Nicholas Lynch

Who is Nicholas Lynch?

Nicholas Lynch, Dominican priest and prior of Galway.

Lynch was a member of Galway's most powerful merchant family - his father was Nicholas Lynch fitz Stephen, and his brothers were Sir Henry Lynch, 1st Baronet and Dr. Thomas Lynch. He was educated at St. Patrick's College, Lisbon, and Salamanca University. Returning to Galway in 1621, he was permitted by the Dominican master general to travel in 1623 to Spain, where he used ransom money paid to Zidan el Nasir, which secure the release of Anthony Lynch from slavery in Morocco.

He was described by Viscount Wilmot, Lord President of Connacht, in 1624 as the 'chief father' of the Dominican order, as 'a very learned man and of great estimation among them'. He was alleged to have arrived back from Spain with money to support a Spanish invasion of Galway and Connacht.

From about 1625 Lynch was associated with Dominican education in Galway - Tomás S.R. Ó Floinn believes he mayhave been its prime instigator. As prior of Galway, in 1626-27 he was signatory with his fellow Dominicans, Peter Martin, Stephen Lynch, Dominic Lynch, and Richard Bermingham, of an agreement ratifying the establishment and status of Dominican schools in the town. He succeeded Ross MacGeoghegan as Irish provincial in June 1627. Later that year he applied to Propaganda Fide for special faculties for administration in the province.