Dúirt P.J. Dowling, fear a bhí ina údar ar na scoileanna scairte: ‘Lynch’s career by itself is a monumental proof of the high standard of knowledge attained by the Irish schoolmaster of his day’ (Studies, Meán Fómhair 1931). In Journal of the Waterford and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society, 1912 agus 1913 tá cuntas ar a shaol ag Séamus Ó Casaide. Tharraing siad beirt cuid mhaith dá n-eolas as cuntas a bhí ag Robert Walsh sa mhéid a chuir sé le The History of Dublin, 1815 le Warburton agus Whitelaw. I gCuinche, Co. an Chláir, mar a raibh feirm ag a mhuintir, a rugadh é Lá Fhéile Pádraig 1754. D’fhreastail sé ar scoil cháiliúil Dhonncha Uí Mhathúna (Donncha an Chairn) in Inis Díomáin agus d’fhoghlaim ann Gréigis, Laidin agus Eabhrais agus, is dóigh, gramadach an Bhéarla agus na Gaeilge. Ní foláir nó lean sé den staidéar nuair ab éigean dó filleadh abhaile agus cúig bliana a chaitheamh ag feirmeoireacht. Cheap Buitléaraigh Ghabhalmhaigh, Cill Chainnigh, ina oide tí é agus bhí sé ina dhiaidh sin, ó 1774 go 1778, ina chúntóir sa scoil mhórchlúiteach a bhí ag an Urr. Patrick Hare i gCaiseal, Co. Thiobraid Árann. I gCarraig na Siúire a chuir sé tús dáiríre lena shaol mar mháistir scoile. Rinne sé cúram de bhaintreach agus de chlann an mháistir a bhí ann roimhe, gníomh a bhí ina chabhair mhór dó nuair a thug biogóid chun cúirte eaglasta é i ngeall ar scoil a bheith ar bun ag Caitliceach. Sa bhaile sin a phós sé, ní foláir. Agus ann, i 1796, a foilsíodh a chéad leabhar, arbh é an chéad leabhar é a cuireadh amach san áit: The pentaglot preceptor: or elementary institutes of the English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Irish languages Vol.1 Bhí i gceist trí himleabhair eile a fhoilsiú. In 1808 d’aistrigh sé go dtí 30 Cé Urmhumhan Íochtarach, Baile Átha Cliath. Cheangail sé láithreach leis an Gaelic Society a bunaíodh an bhliain sin agus bhí ina rúnaí ó 1815 amach, oifig a raibh sé an-mhórálach aisti. Bhí obair le fáil go rialta aige in Oifig na dTaifead Poiblí.

Cuid de na leabhair a scríobh sé is ea: The life of Saint Patrick, apostle of Ireland: to which is added, in the original character (with both a Latin and English translation) the celebrated hymn, composed above 1200 years since by his disciple, Saint Fiech, 1810; For-oideas Ghnaith-Ghaoighilge. Introduction to the knowledge of the Irish language as now spoken..., 1815; The classical student’s metrical mnemonics, 1817 (104 lch de rialacha i véarsaíocht); An Easy introduction to practical astronomy and the use of globes..., 1817; A geographical and statistical survey of the terraqueous globe, including a comprehensive comprend of the history, antiquities and topography of Ireland, 1817. Bhí i gceist aige stair na hÉireann a scríobh ón bpointe ama a shroich Céitinn.

Bhí tuairisc a bháis in Carrick’s Morning Post 13 Bealtaine 1818: ‘DIED on the 10th instant, sincerely lamented by a numerous circle of literary acquaintances, Mr Patrick Lynch in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He has given ample proofs, by many useful and erudite publications, of his being excellently skilled in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and he certainly was the best Critical Irish Scholar of the age, and as such his Correspondence was counted by the Gaelic Society of Scotland. His great pleasure was, gratuitously, to assist every learned undertaking, and as such his loss will be deplored and severely felt by Gentlemen engaged in the different branches of literature, and by none more than those of the Record Commission in Castle Yard’ (i gcló ag Séamus Ó Casaide). Ar an 18 Bealtaine dúradh sa pháipéar céanna: ‘Some short time before his death, he made a curious journey on foot through several parts of Ireland, to further a genealogical enquiry . . .. He seemed to suffer little from the exertions at the time. But his friends suppose he never entirely recovered their effects.’

Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin mbeatha seo ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin Dictionary of Irish Biography anseo.

Diarmuid Breathnach

Máire Ní Mhurchú