Motto: Semper fidelis (Always Faithful)
Arguably the most influential of the Tribes, the Lynch family arrived in Ireland in 1185 with Sir Hugh de Lacy. The Galway family descended from William le Petit, who received grants in Westmeath. John de Lynch, the first settler in Galway, married into the Mareschall family. Their influence endured until Cromwell’s era. Estates were located in Newcastle, Barna, and Moycullen. Their primary line was known as ‘Cranmore’ (the eldest line of Lynches from which the younger branches sprang. The house of Newcastle claimed this distinction). Over 169 years, 84 family members served as mayors of Galway. The Lynch family was involved in winning the mayoralty status of Galway, and the Collegiate independence of St Nicholas
Within the city the Lynch coat of arms decorates many of the buildings. The Lynch chapel in St. Nicholas Church bears their arms on the exterior, and on the Lynch Window and tomb.
Lynch’s castle is the most elaborate old family residence in the city, now being used as an office of Allied Irish Bank. Lynch’s Castle is well illustrated on the 1651 Pictorial Map, with its battlements clearly visible, a defining symbol of its high status. (Marked as S on the map)
Sir Robert Lynch, baronet, had his mansion house located at the junction of Lower Abbeygate Street west, and Shop Street. This was another very extensive site, with an entrance courtyard and subsidiary out-office buildings surrounding it. Like most of the great edifices, it fell into disuse and disrepair in the aftermath of the Cromwellian defeat. Not a trace remains of the original building. (Marked as V on the map).
The Mansion House of Antony Lynch, citizen is also noted on the 1651 Map, between today’s Abbeygate Street Lower and Eglinton Street. (Marked as C on the map).
