Patrick Lynch

Patrick was born in the town land of Hodgestown near Killucan, County Westmeath on 1st April 1876, the youngest son of Philip Lynch and Ellen Connor. He was living at home at the time of the 1901 census. Philip trained in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin between 1902 and 1903 and qualified as a horticulture advisor working for the Department of Agriculture. He was assigned to work as an adviser to the fruit growers in South Kilkenny and was lodging in Piltown at the time of the 1911 census.

Patrick and Johanna's wedding gift clock, 1911 xploder overlay He married Johanna Phelan from Piltown on 26 July 1911 and received a mantel clock from the local fruit growers association to mark the occasion.

With May and Nellie, ca. 1914 xploder overlay Patrick and Johanna lived for about three years a few miles from Piltown in the village of Owning, and their two eldest children May (Mary) and Ellen (Nellie) were born there. The photo shows the family posed on a motor bike with side car around 1914. At the outbreak of World War I Patrick lost his job with the Department of Agriculture1. He then became a clerk at the Morris coal importers yard in Fiddown and the family lived there for a few years before moving to the Phelans' house at the Tower in Piltown about 1924. They remained there for the rest of their lives. They shared the house with the uncle and aunts who had reared Johanna.

Author at Johanna's grave xploder overlay Patrick, a taciturn man, did not survive long after his wife's death in February 1956 and died six months later, on 12 August 19562. They are buried together in Piltown Cemetery.

1 Family lore suggests that he was expected to join the army at the outbreak of war and lost his job when he failed to do so.  ↑

2 Family lore suggests he “took to bed” after she died and did not recover.  ↑