Real taoiseach Jack Lynch: ‘In spirit he will always be with us’

‘RIP Jack Lynch, Aug 15, 1917 - Oct 20, 1999,’ read the headline on the only story on the black-bordered front page of the Evening Echo the Wednesday the former taoiseach died, beside a portrait of Mr Lynch, looking characteristically warm and avuncular, his pipe in his hand.

Mr Lynch had passed away at the age of 82, at 7.30am that morning in Dublin, after a long illness, the Echo reported, and it was expected that his remains would be removed to Cork for a State funeral the following weekend.

President Mary McAleese led the tributes, and taoiseach Bertie Ahern said of his predecessor: “We pay a fond farewell to the real taoiseach who brought such honour and quiet ability to that challenging task.”

Regarded as the most popular Irish politician since Daniel O’Connell, Mr Lynch had succeeded Seán Lemass as leader of Fianna Fáil in 1966, serving twice as taoiseach, between 1966 and 1973, and again between 1977 and 1979.

John Mary Lynch was born on Bob and Joan’s Walk, in the shadow of St Anne’s Shandon, and grew up in Blackpool, the fifth of seven children.

Educated in St Vincent’s Convent on Peacock Lane, he won a secondary school scholarship to the North Monastery, becoming the first person in his family to gain a secondary education.

A job in the civil service followed, and he studied law by night at UCC, finishing his studies at King’s Inns in Dublin, where he qualified as a BL, being called to the bar in 1945.

Flip of a coin

It has been suggested his decision to leave the civil service and become a barrister in Cork was made on the flip of a coin.

A sporting legend, having dallied in his youth with swimming, rugby, handball and soccer, he won six All-Ireland medals in a row, five for hurling and one for football, and he also held three National League, six Munster Championships, and eight Railway Cup medals.

In 1946 he married the love of his life, Máirín O’Connor, and she became his closest confidant and advisor, standing by his side throughout his career.

Something of an accidental politician, he first stood for the Dáil in the 1948 general election, topping the poll in the Cork Borough, and, with Fianna Fáil out of power for the first time since 1932, he became a speechwriter for Éamon de Valera.

Appointed parliamentary secretary (minister of State) when the party returned to office in 1951, he went on to serve as minister for education, minister for industry and commerce and finance minister before becoming the third leader of Fianna Fáil and taoiseach in 1966.

Mr Lynch served as taoiseach from 1966-1973 and again from 1977-1979, during turbulent times in Irish history, marked by the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and the 1970 Arms Crisis.

Freedom of Cork

During his first term, he played a key role in leading Ireland into the European Economic Community in 1973, and in 1977 he became the last taoiseach to lead their party to an overall Dáil majority.

By 1979, the Troubles, two Cork by-election losses, and internal party manoeuvring conspired to cement his decision to resign, and following an intense leadership battle, Charles Haughey narrowly defeated Lynch’s preferred successor, George Colley.

In 1980 he received the freedom of Cork.

Jack Lynch left politics at the 1981 general election, settling into a relatively quiet retirement of company directorships and foreign travel.

“He loved us and we loved him,” read the Evening Echo’s front page headline on Saturday, October 23, 1999, a direct quote from Mr Lynch’s lifelong friend, Bishop John Buckley.

“Jack would not want us to be crestfallen or sad today,” the bishop told Mr Lynch’s State funeral Mass in the North Cathedral. “In spirit he will always be with us.”