The pedigrees of the Anglo-Norman Lynches who settled in Galway are mostly derived from the descendants of James and William, the sons of Thomas Lynch, the first Provost of Galway in 1274. The progression of the family in Ireland was emphasised by the appointment of more than eighty mayors of Galway named Lynch between 1485 and 1654. When James I bestowed a baronetcy on Henry Lynch, a rich merchant, in 1622 their elevated status was confirmed. However, political controversy intervened when Henry Lynch, 3rd Bt, was attainted of high treason following the defeat of James II at the Battle of the Boyne. Personal controversy followed with the liaison of Henry Lynch-Blosse, 7th Bt with the alluring Sibella Cottle which scandalized the community. The story has been outlined by the author in his historical novel, "Spellbound by Sibella." The Lynch-Blosses continued to serve in Ireland until the purchase of their estate of 18,566 acres by the Congested District's Board in 1909 for £154,000. Thereafter, the family settled in Wales and later in England. The current incumbent is Richard Hely Lynch-Blosse, 17th Bt, a general practitioner in Oxfordshire. The Anglo-Norman Lynches who settled in Galway have been connected to famous people and events including the Bodkin massacre, Che Guevara, James II, Richard 'Humanity Dick' Martin MP, Grace O'Malley, Patrick Sarsfield and Bram Stoker. These connections are illustrated in pedigree charts derived from a BrothersKeeper.com database of 2843 individuals. The database also includes members of the extended family of the author.
About the Author: I write historical novels based on real events in 18th century Ireland. My apprenticeship in writing commenced at University College Dublin where I edited an engineering magazine, "The Anvil." Afflicted with wanderlust, I travelled west to Ohio State and MIT, continuing my studies to master's and doctoral level. My interest in history evolved through participation in the Committee for Justice in Northern Ireland and in the anti-Vietnam war movement. On return to Ireland, I honed my writing skills, publishing scientific papers as well as writing on food-related issues in the popular media. Following a career in Biosystems Engineering at UCD, I studied "The genealogy of the Anglo-Norman Lynches who settled in Galway." The discovery of a treasure-trove of forgotten Irish stories inspired me to write "Spellbound by Sibella," a finalist in the 2012 William Faulkner Novel Competition. My debut novel deals with the turbulent romance between Irish beauty, Sibella Cottle and the rakish Sir Harry Lynch-Blosse of Mayo. Critiques from a writer's group, The Corner Table, of which I am a founding member, guide my writing. I am at an advanced stage in my second novel, "The Abduction of Anne O'Donel," which was a finalist in the 2012 William Faulkner Novel-in-Progress Competition. My third novel, "The Bloody Bodkins," is at an earlier stage of development. It explores the possibility that a man may have been hanged for a crime he did not commit. I live in Dublin with my wife, Treasa Ní Chonaola. We have three children, Dara, Nora and Meabh, and a grandchild, Lily Marie. I derive inspiration from the wild splendour of Mayo and Connemara. My website address is: http: //paul-mcnulty.com/.