Jimmy Lynam: Remembering the Glen Rovers legend and All-Ireland winning Cork hurler

When the news filtered through last week that the former Cork and Glen Rovers stalwart Jimmy Lynam had passed away it brought widespread sadness to the GAA community.

The first interview I did with Jimmy was five months before his 100th birthday at Ballynoe Carechoice nursing home and his recollection of the good old days was very clear and precise.

Five months later after a family invitation, I went back to wish Jimmy a happy 100th birthday and surrounded by his family and friends, he looked proud and happy, taking in all the well-wishers in his stride.

Jimmy was born in Gerald Griffin Street about 100 yards from the North Cathedral, where his funeral mass took place and you one could sense he was very proud of his roots.

A lightning fast forward, Jimmy came through the underage scene in the early 1940s and he recalled the progression of his schooldays with a wry smile.

“I first attended the nuns at the North Presentation before going to the North Mon but to be honest, I never played Harty Cup with the team that included Jack Lynch as I left school to earn some money, as we had a big family of 12,” said the late Jimmy.

Positive

The remaining Lynam family consists of Noel and Gus, and it was the former who first introduced me to Jimmy. He believes the closing days were peaceful for Jimmy.

“Jimmy was in Ballynoe for two and half years and I regularly visited him and on the Tuesday before he passed away, he mentioned to me that he wasn’t as good as he would have liked.

“To be fair Jimmy was always positive with a great attitude and his love for the Glen was unbelievable and incredibly my only brother Gus, is also in Ballynoe with his wife but such is life, time waits for nobody. We will never forget Jimmy as he was such a great character,” said Noel.

The Glen days for Jimmy were incredible.

Up to 1939, the youngest championship in Cork was minor and there was a team on Cork’s northside called St Anne’s who ran Street Leagues and eventually an U16 championship came out of their hard work. He played with Gerald Griffin’s who managed to win a few championships and with Mick Kennefick in their team, it was fitting he went on to captain Cork in the 1943 All-Ireland hurling final.

Dedication

Jimmy was determined to see that final because of Kennefick’s participation and incredibly, with trains not an option, he decided to cycle with his great friend Gus O’Brien.

Leaving Cork on Friday, they stopped into Hawker Grady’s in Fermoy for a bit of grub before moving on to Cashel to bed down with a friend.

On Saturday, Jimmy and Gus moved on to Dublin staying the night before attending the final on Sunday and it was Tuesday before they left the capital and that showed Jimmy’s love of his sport.

The mention of Christy Ring’s name always brought the best out of Jimmy as recalled his playing days with the maestro. In 1944, a month before the county final, Cork had completed their four-in-a-row and the Glen were represented by Din Joe Buckley, Dr Jim Young, Jack Lynch and Christy Ring.

A decade later, Jimmy and Ring were still teammates in both codes as Lynam reminded me. Very few people were aware that Christy Ring played football but he actually won a football county medal in 1954 with St Nick’s in a year when the double was completed.

It was interesting when Jimmy was asked about his thoughts on the modern game.

In my time, we were out nine months a year playing so the legs were strong and there was no hamstrings or ligaments.

“If we didn’t walk it was cycling and I don’t think the modern players would do what we did in our time as now it’s all about driving cars but in reality, life has changed completely from my time in the sport.” 

Daughter Mary and son Kieran were consistently at the side of their father after the death of their mother Mary, in 2015. At the funeral mass, Kieran gave a glowing tribute to his father.

“He was proud of his family and the life that he and my mother Mary created especially for my sister Mary and I. He was proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren right to the end.” 

My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Jimmy’s loved ones and this incredibly sad time. May they find comfort in the knowledge that his impact was immense, and he will always be remembered with great respect, admiration and affection.

Thanks for the memories Jimmy!