Lynch, John

Lynch, John ( ‘Jack’ Lynch) (b. 15 Aug. 1917, d. 20 Oct. 1999). Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of the Irish Republic 1966–73, 1977–9 Born in Cork, and educated at University College Cork, and King's Inns Dublin, Lynch gained his first fame as a sportsman. In the 1940s he captured five All-Ireland medals for hurling and one for Gaelic football. He was elected to Dáil Éireann (the Irish Parliament) for Cork City in 1948, and served in a number of ministerial posts (including Education 1957–9, Industry and Commerce 1959–65, and Finance 1965–6) before succeeding Lemass as leader of the Fianna Fáil party in 1966, and being elected Taoiseach. His first government struggled with its reaction to the eruption of violence in Northern Ireland which began in 1969. He famously announced that the government of the Republic would not ‘stand by’ while Catholics in Northern Ireland were harassed by Protestant paramilitaries. After questions of scandal involving connections between some of his ministers (e.g. Haughey) and the Provisional IRA, Lynch dismissed them and stated that peace and justice in Northern Ireland must come through consent. His government tried to reduce militant nationalist activity in the Republic. He was defeated in the 1973 elections by Liam Cosgrave, but won in 1977 with a large majority. Internal party divisions led to his resignation in December 1979, when he was succeeded by Haughey.