Patrick Lynch (Attorney General)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Lynch (10 February 1866 – 9 December 1947) was an Irish
politician and barrister
.
A member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
, he took the Parnellite side when that party split.
In 1917, he was an unsuccessful Irish Parliamentary Party
candidate in the East Clare by-election
, losing to Éamon de Valera
. He joined Sinn Féin
within a year. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
in 1922.
He became a King's Inns
bencher in 1925. In a Seanad Éireann
by-election held on 28 September 1934, he was elected for Fianna Fáil
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Arthur Vincent, serving until the body's abolition in 1936.
He was Attorney General of the Irish Free State
from 1936 to 1937 and reappointed under the new Constitution
, serving from 1937 to 1940. Maurice Healy in his memoir "The Old Munster Circuit" praised Lynch's outstanding integrity and strength of character and, while not normally an admirer of Éamon de Valera
, praised him for an inspired choice of Attorney General.
His youngest brother, James, on the other hand, was state solicitor for Clare under the Cumann na nGaedheal government.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician and barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
.
A member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, he took the Parnellite side when that party split.
In 1917, he was an unsuccessful Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
candidate in the East Clare by-election
East Clare (UK Parliament constituency)
East Clare was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885–1922.Prior to the United Kingdom general election, 1885 the area was part of the Clare constituency...
, losing to Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
. He joined Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
within a year. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
in 1922.
He became a King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
bencher in 1925. In a Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)
Seanad Éireann was the upper house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922–1936. It has also been known simply as the Senate, or as the First Seanad. The Senate was established under the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State but a number of constitutional amendments were...
by-election held on 28 September 1934, he was elected for Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Arthur Vincent, serving until the body's abolition in 1936.
He was Attorney General of the Irish Free State
Attorney General of Ireland
The Attorney General is a constitutional officer who is the official adviser to the Government of Ireland in matters of law. He is in effect the chief law officer in Ireland. The Attorney General is not a member of the Government but does participate in cabinet meetings when invited and attends...
from 1936 to 1937 and reappointed under the new Constitution
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
, serving from 1937 to 1940. Maurice Healy in his memoir "The Old Munster Circuit" praised Lynch's outstanding integrity and strength of character and, while not normally an admirer of Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
, praised him for an inspired choice of Attorney General.
His youngest brother, James, on the other hand, was state solicitor for Clare under the Cumann na nGaedheal government.
External links
- Brendan Ó Cathaoir, "An Irishman's Diary", Irish Times, 9 July 2007
- Oireachtas Members Database - Profile