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Lynch clan County Galway Ireland
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Lynch Family         -  Tribes of Galway   
 
 
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.

Lynch family crest - Galway Ireland

 
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.
 

See History of other Tribes of Galway
Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'arcy, Deane, Ffont,
Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris, Skerritt

 

 
Towns & Localities in County Galway

 Aran Islands | Athenry | Ballinasloe | Ballygar | Barna | Carna | Carraroe | Claregalway | Clarinbridge | Clifden | Clonbur | Corofin
Connemara | Corrandulla | Dunmore | Galway City | Glenamaddy | Gort | Headford | Kinvara | Leenane | Loughrea | Milltown | Monivea
 Mountbellew | Moycullen | Oranmore | Oughterard | Portumna | Renvyle | Salthill | Spiddal | Tuam | Turloughmore | Williamstown
 

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