Lynch Family
Arms. Azure, a
chevron, between three trefoils, slipped.
Crest. A Lynx, passant, argent.
Motto. Semper fidelis.
The Lynch family are so well known as to need little
introduction as one of the Tribes of Galway. They arrived in
Ireland with Hugh DeLacy, and were sufficiently well
established to supply the majority of the Mayors of Galway
during the 15, 16 and 17th centuries.
Fine castles and seats
remain in
Galway City, Newcastle, Barna, Drimcong, Lydican,
Moycullen, and Shannonbridge. |
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This is one of the most ancient, and, until the middle of
the seventeenth century, was one of the leading
families in Galway. In the old volume of pedigrees,
preserved in the Heralds office, it appears, that, ''William
le Petit, came to Ireland, in 1185, with Sir Hugh de Lacy,
who granted him, by his charter, Macherithirnar, (now
the barony of Macherydernan, in Westmeath,)
except the Logh and Town of Dysart; that they were palatine
barons of Molingare, and that William le Petit, had a son,
Nicholas, who was ancestor to the family of Lynch of Galway.
John
de Lynch was the first settled of the name Lynch in Galway.
He
was married to the daughter and sole heiress of William de Mareschall, and, it is stated, that the eldest branch of the
family, was called Mareschall, until the male line became
extinct. During the greatest part of the 15, 16 and 17th
centuries, they possessed the principal authority within the
town.
Dominick Lynch Fitz John, commonly called Dominick
Dubh, in 1484 solicited and procured the charter of Richard
III. under which he caused his brother, Pierce, to be
elected first Mayor, and was himself the second. His son
Stephen, at the same time, sued out and obtained the bull of
Innocent VIII. which established here that singular
ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the wardenship.
Thomas Lynch Fitz Ambrose was the last catholic mayor in 1654.
This is when the
ancient inhabitants were dispossessed by Cromwell. During a period of 169 years, 84 members of this family,
were mayors of Galway. The eldest line of the Lynches from
which the younger branches sprung, was distinguished by the appelation of Cranmore, which means, the great tree or
stock; and the house of Newcastle, descended from
Emon-a-Tuane, who lived in 1342, claimed this distinction.
The present lineal descendants of this family, are, the
Count Lynch late Mayor of Bourdeaux, who so eminently
distinguished himself in the cause of the royal family of
France, against Buonaparte. Additionally, his relative, John Lynch
Alexander, Esq. of Galway.
The families of Barna, Cartron, Clough, Drimcong, Lavally, Lydican, Moycullen, Rathglass, and Shannonbridge,
in County Galway, Duras in County Clare, and Ballycurren, Castlecarra
or Balla, Clogher and Partry in County Mayo, are
now the principal of the name.
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