A CAPACITY crowd gathered at Cavan County Museum last Thursday evening to celebrate the life and times of local writer, poet, houndman and hunting man Stanislaus Lynch (1907-1983) who holds the extraordinary achievement of winning two Olympic medals for Epic Literature.

A native of Ballyjamesduff, Stanislaus Lynch was a master of the English language and the only Irish writer to be awarded with two Olympic medals - one from the 1948 London Olympics and the other from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Easons in Dublin honoured his Olympic achievements by dedicated a week-long window display to the Cavan author, which was uniquely matched by New York’s Gimbel bookstore.

The evening was opened by Councillor Madeline Argue, chair of Cavan County Council, who was joined by Museum Curator, Savina Donohoe, and Stanislaus Lynch’s wife Margaret. The audience were treated to stories, poetry readings and even a wonderful rendition of Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff by hunting veteran of over 70 seasons, Hugh Leonard.

Remembering Stanislaus Lynch were (l-r) Hugh Leonard, Cavan County Museum Curator Savina Donohoe and Cllr Madelaine Argue, chair of Cavan County Council, with speakers Paul Keogan, Prof Patrick Wall Michael Slevin and Noel Mullins (Photo Noel Mullins)

Speakers on the evening included MC, former chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, Professor Patrick Wall and equestrian photojournalist and author Noel Mullins who published Lynch’s last book In Search of the Kerry Beagle that had been in Lynch’s study since he passed away in 1983.

They were joined by Paul Keogan, local farmer, horse producer and member of the Ballymacad Hunt whose brainchild it was to honour Stanislaus Lynch’s many achievements. John Bonham, a member of the Ballymacad Hunt, had the entire audience spellbound with a unique story of how Lynch’s writings and poetry kept his own father Johnny’s spirits up while a German prisoner of war, while the Irish Farmers Journal equestrian journalist and broadcaster, the unequalled Michael Slavin summed up both the essence and the genius of Lynch.

Fittingly, the last word before the evening came to a close was from Stanislaus himself, with the playing of a recording of him reciting one of his beautiful poems.

Stanislaus Lynch was the author of six outstanding books in prose and poetry on equestrianism and the countryside that were published in Ireland, Britain and the USA, illustrated by some of the most gifted equestrian artists at the time in Tom Carr, Michael Lyne and Olive Whitmore. All his books are now out of print, but a limited number are available from his wife Margaret including his last book In Search of the Kerry Beagle, published posthumously in 2017.

His poems have been incorporated into Anthologies such as A Thousand Years of Irish Poetry, The Fox-Hunters Bedside Book and Concord of Harps. A consummate houndman, Lynch was a correspondent for The Irish Field and many other equestrian publications in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

Stanislaus was also a broadcaster and commentated on the Dublin Horse Show for many years, featuring also on literary programmes on both RTE and the BBC. He was a breeder of Irish Draught horses and Connemara Ponies and was the first person to export large consignments to America, starting with shipping 54 Connemara Ponies in 1959 to Georgia in the USA. He also presented a Connemara pony to film director Walt Disney who was filming Darby O’Gill and the Little People in Ireland.

Margaret Lynch, widow of Stanislaus Lynch and Cllr Madelaine Argue, chair of Cavan County Council, at the 'Remembering Stanislaus Lynch' night at the Cavan County Museum (Photo Noel Mullins)

When the Irish Tourist Board was promoting equestrian holidays abroad, Stanislaus Lynch, who owned two riding schools at different stages of his life in Castleknock and Mosney, was their Inspector of Riding Establishments. He delivered papers on The Part of the Irish Farmer in Equestrian Tourism and The Use of Rural Space to a UNESCO Conference in Paris in 1966 to an audience from 44 nations.

Among the many guests present on the evening was editor of The Irish Field Leo Powell and editor of Irish Horse World Isabel Hurley, while the Irish Farmers Journal was represented by Jennifer Micklem Diamond.

The exhibition of Stanislaus Lynch’s work will remain on display for a few weeks at Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff so those who missed last Thursday’s remembrance night still have time to see it.

Professor Patrick Wall, Cllr Madelaine Argue, chair of Cavan County Council, Mrs Kathleen Keogan and Emer Mullins at the 'Remembering Stanislaus Lynch' night at Cavan County Museum (Photo Noel Mullins)