Death of Brendan Lynch, Dunshaughlin's 'lord mayor'

Family steeped in horseracing

Brendan Lynch, Dunshaughlin’s honorary ‘lord mayor’ died yesterday morning, aged 91.

His passing comes almost a year and a half after that of his wife, Agnes, in January 2020.

Brendan won the title as part of a mayoral election fundraising campaign for the building of the community centre in the village in the late 1980s.

Agnes and Brendan lived on Dunshaughlin’s Main Street for most of their lives, with their daughters, Catherine and Patricia. It was a well-known lodging house for workers such as guards, bank officials and teachers coming to work in the village, and you never knew who would join you at lunch time in Lynches. They later moved to live beside daughter Patricia and the Donoghue family in Greenane.

From an Big Lagore family well-known for working with horses, Brendan was employed at Charlie Rogers' stable, and also worked at Teagasc Grange, and Fairyhouse Racecourse, where a race was named after him when he retired.

Brendan and Agnes were actively involved in village and community life such as the choir, choral society and folk group over the years.

On his socially distanced 90th birthday last year family and neighbours turned out to Greenane to pay tribute to Brendan – all the more poignant because it was his first birthday without his wife of 65 years.

Dunshaughlin Folk Group members were among those who stood on the street to sing happy birthday, along with Fr Sean Henry, and Eurovision singer, Eamonn Toal.

Don McLoughlin regaled the gathering with some stories of going horse racing while Brendan, a renowned singer, took the microphone to give a rendition of ‘The Fields of Athenry’ for those gathered in his honour.

Brendan is survived by Catherine and Patricia, grandchildren, Ian, Keith, Chloe, Gemma and Ross, and was great-granddad of Harley-Agnes, father-in-law of Jit and Michael and brother of the late John, Gerry and Peggy. Brendan will be sadly missed by his loving family, Ian's partner Alana, brothers Seamus, Andy and Anthony, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Brendan's funeral cortege will leave his home at 11.30am on Wednesday arriving at St Patrick and Seachnaill's Church, Dunshaughlin for 12 o'clock funeral Mass followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Those who cannot attend can follow the Mass at https://www.churchservices.tv/dunshaughlin