View source for Jack Lynch

{{Short description|Taoiseach (1966–1973, 1977–1979)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image          = Jack Lynch, 1972 (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Lynch in 1972
| office         = [[Taoiseach]]
| president      = [[Patrick Hillery]]
| 1namedata      = [[George Colley]]
| 1blankname     = [[Tánaiste]]
| term_start     = 5 July 1977
| term_end       = 11 December 1979
| predecessor    = [[Liam Cosgrave]]
| successor      = [[Charles Haughey]]
| president1     = [[Éamon de Valera]]
| 1namedata1     = {{Ubl|[[Frank Aiken]]|[[Erskine Hamilton Childers|Erskine H. Childers]]}}
| 1blankname1    = [[Tánaiste]]
| term_start1    = 10 November 1966
| term_end1      = 14 March 1973
| predecessor1   = [[Seán Lemass]]
| successor1     = Liam Cosgrave
| office2        = [[Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| president2     = {{Ubl|Éamon de Valera|Erskine H. Childers|[[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]]|Patrick Hillery}}
| taoiseach2     = Liam Cosgrave
| term_start2    = 14 March 1973
| term_end2      = 5 July 1977
| predecessor2   = Liam Cosgrave
| successor2     = [[Garret FitzGerald]]
| office3        = [[Leader of Fianna Fáil]]
| deputy3        = {{Ubl|[[Joseph Brennan (Fianna Fáil politician)|Joseph Brennan]]|George Colley}}
| term_start3    = 10 November 1966
| term_end3      = 7 December 1979
| predecessor3   = Seán Lemass
| successor3     = Charles Haughey
| office4        = [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]
| taoiseach4     = Seán Lemass
| term_start4    = 21 April 1965
| term_end4      = 10 November 1966
| predecessor4   = [[James Ryan (Irish politician)|James Ryan]]
| successor4     = Charles Haughey
| office5        = [[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]]
| taoiseach5     = Seán Lemass
| term_start5    = 23 June 1959
| term_end5      = 21 April 1965
| predecessor5   = Patrick Hillery
| successor5     = Charles Haughey
| office6        = [[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
| taoiseach6     = Éamon de Valera
| term_start6    = 20 March 1957
| term_end6      = 23 June 1959
| predecessor6   = [[Richard Mulcahy]]
| successor6     = Patrick Hillery
| office7        = [[Minister for Children, Disability and Equality|Minister for the Gaeltacht]]
| taoiseach7     = Éamon de Valera
| term_start7    = 20 March 1957
| term_end7      = 26 June 1957
| predecessor7   = [[Patrick Lindsay (Irish politician)|Patrick Lindsay]]
| successor7     = [[Mícheál Ó Móráin]]
| office8        = [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Parliamentary Secretary]]
| suboffice8     = [[Minister of State to the Government|Government]]
| subterm9       = 1951–1954
| suboffice9     = [[Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment|Lands]]
| subterm8       = 1951–1954
| office10       = [[Teachta Dála]]
| term_start10   = [[1977 Irish general election|June 1977]]
| term_end10     = [[1981 Irish general election|June 1981]]
| constituency10 = [[Cork City (Dáil constituency)|Cork City]]
| term_start11   = [[1969 Irish general election|June 1969]]
| term_end11     = [[1977 Irish general election|June 1977]]
| constituency11 = [[Cork City North-West (Dáil constituency)|Cork City North-West]]
| term_start12   = [[1948 Irish general election|February 1948]]
| term_end12     = [[1969 Irish general election|June 1969]]
| constituency12 = [[Cork Borough (Dáil constituency)|Cork Borough]]
| birth_name     = John Mary Lynch
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1917|8|15|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Cork (city)|Cork]], Ireland
| death_date     = {{death date and age|1999|10|20|1917|08|15|df=y}}
| death_place    = [[Donnybrook, Dublin]], Ireland
| resting_place  = [[St. Finbarr's Cemetery]], Cork, Ireland
| party          = [[Fianna Fáil]]
| spouse         = {{marriage|[[Máirín Lynch|Máirín O'Connor]]|1946}}
| education      = {{Ubl|[[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers, Cork]]|[[North Monastery]]}}
| alma_mater     = {{Ubl|[[University College Cork]]|[[King's Inns]]}}
}}
'''John Mary Lynch''' (15 August 1917 – 20 October 1999) was an Irish [[Fianna Fáil]] politician who served as [[Taoiseach]] from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Award pays tribute to former taoiseach Jack Lynch |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/award-pays-tribute-to-former-taoiseach-jack-lynch-1.683086 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> He was [[Leader of Fianna Fáil]] from 1966 to 1979,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Breen |first=Michael |url=https://www.manchesterhive.com/view/9781526119988/9781526119988.xml |title=Resilient reporting: Media coverage of Irish elections since 1969 |last2=Courtney |first2=Michael |last3=Mcmenamin |first3=Iain |last4=O’Malley |first4=Eoin |last5=Rafter |first5=Kevin |date=2019-04-16 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-1-5261-1998-8 |doi=10.7765/9781526119988.00008}}</ref> [[Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)|Leader of the Opposition]] from 1973 to 1977, [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]] from 1965 to 1966, [[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]] from 1959 to 1965, [[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]] 1957 to 1959, [[Minister for Children, Disability and Equality|Minister for the Gaeltacht]] from March 1957 to June 1957, [[Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment|Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands]] and [[Minister of State to the Government|Parliamentary Secretary to the Government]] from 1951 to 1954.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lynch |first=Jack |last2=Deutsch |first2=Richard |date=1979 |title=Jack Lynch : an Interview |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/irlan_0183-973x_1979_num_4_1_2601 |journal=Etudes irlandaises |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=225–236 |doi=10.3406/irlan.1979.2601}}</ref> He served as a [[Teachta Dála]] (TD) from 1948 to 1981.<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/John-Lynch.D.1948-02-18/|title=John Lynch|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=1 June 2009|archive-date=7 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107225009/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/John-Lynch.D.1948-02-18|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch was the third leader of [[Fianna Fáil]] from 1966 until 1979, succeeding [[Seán Lemass]]. He was the last party leader to secure (in 1977) an overall majority in the [[Dáil]] for his party. Historian and journalist T. Ryle Dwyer called him "the most popular Irish politician since [[Daniel O'Connell]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=Haughey's Forty Years of Controversy |last=Dwyer |first=T. Ryle |year=2005 |publisher=Mercier |location=Cork |isbn=978-1-85635-426-4 |page=240 }}</ref>

Before his political career Lynch had a successful sporting career as a [[dual player]] of [[Gaelic games]]. He played [[hurling]] with his local club [[Glen Rovers GAA|Glen Rovers]] and with the [[Cork GAA|Cork]] senior inter-county team from 1936 until 1950.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keogh |first=Dermot |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=b_j4AwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1920 |title=Jack Lynch, A Biography: The Life and Times of Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch (1917–1999) |date=2009-09-04 |publisher=Gill & Macmillan Ltd |isbn=978-0-7171-6376-2 |language=en}}</ref> Lynch also played [[Gaelic football]] with his local club [[St. Nicholas' GAA|St Nicholas']] and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1936 until 1946.

In a senior inter-county hurling career that lasted for fourteen years, he won five [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] titles, seven [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster]] titles, three [[National Hurling League]] titles and seven [[Interprovincial Championship|Railway Cup]] titles. In a senior inter-county football career that lasted for ten years, Lynch won one [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland]] title, two [[Munster Senior Football Championship|Munster]] titles and one Railway Cup title. Lynch was later named at midfield on the [[Hurling Team of the Century]] and the [[Hurling Team of the Millennium]].

==Early and private life==
John Mary Lynch was born on 15 August 1917, in [[Shandon, Cork|Shandon]], on the north side of [[Cork (city)|Cork]], and grew up in the nearby area of [[Blackpool, Cork|Blackpool]].<ref name=dib>{{cite web|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/lynch-john-mary-jack-a4947|title=Lynch, John Mary|work=[[Dictionary of Irish Biography]]|last=Fanning|first=Ronan|access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref> His father Daniel Lynch was a tailor, and his mother Nora (née O'Donoghue) was a seamstress.<ref name=dib/> He was the youngest of five boys and fifth of seven children, with four elder brothers and two younger sisters, Jack, as he was known, was generally regarded as the "wild boy" of the family. He was educated at St. Vincent's Convent on Peacock Lane, and later at the famous [[North Monastery|"North Mon", the North Monastery]] [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers]] School. When Lynch was just thirteen years old his mother died suddenly. His aunt, who herself had a family of six, stepped in to look after the family. Lynch sat his [[Leaving Certificate (Ireland)|Leaving Certificate]] in 1936, after which he moved to [[Dublin]] and worked with the Dublin District Milk Board, before returning to Cork to take up a position in the Circuit Court Office.

Lynch began working at the Cork Circuit Court as a clerk at the age of nineteen. His work in the court ignited his interest in law and in 1941 he began a night course at [[University College Cork]] studying law, where he was a member of the Law Society. After two years in UCC, he moved once again to [[Dublin]] to complete his studies at [[King's Inns]]. While continuing his studies he started work with the [[Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration|Department of Justice]]. In 1945, Lynch was called to the [[Bar of Ireland|Bar]] and had to decide whether to remain in his civil service job or practice as a barrister. Lynch made the decision (literally on the toss of a coin) to move back to Cork and began a private practice on the Cork Circuit.

It was in 1943, while on holidays in [[Glengariff]], [[County Cork]], that Lynch met his future wife, [[Máirín Lynch|Máirín O'Connor]], the daughter of a naval doctor killed in [[World War I]]. The couple were married three years later on 10 August 1946 and had no children. Although she was apprehensive about her husband's decision to become active in politics, to become a minister and even to become [[Taoiseach]], she stood by him through it all and helped him make the tough decisions that would affect Lynch's life and her own.

==Sporting life==
{{Infobox Gaelic games player
| code           = Hurling
| image          =
| name           = Jack Lynch
| county         = Cork
| province       = Munster
| club           = [[Glen Rovers GAA|Glen Rovers]]
| clpositionh    = Midfield
| clpositionf    = Half-back
| clubs          = {{Ubl|[[Glen Rovers GAA|Glen Rovers]]|[[St. Nicholas' GAA|St Nicholas']]|Civil Service}}
| clyears        = {{Ubl|1934–1950|1934–1951|1943–1944}}
| clapps(points) =
| clcountyh      = 11
| clcountyf      = 2
| clprovince     =
| clallireland   =
| counties       = {{Ubl|[[Cork county hurling team|Cork]] '''(H)'''|[[Cork county football team|Cork]] '''(F)'''}}
| icpositionh    = Half-back
| icpositionf    = Midfield
| icyears        = {{Ubl|1936–1950|1939–1949}}
| icapps(points) = {{Ubl|42 (13–66)|14 (1–6)}}
| icprovincef    = 2
| icprovinceh    = 6
| icallirelandh  = 5
| icallirelandf  = 1
| allstarsf      =
| allstarsh      =
| clupdate       =
| icupdate       =
}}
From an early age, Lynch showed an enormous interest and great accomplishment as a sportsman. [[Rugby union]], soccer, swimming and [[Gaelic handball|handball]] were all favourite pastimes for Lynch, but it was the sports of [[Gaelic football]] and [[hurling]] where Lynch showed particular flair.

===Club===
Lynch played his club [[hurling]] with the famous [[Glen Rovers GAA|Glen Rovers]] club in Blackpool. He enjoyed much success at underage levels, winning back-to-back minor county championship titles in 1933 and in 1934 as captain. That same year Lynch won his first senior [[Cork Senior Hurling Championship|county hurling championship]] with "the Glen". It was the first of a record-breaking eight county titles in a row for Glen Rovers and for Lynch, who served as captain of the side on a number of occasions. He finished off his club hurling career by winning a further three county medals in succession in 1948, 1949 and 1950.

Lynch also played club [[Gaelic football|football]] with "the Glen's" sister club [[St. Nicholas' GAA|St. Nicholas]]. Once again he enjoyed a successful underage career, winning back-to-back county minor titles in 1932 and 1933. Lynch won an intermediate county title in 1937, before adding a senior [[Cork Senior Football Championship|county football championship]] medal to his collection in 1938. Lynch won his second county football medal with "St. Nick's" in 1941. While working in Dublin in the mid-1940s, Lynch played club football with the Civil Service GAA team. In 1944 he won a [[Dublin Senior Football Championship]] title, alongside fellow Munster native [[Mick Falvey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dublin All-Ireland Winner Dies |url=https://www.hoganstand.com/county/dublin/article/index/70528 |website=hoganstand.com |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809045059/http://www.hoganstand.com/county/dublin/article/index/70528 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Inter-county===
By the late 1930s, Lynch was a [[dual player]] with the [[Cork GAA|Cork]] senior hurling and senior football teams. In 1939, he became the only player in history to [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]] both the inter-county football and hurling teams in the same year. That year he won his first [[Munster Senior Hurling Championship]] (SHC) title. However, [[Kilkenny county hurling team|Kilkenny]] later accounted for Cork in the famous [[1939 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|"thunder and lightning"]] [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] (SHC) final. In [[1939–40 National Hurling League|1940]] and [[1940–41 National Hurling League|1941]], Lynch played as Cork won back-to-back [[National Hurling League]] titles, with him captaining the first of those. However, the 1941 championship was severely hampered due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Cork only had to play two games to be crowned All-Ireland SHC winner champions. However, the team lost the delayed Munster SHC final to [[Tipperary county hurling team|Tipperary]].

In 1942, Lynch was selected as Cork hurling captain once again. That year he captured his second set of Munster SHC and All-Ireland SHC medals. The year 1943, proved to be a successful year for Lynch as he won a third Munster SHC medal and a first [[Munster Senior Football Championship]] (SFC) medal. While the footballers were later defeated in the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] (SFC) semi-final, Lynch's hurling team went on to win a third consecutive All-Ireland SHC title. In 1944, Lynch captured his fourth Munster SHC title. Later that year Cork created a piece of sporting history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive All-Ireland SHC titles. Lynch was one of the heroes of the team who played in all four finals.

In 1945, Cork surrendered their provincial hurling crown; however, Lynch, as a member of the Cork senior football team, won his second Munster SFC title. Cork later defeated [[Cavan county football team|Cavan]] in the All-Ireland SFC final, giving Lynch his first, and only, All-Ireland SFC medal. In 1946, the Cork hurlers returned to their winning ways and Lynch claimed a fifth provincial hurling title. A fifth All-Ireland SHC medal was later added to his collection following a defeat of old rivals Kilkenny in the final. On that September day in 1946, Lynch made Irish sporting history by becoming the first player to win six consecutive senior All-Ireland medals (five in hurling and one in football).

Lynch captured a sixth Munster SHC medal in 1947, before going on to play in his seventh All-Ireland SHC final in less than a decade. The game itself against Kilkenny has often been described as the greatest All-Ireland SHC final ever played. However, Lynch ended up on the losing side by a single point. There was some consolation at the start of 1948 as Lynch claimed another National Hurling League medal. However, Tipperary quickly became the dominant force in the Munster SHC. Lynch retired from inter-county hurling in 1950. He had retired from inter-county football several years earlier.

===Honours===
Even at the height of his career, Lynch had come to be regarded as one of the all-time greats of [[Gaelic games]]. His contribution to the game of hurling was first recognised when he was named as the "Hurling Captain of the Forties". In the centenary year of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] in 1984, Lynch was named on the "Hurling Team of the Century". At the [[1984 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final|special centenary All-Ireland SHC final]] in [[Semple Stadium]], he received one of the loudest cheers and rounds of applause when all the former All-Ireland SHC-winning captains were introduced to the crowd. Shortly after his death in 1999, Lynch's reputation as one of the true greats of the game was further cemented when he was named on the "Hurling Team of the Millennium".

In 1981, he won an [[All-Time All Star Award (hurling)|All-Time All Star Award]] since there was no All Star Awards during his playing days.

==Political life==

===Early career===
In 1946, Lynch had his first involvement in politics when he was asked by his local [[Fianna Fáil]] [[cumann]] to stand for the [[Dáil]] in a by-election . He declined on this occasion, due to his lack of political experience, but indicated that he would be interested in standing in the next general election. In 1947, Lynch refused a similar offer to stand by the new political party [[Clann na Poblachta]]. A general election was eventually called for [[1948 Irish general election|February 1948]], Lynch topped the poll for the [[Cork Borough (Dáil constituency)|Cork Borough]] constituency and became a Fianna Fáil TD in the [[13th Dáil]].<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2210|title=Jack Lynch|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=1 June 2009|archive-date=11 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611004700/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2210|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Fianna Fáil lost the election and were out of power for the first time in sixteen years, Lynch became speechwriter and research assistant for the party leader, [[Éamon de Valera]].

In 1951, Fianna Fáil were back in power and Lynch was appointed [[Minister of State to the Government|Parliamentary Secretary to the Government]], with special responsibility for [[Gaeltacht]] areas.<ref>{{Cite Irish legislation|name=Gaeltacht Housing (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1952|year=1952|type=si|number=21|date=8 January 1952}}; {{Cite Irish legislation|name=Gaeltacht Housing (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1953|year=1953|type=si|number=421|date=30 December 1953}}</ref> The party returned to opposition again between 1954 and 1957. During this period Lynch served as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the Gaeltacht. After the [[1957 Irish general election|1957 general election]] Fianna Fáil returned to office and de Valera headed his last government. Lynch was promoted to cabinet as [[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]], as well as holding the Gaeltacht portfolio for a short while. At 39, he was the youngest member of the Government. Lynch introduced innovative legislation, such as raising the school leaving age; reducing school class sizes; removing a ban on married women working as teachers and allowing the Jewish skull cap to be worn but only from the age of 12.

===Minister for Industry and Commerce===
In 1959, Éamon de Valera was elected [[President of Ireland]] and [[Seán Lemass]] succeeded him as [[Taoiseach]] and Fianna Fáil leader. Lynch was promoted to Lemass' old portfolio as [[Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment|Minister for Industry and Commerce]]. In this portfolio, he inherited the most dynamic department in the government. However, having replaced such a political giant, Lynch felt that his own scope for change was severely limited. Lynch was described as not being the most innovative of ministers but was particularly attentive when it came to legislation and detail. It was in this department where Lynch worked closely with Lemass and [[T. K. Whitaker]] in generating economic growth and implementing the Programme for Economic Expansion. He was also noted for his astuteness in solving several industrial disputes during his tenure at the department.

===Minister for Finance===
In 1965, Lemass was once again re-elected Taoiseach. The big change was the retirement of such political heavyweights as [[James Ryan (Irish politician)|James Ryan]] and [[Seán MacEntee]], with Lynch taking over from the former as [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]. This appointment was particularly significant because Lemass was coming to the end of his premiership and wanted to prepare a successor. As a result, Lynch took charge of the second most important position in the government, gaining widespread experience in a number of affairs, and accompanying Lemass to [[London]] to sign one of the most important trade agreements between Ireland and the [[United Kingdom]]. One occasion in which Lynch's authority was seen to be undermined as Minister for Finance was when the Minister for Education, [[Donogh O'Malley]], announced that the government would provide free secondary school education for all. This proposal had not been discussed at Cabinet level as would be required to fund such a service. It subsequently transpired that Lemass had previously agreed the decision without cabinet discussion as was required.

===Lemass resignation===
Lemass retired in 1966 after 7 years in the position and a leadership race (the first contested race in the history of the party) threatened to tear Fianna Fáil apart. Lynch, and another favourite of Lemass's, [[Patrick Hillery]], ruled themselves out of the [[1966 Fianna Fáil leadership election|leadership election]] from the very beginning. However, other candidates such as [[Charles Haughey]], [[George Colley]] and [[Neil Blaney]] threw their hats into the ring immediately. None of the candidates that were being offered to the party seemed particularly appealing and Lemass' made one last attempt to coax either Hillery or Lynch to join the race as a compromise candidate. Hillery remained adamant that he did not want the leadership and eventually Lynch allowed his name to go forward. Upon hearing this Haughey and Blaney, the latter having never really entered the race in the first place, withdrew and announced their support for Lynch. Colley refused to withdraw and when it was put to a ballot Lynch comfortably defeated him by 52 votes to 19. Lynch was thus elected [[Taoiseach]] and leader of Fianna Fáil on 10 November 1966.

The Lynch succession, however, was not a smooth one. Three men had openly expressed ambitions to be Taoiseach, Haughey, Blaney and Colley. Three other cabinet ministers had also contemplated running, these were [[Brian Lenihan Snr|Brian Lenihan]], [[Kevin Boland]] and [[Donogh O'Malley]].

==Taoiseach (1966–1973) ==
Because Lynch was elected as somewhat of a "compromise candidate" it appeared to many that he would only remain as an interim Taoiseach. This thought could not be further from his mind, and he outlined his intentions shortly after coming to power. Lynch took particular exception to the title "Interim Taoiseach" or "Reluctant Taoiseach". He had no intention of stepping aside after a few years in favour of one of the other candidates who had been unsuccessful against him in 1966. He was, however, reluctant to name his first cabinet. He believed that the existing members of the government owed their positions to Lemass, and so he retained the entire cabinet, albeit with some members moving to different departments. Lynch adopted a chairman-like approach to government allowing his ministers a free run in their respective departments. He continued the modernising and liberal approach that Lemass had begun, albeit at a slower pace. Lynch was lucky in the timing of Lemass's resignation. The new Taoiseach now had almost a full Dáil term before the next general election.

===Proportional representation referendum===
With [[Fianna Fáil]] having been in power for eleven years by 1968, Lynch was persuaded once again to make an attempt to abolish the [[proportional representation]] method of voting in general elections in favour of a first-past-the-post system that was used in the United Kingdom. However, the campaign generated little enthusiasm, even within Fianna Fáil. The main opposition party [[Fine Gael]], along with the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] opposed the referendum when it transpired that Fianna Fáil could win up to 80 or 90 seats in a 144-seat [[Dáil]] if the motion was passed. Much like in 1959, when the party tried to make the same referendum, the electorate believed this to be an attempt to institutionalise Fianna Fáil in power, and thus they rejected the motion put to them. This cast doubts on Lynch and his ability to win a general election, however, he proved his critics wrong in the [[1969 Irish general election|1969 general election]] when Fianna Fáil won its first overall majority since Éamon de Valera in 1957, and Lynch proved himself to be a huge electoral asset for the party.

=== Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement ===
''[[Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta]]'' was a pressure group campaigning for social, economic and cultural rights for native-speakers of Irish living in Gaeltacht areas. It was founded in Connemara in 1969 to highlight the decline of the Irish language and to campaign for greater rights for Irish speaking areas in the area of access to services, broadcasting and ultimately an elected assembly of their own.

The campaign was often of a militant nature, including placing nails under the wheels of the car carrying the Taoiseach Jack Lynch in Galway West during the 1969 general election campaign. Campaigners insisted the Taoiseach answer all of their questions before permitting him to continue on his journey. In that election a member of the campaign, Peadar Mac An Iomaire polled more than 6% of the vote in that constituency.

=== Northern Ireland ===
{{main|The Troubles}}
[[Northern Ireland]], and Lynch's attitude to the situation which was about to develop there would come to define his first tenure as Taoiseach. Lynch continued Lemass's approach in regard to relations with Northern Ireland. Better relations had been forged between the two parts of Ireland with cooperation between Ministers on several practical issues such as trade, agriculture and tourism. In December 1967, Lynch travelled to [[Belfast]] where he met with [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland|Prime Minister]] [[Terence O'Neill]], for the first time at [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Stormont]]. The meeting was arranged in the hope of forming even more links. On 8 January 1968, they met again in Dublin.<ref name="CA">{{cite web | title=A Chronology of the Conflict – 1968 | work=Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) | url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch68.htm | access-date=11 July 2009 | archive-date=6 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806142228/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch68.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> However, the situation was already beginning to deteriorate in Northern Ireland with civil unrest and the resignation of O'Neill to come. O'Neill continued to hold Lynch in high regard stating in the House of Lords in 1972:
{{blockquote|I do not believe one could have a better Taoiseach than Mr. Lynch. It is not for nothing that he is known in the South as "Honest Jack". I do not know many other politicians who have that little prefix put in front of their names.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1972/dec/05/future-of-northern-ireland#S5LV0337P0_19721205_HOL_83|title=FUTURE OF NORTHERN IRELAND  |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=10 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310005203/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1972/dec/05/future-of-northern-ireland#S5LV0337P0_19721205_HOL_83|date=5 December 1972|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Shortly after Lynch's election victory in 1969, tensions in Northern Ireland finally spilled over and "[[The Troubles]]" began. The sight of refugees from the North teeming across the border turned public opinion in the Republic. The [[Battle of the Bogside]] in [[Derry]] between the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] and residents in August 1969, prompted Lynch on 13 August to make what some people consider [[wikisource:A broadcast by An Taoiseach Mr. Jack Lynch T.D.|one of the most important broadcasts to the nation]] on [[RTÉ]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Taoiseach on the Situation in the North|url=http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1042-northern-ireland-1969/1048-august-1969/320416-broadcast-by-an-taoiseach/|publisher=RTÉ.ie|access-date=2013-12-27|archive-date=27 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227210838/http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1042-northern-ireland-1969/1048-august-1969/320416-broadcast-by-an-taoiseach/|url-status=live}}</ref> commenting on the ever-increasingly violent situation he said:

{{blockquote|It is clear now that the present situation cannot be allowed to continue. It is evident also that the Stormont government is no longer in control of the situation. Indeed, the present situation is the inevitable outcome of the policies pursued for decades by successive Stormont governments. It is clear also that the Irish Government can no longer stand by and see innocent people injured and perhaps worse. It is obvious that the RUC is no longer accepted as an impartial police force. Neither would the employment of [[British army|British troops]] be acceptable nor would they be likely to restore peaceful conditions, certainly not in the long term. The [[Irish government]] have, therefore, requested the [[British government]] to apply immediately to the United Nations for the urgent dispatch of a Peace-Keeping Force to the Six Counties of Northern Ireland and have instructed the Permanent Representative to the United Nations to inform the Secretary General of this request. We have also asked the British Government to see to it that police attacks on the people of Derry should cease immediately.

Very many people have been injured and some of them seriously. We know that many of these do not wish to be treated in Six County hospitals. We have, therefore, directed the [[Irish Army]] authorities to have field hospitals established in [[County Donegal]] adjacent to Derry and at other points along the Border where they may be necessary.

Recognising, however, that the [[united Ireland|re-unification of the national territory]] can provide the only permanent solution for the problem, it is our intention to request the British Government to enter into early negotiations with the Irish Government to review the present constitutional position of the Six Counties of Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9e-dGwiDM4|title=Jack Lynch On The Situation In North – 13 August 1969|last=ft01061990|date=31 October 2009|access-date=2 November 2017|via=[[YouTube]]|archive-date=16 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816214720/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9e-dGwiDM4&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Lynch's statement that the Irish Government could "no longer stand by" was interpreted by some [[Unionism in Ireland|Unionists]] in Northern Ireland as hinting at military intervention (and was misquoted as a promise not to "stand {{em|idly}} by"). A minority of ministers – two, according to [[Desmond O'Malley]] – would have favoured such a course, but the Irish Army was completely unprepared for an operation of this kind. The majority of the cabinet opposed military intervention, and Lynch took no such action, though he commissioned a study named ''[[Exercise Armageddon]]''. As the violence continued, the Minister for External Affairs, [[Patrick Hillery]], met the British [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] and also went to the [[United Nations]] in a plea to send a [[peacekeeping]] force to the North and to highlight the Irish government's case. However, little else was achieved from these meetings other than media coverage of the activities in the north. The situation in Northern Ireland continued to deteriorate during Lynch's first term. [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]] (30 January 1972), saw the killing of 14 unarmed civilians by [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|British paratroopers]] and a backlash of anti-British feeling in all parts of Ireland, including the burning of the [[Embassy of the United Kingdom, Dublin|British Embassy]] in Dublin.

Despite the strains in [[Ireland–United Kingdom relations|relations]] between the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] in the wake of those events, the British Ambassador, [[John Peck (diplomat)|Sir John Peck]], praised Lynch, of whom he said "all those concerned with, and committed to, peace with justice in the North owe a very great deal to his courage and tenacity", adding that "I do not think that I ever succeeded in convincing British politicians of how much we owed him at that stage, or what the consequences would have been if he had lost his head".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QCagZOubDWUC&dq=%22I%20do%20not%20think%20that%20I%20ever%20succeeded%20in%20convincing%20British%20politicians%20of%20how%20much%20we%20owed%20him%20at%20that%20stage%2C%20or%20what%20the%20consequences%20would%20have%20been%20if%20he%20had%20lost%20his%20head%22&pg=PA358 ''A New History of Ireland, Volume II: Medieval Ireland 1169–1534''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229075655/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QCagZOubDWUC&lpg=PA358&ots=pF6vQ5plWH&dq=%22I%20do%20not%20think%20that%20I%20ever%20succeeded%20in%20convincing%20British%20politicians%20of%20how%20much%20we%20owed%20him%20at%20that%20stage%2C%20or%20what%20the%20consequences%20would%20have%20been%20if%20he%20had%20lost%20his%20head%22&pg=PA358 |date=29 December 2018 }}, Volume 2, Art Cosgrove, OUP Oxford, 2008, page 358</ref>

===Arms crisis===
{{main|Arms crisis}}
Lynch's attitude towards the Northern Ireland question and the application of Fianna Fáil party policy to it would eventually come to define his first period as Taoiseach, and would once again show his critics that far from being "reluctant" he was in fact a strong and decisive leader. His strong leadership skills and determination were clearly evident in 1970, when allegations (later disproved in court, though questions since have emerged challenging that verdict in one case), that the hardline republican Minister for Agriculture, [[Neil Blaney]], and the Minister for Finance, [[Charles Haughey]], were involved in an attempt to use £100,000 in aid money to import arms for the [[Provisional IRA]]. Both ministers were sacked after some initial procrastination on Lynch's part, his innocent Minister for Justice, [[Mícheál Ó Móráin]], retired the day before and a fourth minister, [[Kevin Boland]] and his Parliamentary Secretary, resigned in sympathy with Haughey and Blaney. The whole affair, which became known as the [[Arms Crisis]], allowed Lynch to stamp his control on his government, but would eventually lead to deep division in Fianna Fáil for many decades to come. It is now believed by some that Lynch was aware of these activities and acted only when his hand was forced when the [[Special Detective Unit|Garda Special Branch]] informed the leader of the opposition and threatened to go to the media.<ref>See: Heney, Michael (2020), The Arms Crisis of 1970, London: Head of Zeus</ref>

===EEC membership===
[[File:EEC Enlargement groups.png|thumb|[[Ireland]], along with the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Denmark]], joined the [[European Economic Community|EEC]] in 1973]]
One of the high points of Lynch's first term as Taoiseach, and possibly one of the most important events in modern Irish history, was Ireland's entry into the [[European Economic Community]]. Lynch personally steered the application for membership. Membership was accepted by a five-to-one majority in a referendum. Ireland officially joined, along with its nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom and [[Denmark]], on 1 January 1973. [[Patrick Hillery]] became Ireland's first [[European Commissioner]]. In appointing Hillery Europe was gaining one of Ireland's most experienced politicians, while on the other hand, Lynch was losing one of his staunchest allies. The admittance of Ireland was the culmination of a decade of preparation which was begun by Lynch and his predecessor, [[Seán Lemass]], who unfortunately did not live to see what would have been his greatest achievement.

===Social change===

A number of social initiatives were carried out during Lynch's two periods as Taoiseach, including the introduction of Occupational Injuries Benefit, Retirement Pension, and Deserted Wife's Allowance, and an increase in the single earner's unemployment replacement rate.<ref>Ideologues, Partisans, and Loyalists Ministers and Policymaking in Parliamentary Cabinets By Despina Alexiadou, 2016, P.181</ref> In 1967, a redundancy payments scheme was introduced, and in 1970, various improvements in welfare provision for women were introduced. Maternity insurance was extended to all female employees, a social insurance benefit for deserted wives was introduced, a means-tested allowance for unmarried mothers was established, and an earnings-related component was added to the basic flat-rate maternity benefit.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&q=growth+to+limits+ireland+old+age+pension+insurance+for+all+manual+wage+earners&pg=PA248|title=Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II|first=Peter|last=Flora|date=2 November 1986|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9783110111316|access-date=2 November 2017|via=Google Books|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429151053/https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&q=growth+to+limits+ireland+old+age+pension+insurance+for+all+manual+wage+earners&pg=PA248|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1967, free secondary education was introduced, together with free transport to school "for those living more than three miles from the nearest school". In 1972, entitlement to free travel on public transport was introduced for all persons of pensionable age, while people eligible for free hospital care became entitled to prescription drug reimbursement over a certain amount each month.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&q=growth+to+limits+free+secondary+education+became+available+in+1967%2C+along+with&pg=PA275|title=Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II|first=Peter|last=Flora|date=2 November 1986|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9783110111316|access-date=2 November 2017|via=Google Books|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922193549/https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&q=growth+to+limits+free+secondary+education+became+available+in+1967%2C+along+with&pg=PA275|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Opposition (1973–1977)==
Lynch's government was expected to collapse following the Arms Crisis; however, it survived until 1973. Lynch had wanted to call the general election for the end of 1972, however, events had conspired against him and the date was set for February 1973. Lynch's government was defeated by the [[Government of the 20th Dáil|National Coalition]] of [[Fine Gael]] and the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] at the [[1973 Irish general election|1973 general election]]. [[Liam Cosgrave]] was elected Taoiseach and Lynch found himself on the opposition benches for the first time in sixteen years. However, Lynch's popularity remained steadfast, so much so that during his tenure as [[Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)|Leader of the Opposition]] he was frequently referred to as "the Real Taoiseach."

Lynch had some success while out of power. He had finally gained complete control of the party, having neutralised his rivals for leadership during the Arms Crisis, and initiated Fianna Fáil's electoral comeback by securing the election of its candidate, [[Erskine Hamilton Childers|Erskine H. Childers]], as [[President of Ireland]] in 1973, defeating the odds-on favourite, the National Coalition's [[Tom O'Higgins]] of Fine Gael.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McConnell |first=Daniel |date=2020-05-04 |title=Special Report: Ghosts of Arms Trial haunt Fianna Fáil half a century later |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30997598.html |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1973-06-01 |title=English‐Born Protestant Is Elected President of the Irish Republic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/01/archives/englishborn-protestant-is-elected-president-of-the-irish-republic.html |access-date=2025-03-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1974, Lynch appointed [[Ruairí Brugha]] as spokesman of Northern Ireland, now seen as not a surprise with that of Fianna Fâil's attitude on cross-border issues.<ref>{{Citation |last=Patterson |first=Henry |title=Regression: Jack Lynch and the Border |date=2013 |work=Ireland’s Violent Frontier: The Border and Anglo-Irish Relations During the Troubles |pages=111–135 |editor-last=Patterson |editor-first=Henry |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137314024_5 |access-date=2025-03-09 |place=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK |language=en |doi=10.1057/9781137314024_5 |isbn=978-1-137-31402-4|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 1975, Lynch allowed [[Charles Haughey]] to return to his Front Bench as Spokesperson on Health. There was much media criticism of Lynch for this move. In the same year the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, [[Michael O'Kennedy]], published a Fianna Fáil policy document calling for a withdrawal of British forces from [[Northern Ireland]]. The document was an echo of Fianna Fáil's republican origins, and although Lynch was not happy with it, he did not stop it.

Controversy continued to dog the National Coalition when the [[President of Ireland]], [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]], resigned in 1976, after being called a "thundering disgrace" by the [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]], [[Paddy Donegan]]. Taoiseach [[Liam Cosgrave]] refused to sack his Minister and the government's popularity took a downturn. A former Fianna Fáil cabinet Minister and a political ally of Lynch, Patrick Hillery, was eventually nominated (without election) as Ó Dálaigh's successor and sixth [[President of Ireland]].

In 1977, the government, although reasonably unpopular, felt sure of an election victory and a June date for the poll was fixed. The National Coalition's spirits had been buoyed up by the actions of the [[Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage|Minister for Local Government]], [[James Tully (Irish politician)|James Tully]]. In what became known as the [[Tullymander]] (a pun on the word [[gerrymander]]) he re-drew every constituency in Ireland (as he had authority to do), apparently favouring Fine Gael and Labour Party candidates. However, when the election took place the coalition was swept out of office by Fianna Fáil which won an unprecedented twenty-seat Dáil majority and over 50% of the first preference votes. Lynch himself received the biggest personal vote in the state. Although the large parliamentary majority seemed to restore Lynch as an electoral asset, the fact that the party was returned with an enormous vote allowed Lynch to be undermined by many new TDs who were not loyal to Lynch and wanted him removed.

==2nd term as Taoiseach (1977–1979) ==
Early on in his second term as [[Taoiseach]], Lynch decided that he would not lead Fianna Fáil into another general election campaign. The date of January 1980 was in his mind as a possible retirement date, however, nothing had been made definite. It was during this time, due to a combination of a large parliamentary majority and the search for a new leader, when party discipline began to break down.

===The economy===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}
In the party's election manifesto in 1977 Fianna Fáil promised a whole range of new economic measures. These measures included the abolition of car tax, rates on houses and a number of other vote-winning "sweeteners". A new [[Department of Culture, Communications and Sport|Department of Economic Planning and Development]] was established to kick-start Ireland's flagging economy and to implement these new measures. The government abolished domestic rates on houses and unemployment fell from 106,000 to 90,000 between 1977 and 1979, however, other actions that were taken were not so productive. In 1978, the Irish economy recorded the biggest deficit for an advanced country at 17.6% deficit. The national debt increased by £2 billion in the same period, protest marches by [[PAYE]] workers, an increase in electricity charges and the [[1979 energy crisis|oil crisis of 1979]] also caused problems for the government and its economic policy.

===Party discipline===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}
The year 1978 saw the first open revolt in party discipline. There was an open mutiny by many backbenchers when the Minister for Finance, [[George Colley]], attempted to impose a 2% levy on farmers. Although the levy was widely popular with the electorate, Colley was forced into a humiliating climbdown at the behest of the backbenchers and the authority of the government was shaken – particularly when the levy withdrawal was met with mass protests.

Charles Haughey, the [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]], proposed the [[Health (Family Planning) Act 1979|Health (Family Planning) Bill 1979]], which provided for the availability of contraception with a prescription. [[Jim Gibbons (Irish politician)|Jim Gibbons]], the [[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture]], who was a devout Catholic and had a deep hatred of Haughey, failed to attend and vote for this legislation. It was the only time when a TD, let alone a cabinet Minister, was allowed to flout the party whip in Fianna Fáil and damaged Lynch's authority when he failed to dismiss the minister from the government and expel him from the parliamentary party. As well as this, a group of backbench TDs began to lobby other TDs in support of Charles Haughey, should a leadership election arise. This group, known as the "gang of five," consisted of [[Jackie Fahey]], [[Tom McEllistrim (1926–2000)|Tom McEllistrim]], [[Seán Doherty (Roscommon politician)|Seán Doherty]], [[Mark Killilea Jnr|Mark Killilea]] and [[Albert Reynolds]].

=== Lynch's resignation ===
In June, the [[1979 European Parliament election in Ireland|first direct elections to the European Parliament]] took place, with Fianna Fáil polling under 35%. A five-month postal strike also led to deep anger across the country. On 27 August 1979, the [[Provisional IRA]] assassinated [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]] in [[County Sligo]]. On the same day, the IRA killed 18 British soldiers at [[Warrenpoint]] in [[County Down]]. A radical security review and greater cross-border cooperation were discussed with the new [[British Prime Minister]], [[Margaret Thatcher]]. These discussions led [[Síle de Valera]], a backbench TD, to directly challenge the leadership in a speech at the Liam Lynch commemoration at [[Fermoy]], [[County Cork]], on 9 September.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite book|title=Down, Down Deeper and Down: Ireland in the 70s and 80s|page=182|first=Eamonn|last=Sweeney|id={{ASIN|0717146332|country=uk}}}}</ref> Although Lynch quickly tried to impose party discipline, attempting to discipline her for opposing party policy at a parliamentary party meeting held at 28 September, de Valera pointed out that she had not opposed the party policy regarding the North which called for the declaration of the British intent to withdraw from the north.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The result was embarrassing for Lynch.

The visit of [[Pope John Paul II]] to Ireland in September proved to be a welcome break for Lynch from the day-to-day running of the country. In November, just before Lynch departed on a visit to the [[United States]] he decided that he would resign at the end of the year. This would allow him to complete his six-month term as [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union|President of the European Community]]. The defining event which made up his mind was the loss of two by-elections on 7 November by Fianna Fáil in his native Cork ([[1979 Cork City by-election|Cork City]] and [[1979 Cork North-East by-election|Cork North-East]]). In addition, during the trip, Lynch claimed in an interview with ''[[The Washington Post]]'' that a five-kilometre air corridor between the border was agreed upon during the meeting with Thatcher to enhance security cooperation.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Down, Down Deeper and Down: Ireland in the 70s and 80s|page=186|first=Eamonn|last=Sweeney|id={{ASIN|0717146332|country=uk}}}}</ref> This was something highly unsavoury to many in [[Fianna Fáil]]. When Lynch returned he was confronted openly by [[Síle de Valera]], [[Bill Loughnane]], a noted hardline Republican backbencher, along with [[Tom McEllistrim (1926–2000)|Tom McEllistrim]], a member of Haughey's gang of five, at a parliamentary party meeting.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Down, Down Deeper and Down: Ireland in the 70s and 80s|first=Eamonn|last=Sweeney|pages=186–187|id={{ASIN|0717146332|country=uk}}}}</ref> Lynch stated that the British did not have permission to overfly the border. Afterwards, Loughnane went public with the details of the meeting and accused Lynch of deliberately misleading the party. An attempt to remove the whip from Loughnane failed. At this stage, Lynch's position had become untenable, with supporters of Haughey caucusing opinion within the party.

[[George Colley]], the man whom Lynch saw as his successor, went to him and encouraged him to resign sooner. Colley was convinced that he had enough support to defeat the other likely candidate, [[Charles Haughey]], and that Lynch should resign early to catch his opponents off guard. Lynch agreed and resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil on 5 December 1979, assured that Colley had the votes necessary to win. However, Haughey and his supporters had been preparing for months to take over the leadership and Lynch's resignation came as no surprise. He narrowly defeated Colley in the [[1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election|leadership contest]] and succeeded Lynch as [[Taoiseach]].

Lynch remained in the [[Dáil]] as a TD until he retired from politics at the [[1981 Irish general election|1981 general election]].

== Retirement ==
[[File:Jack Lynch Tunnel plaque.JPG|thumb|268px|right|The commemorative plaque for the [[Jack Lynch Tunnel]]]]
Following Lynch's retirement from politics the offers from various companies flooded in. He became a director on the boards of a number of companies, including [[Irish Distillers]], [[Smurfit-Stone Container|Smurfit]] and [[Aviva Group Ireland|Hibernian Insurance]]. He also embarked on a good deal of foreign travel. He was conferred with the freedom of his native city of [[Cork (city)|Cork]]. He continued to speak on political issues, particularly in favour of [[Desmond O'Malley]] at the time of his expulsion from Fianna Fáil. Lynch also declined to accept nominations to become [[President of Ireland]], a position he had little interest in. In 1992, he suffered a severe health setback, and in 1993 suffered a stroke in which he nearly lost his sight. Following this he withdrew from public life, preferring to remain at his home with his wife Máirín where he continued to be dogged by ill health.

Lynch continued to be honoured by, among others, the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] and various other organisations. In 1999, the [[Jack Lynch Tunnel]] under the river Lee was named by [[Cork Corporation]] in his honour. A plaque was also erected at his childhood home in the Blackpool area of Cork, where a statue of him on a bench was erected after his death.

On 20 October 1999, Lynch died in the [[Royal Hospital, Donnybrook|Royal Hospital]], [[Donnybrook, Dublin]] at the age of 82. He was honoured with a [[List of Irish state funerals|state funeral]] which was attended by the [[President of Ireland]] [[Mary McAleese]], [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]], former Taoisigh [[John Bruton]], [[Albert Reynolds]] and [[Charles Haughey]], and various political persons from all parties. The coffin was then flown from Dublin to Cork where a procession through the streets of the city drew some of the biggest crowds in the city's history. After the Requiem Mass celebrated in his home parish of the [[Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne]], Lynch's friend and political ally, [[Desmond O'Malley]], delivered the graveside oration, paying tribute to Lynch's sense of decency. He is buried in [[St. Finbarr's Cemetery]], Cork.

==Legacy==
Jack Lynch has been described as "the most popular Irish politician since [[Daniel O'Connell]]". This praise did not come from Lynch's allies or even his own party, but from the former leader of [[Fine Gael]], [[Liam Cosgrave]], who had succeeded Lynch after his first tenure as Taoiseach. As a sportsman Lynch earned a reputation for decency and fair play, characteristics he brought to political life.

==Governments==
The following governments were led by Jack Lynch:
*[[12th government of Ireland]] (November 1966 – July 1969)
*[[13th government of Ireland]] (July 1969 – March 1973)
*[[15th government of Ireland]] (July 1977 – December 1979)

==See also==
* [[List of people on the postage stamps of Ireland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Sister project links |author=yes|wikt=no|commons=Category:Jack Lynch|b=no|n=no|q=no|s=Jack Lynch|v=no}}

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{{s-ttl|title  = [[Minister of State to the Government|Parliamentary Secretary to the Government]]
       |years  = 1951–1954}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[John O'Donovan (politician)|John O'Donovan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title  = [[Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment|Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands]]
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{{s-non|reason = Office abolished}}
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[Minister for Education and Youth|Minister for Education]]
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[List of Cork senior Gaelic football team captains|Cork Senior Football Captain]]
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[List of Cork senior hurling team captains|Cork Senior Hurling Captain]]
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[List of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winning captains|All-Ireland SHC]]<br />winning [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]]
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[List of Interprovincial Hurling Championship finals|Interprovincial Hurling Final]]<br />winning [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]]
       |years  = 1943}}
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{{s-ttl|title  = [[All-Time All Star Award (hurling)|GAA All-Time All Star Award]]
       |years  = 1981}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Garrett Howard]]<br />([[Limerick county hurling team|Limerick]])}}
{{s-end}}
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{{12th Government of Ireland}}
{{13th Government of Ireland}}
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{{Ministers for Education of Ireland}}
{{Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of Ireland}}
{{Cork Borough (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Cork City North-West (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Cork City (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Fianna Fáil}}
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{{Navboxes|title=Jack Lynch sports navigational boxes|list1=
{{Cork Hurling Team 1939}}
{{Cork NHL Team 1940}}
{{Cork NHL Team 1941}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1941}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1942}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1943}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1944}}
{{Cork Football Team 1945}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1946}}
{{Cork Hurling Team 1947}}
{{Cork NHL Team 1948}}
{{Hurling Team of the Century}}
{{Hurling Team of the Millennium}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Jack}}
[[Category:Jack Lynch| ]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's Inns]]
[[Category:Alumni of University College Cork]]
[[Category:Civil Service Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Cork inter-county Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Cork inter-county hurlers]]
[[Category:Dual players]]
[[Category:Fianna Fáil TDs]]
[[Category:Glen Rovers hurlers]]
[[Category:Irish barristers]]
[[Category:Irish sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of Fianna Fáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 13th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 14th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 15th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 16th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 17th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 18th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 19th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 20th Dáil]]
[[Category:Members of the 21st Dáil]]
[[Category:Ministers for education of Ireland]]
[[Category:Ministers for enterprise, trade and employment]]
[[Category:Ministers for finance of Ireland]]
[[Category:Munster inter-provincial Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Munster inter-provincial hurlers]]
[[Category:Parliamentary secretaries of the 14th Dáil]]
[[Category:People educated at North Monastery]]
[[Category:Politicians from County Cork]]
[[Category:Presidents of the European Council]]
[[Category:St Nicholas' Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Taoisigh]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish lawyers]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Cork (city)]]