke.
Having spent almost eleven years in America, Lynch decided to return to Ireland. He had been back in 1902 for a short period, when, with the aid of
Liam de Róiste, he had organised an Irish cultural
feis
A () or () is a traditional Gaelic arts and culture festival. The plural forms are () and (). The term is commonly used referring to Irish dance competitions and, in Scotland, to immersive teaching courses, specialising in traditional musi ...
at Minane Bridge.
Return to Ireland
On his return to Ireland, he was employed by Thomas McKenzie & Sons, Dublin, a large wholesaler of agricultural supplies. He later joined the IRB at the invitation of
Seán T. O'Kelly
Seán Thomas O'Kelly ( ga, Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh; 25 August 1882 – 23 November 1966), originally John T. O'Kelly, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the second president of Ireland from June 1945 to June 1959. He also serve ...
. By 1911 he had been appointed to the IRB Supreme Council as the Divisional Representative for Munster.
Lynch played a role in the planning of the 1916
Easter Rising. He was chosen by
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse (also known as Pádraig or Pádraic Pearse; ga, Pádraig Anraí Mac Piarais; 10 November 1879 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist, republican political activist and revolutionary who ...
to go to
Tralee
Tralee ( ; ga, Trá Lí, ; formerly , meaning 'strand of the Lee River') is the county town of County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in Count ...
and identify the best area to land German arms. Lynch reported directly to Pearse that
Fenit
Fenit () is a small village in County Kerry, Ireland, located on north side of Tralee Bay about west of Tralee town, just south of the Shannon Estuary. The bay is enclosed from the Atlantic by the Maharee spit which extends northwards from ...
would be the most secure location for the proposed landing. At this time, he was the only member of the IRB Supreme Council to attend meetings of the even more secret IRB Military Council.
After
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill ( ga, Eoin Mac Néill; born John McNeill; 15 May 1867 – 15 October 1945) was an Irish scholar, Irish language enthusiast, Gaelic revivalist, nationalist and politician who served as Minister for Education from 1922 to 1925, Cea ...
cancelled the orders for the planned manoeuvres over the Easter period, Lynch attended a hastily arranged meeting at 27 Hardwick Street, which also included Pearse,
Thomas MacDonagh
Thomas Stanislaus MacDonagh ( ga, Tomás Anéislis Mac Donnchadha; 1 February 1878 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish political activist, poet, playwright, educationalist and revolutionary leader. He was one of the seven leaders of the Easter Rising ...
,
Joseph Mary Plunkett
Joseph Mary Plunkett (Irish: ''Seosamh Máire Pluincéid''; 21 November 1887 – 4 May 1916) was an Irish nationalist, republican, poet, journalist, revolutionary and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising. Joseph Mary Plunkett married Grace Giff ...
and
Seán Mac Diarmada
Seán Mac Diarmada (27 January 1883 – 12 May 1916), also known as Seán MacDermott, was an Irish republican political activist and revolutionary leader. He was one of the seven leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916, which he helped to organi ...
, at which it was decided to go ahead with the Rising.
Easter Rising
Lynch was
aide-de-camp to
James Connolly
James Connolly ( ga, Séamas Ó Conghaile; 5 June 1868 – 12 May 1916) was an Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader. Born to Irish parents in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, Connolly left school for working life at the a ...
and Staff Captain in the GPO during the Rising. He was also considered to be the last man to leave the GPO. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was, like
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera (, ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was a prominent Irish statesman and political leader. He served several terms as head of govern ...
's, commuted to life, because of his American citizenship. Lynch was sent to prison in England, but was released from
Pentonville Prison
HM Prison Pentonville (informally "The Ville") is an English Category B men's prison, operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. Pentonville Prison is not in Pentonville, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Road in the Barnsbury ar ...
on 16 June 1917.
Sinn Féin reorganisation
Immediately following his release, Lynch became active again, and, along with
Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to:
* Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician
* Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...
and
Thomas Ashe
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
, participated in the reorganisation of the IRB. After the 1917 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, Lynch, like Collins, held three senior posts in the IRB, Sinn Féin and the
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers ( ga, Óglaigh na hÉireann), sometimes called the Irish Volunteer Force or Irish Volunteer Army, was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists and republicans. It was ostensibly formed in respon ...
.
His position as Sinn Féin food controller resulted in his deportation to England in 1918. During this period much of the Irish agricultural produce was being sent to Britain to support the war effort. Lynch ordered that a specific shipment of pigs at the
North wall ready for shipment to England be slaughtered for the Irish market and the money given to owners of the stock. He was arrested and sentenced to deportation, but before this was enforced he was secretly married. His fiancée Mary Quinn and a priest were smuggled into Dundalk Jail and Lynch was married. This event was a propaganda coup as the British authorities had originally refused permission for the marriage.
Return to the US
When Lynch was deported to America he thought "It certainly greatly enhanced the prestige of Sinn Fein...the party of action and not of talk". They dedicated a new ballad "The Pig Push" to Lynch:
"We'll have pig's cheeks and pork chops enough for you and me,
there'll be rashers for our breakfast and some sausages for tea."
Lynch threateningly said "there'll hear G Division squeal as far off as Berlin".
Shortly afterwards he was appointed Secretary of the
Friends of Irish Freedom
The Friends of Irish Freedom was an Irish-American nationalist organisation founded at the third Irish Race Convention held in New York (4–5 March 1916). Supported by the United Irish League, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and other leading I ...
, originally set up to raise funds and lobby in Washington DC to promote the Irish cause for independence. Under his tenure, the organisation became nationwide, and on 4 March 1919, as a result of its lobbying, Congress voted 216 to 41 to adopt the following motion: "That it is the earnest hope of the United states of America that the peace conference, now sitting in Paris, in passing upon the rights of various peoples, will favourably consider the claims of Ireland to the right of self-determination." While this was not what the recognition of the
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic ( ga, Poblacht na hÉireann or ) was an unrecognised revolutionary state that declared its independence from the United Kingdom in January 1919. The Republic claimed jurisdiction over the whole island of Ireland, but by ...
which Lynch, Devoy and Colohan had sought, it was a call for Ireland to present its case at the
Versailles Peace Conference
The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...
.
In the
1918 general election after
Eugene Crean
Eugene Crean (1854–1939) was an Irish nationalist politician and MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party 1892–1910, for the All-for Ireland Party 1910–19 ...
MP stood down, Lynch was returned unopposed while ''in absentia'' in America. He became
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...
(TD) in the
First Dáil
The First Dáil ( ga, An Chéad Dáil) was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919 to 1921. It was the first meeting of the unicameral parliament of the revolutionary Irish Republic. In the December 1918 election to the Parliament of the United ...
for
Cork South East.
Tension with De Valera
The arrival of Éamon de Valera to America in 1919 was followed by the establishment of a rival organisation to the Friends of Irish Freedom. In 1920, Lynch resigned his Dáil seat in sympathy with Devoy and Colohan. He wrote a letter of resignation in July 1920, which was read out to the Dáil the following month. In it he said that: "Differences have arisen since July 1919, between De Valera and the recognised leaders of the movement here as to the proper conduct of the campaign in America for the recognition of the Irish Republic and these circumstances have governed my actions in resigning."
De Valera and Lynch would again become embroiled in a bitter battle in 1929, when associates of De Valera tried unsuccessfully to claim the unused funds raised by the
Friends of Irish Freedom
The Friends of Irish Freedom was an Irish-American nationalist organisation founded at the third Irish Race Convention held in New York (4–5 March 1916). Supported by the United Irish League, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and other leading I ...
in 1919 and 1920. De Valera sought to claim this money to establish the ''
Irish Press
''The Irish Press'' ( Irish: ''Scéala Éireann'') was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.
Foundation
The paper's first issue was published on the eve of the 1931 All-Ireland ...
''. Lynch's eventual victory in the case was attributable to his record-keeping and organisational skills.
Civil War and later life
Lynch played no part in the
Irish Civil War, but along with his IRB comrade
Seán O'Hegarty, made several unsuccessful attempts to stop it. In an impassioned letter, written in 1922 to the members of Friends of Irish Freedom, he wrote: "Our influence may be exercised towards securing for Ireland the greatest need of the moment – Peace."
In 1933 he returned to Ireland, living initially in Mallow but settling in Tracton, County Cork. He contributed to the work of the
Bureau of Military History
The Bureau of Military History in Ireland was established in January 1947 by Oscar Traynor TD, Minister for Defence and former Captain in the Irish Volunteers. The rationale for the establishment of the Bureau was to give individuals who played ...
in collecting witness statements from those who had taken part in the War of Independence and in reviewing historical publications. He attempted to run for the Senate in 1944 but was not successful.
He was married secretly in Dundalk prison on 24 April 1918 to Kathleen Quinn from
County Kildare. They had no children.
[ Lynch died in 1950 and his funeral took place at ]Minane Bridge
Minane Bridge () is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is in the townland of Minane, 20 km south of Cork city and 5 km south of Carrigaline
Carrigaline () is a town and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the River ...
in County Cork
County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns a ...
.
References
Sources
* De Blacam, Aodh, ''What Sinn Fein stands for: The Irish Republican Movement, its History, Arms and Ideals'' (Dublin 1921)
* Lynch, Diarmuid & Florence O'Donoghue
Florence O'Donoghue (22 July 1894–18 December 1967) was an Irish historian and head of intelligence of the Cork No. 1 Brigade of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.
He was born in Rathmore, County Kerry, Irela ...
''The IRB and the 1916 insurrection''
Cork: Mercier Press, 1957.
Group photograph
with Harry Boland, De Valera, John Devoy, Liam Mellows and Pat McCartan. New York circ. 1919/'20. From ''Harry Boland's Irish Revolution''
* McCurtan, Patrick, ''With de Valera in America'' (New York 1932)
* Novick, Ben, ''Concerning Revolution: Irish Nationalist Propaganda during the First world War'' (Dublin 2001)
* O'Broin, Leon, ''Revolutionary Underground: The Story of the Irish Republican Brotherhood 1858–1924'' (Dublin 1976)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Diarmuid
1878 births
1950 deaths
Early Sinn Féin TDs
Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Members of the 1st Dáil
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Cork constituencies (1801–1922)
Politicians from County Cork
UK MPs 1918–1922
American activists for Irish independence