Republicans throughout Ireland were deeply saddened to learn of the deaths on April 17 of two Veteran Republicans, Cecilia Conway (87), Co Kildare and Seán Lynch (91), Co Longford.

Cecilia Conway
Cecilia Conway, née McGee, was born in Dundalk, Co Louth in 1936 and after school she went to England to work.

She met her husband Matt through her work and they were married in 1960. Matt introduced Cecilia to the Republican Movement in 1957 and they remained Republicans all their lives. They returned to Ireland in 1968 and became involved immediately in Republican activity.

They took the Republican side when Goulding and co betrayed the Republic in 1969/70 and were extremely active, especially around the Border areas throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. Both were involved in Sinn Féin in those years and set up the Kilcullen Cumann.

In November 1986 when the Movement was once more betrayed by Gerry Adams and Co Cecilia was again to the fore and she and Matt were among those who regrouped as Republican Sinn Féin in the West County Hotel.

Cecilia joined Cumann na mBan and worked through it and Sinn Féin throughout the years. She sold the Republican newspapers, An Phoblacht and SAOIRSE throughout her Republican career.

She was involved in all the prison campaigns of the last 30-odd years, including the H-Block/Armagh campaigns and the campaign for political status for the POWs in Maghaberry jail.

Sadly, Matt died in May 2016 and Cecilia continued her support of the Republican Movement. She will be very much missed by her comrades in Cumann na mBan, Sinn Féin Poblachtach and the wider Republican Movement.

Seán Lynch
Seán Lynch was born on February 18, 1933 in Cleenrath, Aughnacliffe, Co Longford. His father Seán Lynch snr was chairman of the Republican Courts in North Longford 1919.
From an early age, he was a staunch Republican. He also had a great love for the GAA.
He played on the first minor team set up by Colmcille GAA in 1949, which went on to win the league in 1950. He went onto become the longest serving secretary of the Colmcille GAA Club.

Seán was raised in a staunchly Republican household with a strong political background on both sides of his family; his mother’s family had strong links with the Fenian Movement in the nineteenth century, and he also had uncles and cousins on both sides of the family who had taken part in the Ambush of Clonfin.

The first Easter commemoration he attended was in 1955 where he met Ruairí Ó Brádaigh and from there they formed a life-long Republican friendship that took them on a great and successful journey down the years. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh’s father, Matt Brady was from the townland of Gelsha in Colmcille.

Seán joined Sinn Féin. In the 1950s when Ruairi stood for election in the district of Fermanagh/South Tyrone, Seán electioneered for him there, as he later electioneered for Bobby Sands and Martin Hurson.

In June 1974, Seán topped the poll in the local elections for Sinn Féin. He held the seat for Sinn Féin for over 30 years. In 1980, Seán was elected chairman of the County Council.
Seán was chair of the H-Block/Armagh Committee in Longford during the H-Block hunger strikes of 1980/81 and he was appointed election agent for Martin Hurson and he was very proud to deliver the oration at Martin Hurson’s grave when he was buried in Cappagh, Co Tyrone.

The next local election which Seán himself had to face was in 1985, and on that occasion, he lost.

In 1969/70 and again in 1986, Seán rejected the reformist polices of Cathal Goulding and later Gerry Adams and their cohorts and was involved in the reorganisation of Sinn Féin on both occasions.

In 1991, Seán won back his seat and in 1999, he won again, beating the FF candidate Benny Reid after a number of re-counts. He lost the seat in 2004.

A dedicated and faithful Republican, Seán Lynch was Cathaoirleach of Comhairle Chonnacht, Sinn Féin Poblachtach for many years. He was elected Life-Vice President in 2018 and Patron of the organisation on the death of Peig King in 2019.

Reporting on his death on April 18, the Longford Leader newspaper said: “Seán Lynch, the legendary Longford Republican, passed away on April 17 in the Manor Nursing home in Edgeworthstown. Seán was the voice and face of Sinn Féin and Republicanism in County Longford for over sixty years.

“Chait Seán a shaol ag obair ar son athaontú na tíre agus chun deireadh a chur le réimse na Breataine in Éirinn. Duine uasal, ionraic agus cabhrach i gcónaí.”

“Seán spent his life working for the reunification of the country and to end British rule in Ireland. A gentleman, honest and always helpful.”

Deepest sympathy is extended to the families of Cecilia and Seán. Both will be very much missed by all who knew them.

Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí dá anamnacha uasail.

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