The late Mick Lynch Mick Lynch, formerly of the Atlantic Hotel, Doonagh passed away peacefully after a short illness in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on April 29, 2006. Mick was one of Achill's best-known personalities, having been posted first to Ballina in 1944 and then to Dooagh in 1945 from his home in Aughnacliffe, Co Longford at the tender age of19 to act as bus conductor for nearly 30 years on the Achill-Westport run. He often collected and delivered messages, large and small, for people, and is fondly remembered by all his passengers along the route for his mild manner and courtesy. Mick met Annie Guaghan in Dooagh, and after they married he went on to spend nearly 40 years as the genial Front of House man in the Atlantic Hotel, where he was well-known as a raconteur and year spinner. He had a great love of nature and animals, especially for his cherished Jack Russell terriers, giving them a daily run along Kell Strand. He also had a love of the Irish language, and was the local contributor to The Mayo News 'Achill Flashes' for many years. Mick was probably best-known throughout Achill as a staunch supporter of the GAA. His national school teacher in Aughnacliffe was Owen McGee, father of Eugene McGee, trainer of the Offaly 1982 All-Ireland winning team, who no doubt laid the foundations of his love of Gaelic football. When Mick arrived in Dooagh, he was surprised to learn that the GAA hadn't yet reached the area, despite being founded in 1884, mainly due to the tradition of migrant working. The workers adopted and brought home the game of soccer, and each village had its own team. He helped to start a national schools' Gaelic football competition in 1949, and trained the Dooagh NS team, which became the first to win what went on to become the 'Corn Acla' schools' competition. Mick's charges went on to win the cup again in 1954 and 1957. As a GAA club meeting in 1953 Mick was instrumental in deciding to run a local Scanlon Cup competition. A spectacular final between St Pat's and Tiernaur saw St Pat's, captained by Mick, emerge victorious by seven points to six. He was also a member of the1957 winning team, and during the 1970s, when St Pat's was the team to eat in Achill, winning four Scanlon Cups in a row from 1977-1980, Mick was always near the entire of the action with nuggets of wisdom or a witty story. In 1999, the 50th anniversary of the first Corn Acla match, Mick and the winning team of the day were recalled to service, this time to receive commemorative medals of the historic 1949 occasion. That was to be Mick's final visit to his adopted him, his beloved Achill. Mick retired in 1995, and left Achill to be near his two daughters who were married and settled in Tullamore, and to be on hand to indulge his four beloved grandchildren. He made many friends there, and there was an extraordinary attendance at both his removal and funeral from home and abroad, a testiment to the affection in which hotel guests, visitors, travellers, bus passengers, former CIE colleges, Bus Eireann workers, team members, supporters, friends and relations held him. Those who travelled form Achill, Mulranny, Newport and Westport could be forgiven for thinking they were at a local Mass, such were the numbers who travelled to pay their respects. Before the funeral Mass, Terence Dever, Annie's nephew, spoke about Mick's lifelong interests and talents, and members of Mick's family brought mementoes of each to the altar. His grandson, Shane Enright, presented a football and Tommy McNamara (Lively), team-mate and lifelong friend, brought up a St Pat's jersey to celebrate Mick's dedication to the GAA. His granddaughter Eabha brought up a dog lead to reflect his affection for man's best friend and Ann Kae presented a dinner menu from the Atlantic Hotel in memory of his many years serving the public there. Tommy McNamara (Boley) brought a copy of The Mayo News to reflect Mick's love of reading and his contributions to the paper over the years. Seamus Sheedy then gave a short eulogy about his father-in-law, Mick. At the end of the concelebrated Mass, Achill club members John (twin) McNamara, Tomas Mac Sheain and Cllr Micheal McNamara draped the coffin with the Achill GAA banner. As the funeral made its way to the cemetery, Anthony McNamara, Pollagh, of the Dooagh Pipe Band, piped the procession to the grave, and played again after the burial, the mournful tunes of the pipes bringing tears to many eyes. Mick is survived, and lovingly remembered by his wife Annie, daughters Catherine and Andrea; sons-in-law Seamus and Jim; grandchildren James and Andrina, shane and Eabha; brother Sean; sisters Peggie, Maura, Anna, Kathy and Ita; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and a huge circle of friends. Suaimhneas siorrai da anam uasal seimh. Courtesy of The Mayo News 10 May 2006 Tweet

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