(7)Patrick Lynch (son of James) was baptised in Athea church on August 4th 1892 his sponsors being – John Aherne and Margaret Lynch. Patrick entered the order of the De La Salle Brothers at Castletown Retreat, Castletown, Co. Laois. He worked in India/China for many years before returning to Ireland in ill health. He came on holidays to Glasha circa 1946 to his brother George and to Ballyguiltenane to his sister Maggie. They were absolutely shocked at the sight of him it being quite apparent that not alone was the man seriously ill but was also on the brink of starvation. George and Maggie fed him the best of food during his stay sending him back to Castletown in far better condition than when he arrived. It did not say much for the food and shelter at Castletown. When he was in Glasha he loved going around visiting the neighbours and relations. On one particular evening, he had the occasion to visit his neighbour Mary Dalton who was married to Jack ‘George’ Griffin in Glenagragra. He asked my mother and her friend Peggy Dalton to accompany him up to Griffin’s not knowing that the two girls had dates with Jack Feury and Pat ‘Carty’ Enright respectively that same evening. As faith might have it the meeting place for the date was at the shortcut entrance to the Griffin home, a pathway over the ditch, that was located at the turn of what was known back then and still is known today as the ‘new road’. The official right of way to the farmhouse was down by Dan O’Connor’s estate, formally Billy Griffin’s. Not wanting to give the game away to Bro. Hugh, the two boys hid inside the opposite ditch ‘till the travelling party had passed by. After spending an hour or so at Griffin’s the three started out on the journey back home and on arriving at the ditch they found their exit blocked by a furze bush that had been laid across their path. Says Bro. Hugh, ‘my God what’s going on here’ as the stones and divots came raining down on top of them from the far side of the road with the two girls fit to explode in their attempt to keep in the laughing. I can tell you that it wasn’t long ‘till Hugh became wise to what was going on and being the diplomatic person that he was, he never let on a word.A year or so afterwards, Bro. Hugh’s condition deteriorated and it seems that Glasha was kept in the dark so to speak with nobody being kept up to date as to the state of his health until a note arrived informing them that he was dead.  Many years afterwards, realising that they had a broken bridge to mend, a De-La- Salle Bro. who apparently knew Bro. Hugh quite well, paid a visit to my mother and her sister Joan but I’m afraid at that stage it was too little too late. Bro. Hugh died on May 8th 1947 and is buried in Castletown, Co. Laois.

LYNCH – FAMILY HISTORY OF, BY GEORGE LANGAN | lynch family, Glasha, Athea, Co. Limerick

https://langangeorgedotcom2.wordpress.com