'To The Letter': Tracing the personal history of Liam Lynch

The letters of Liam Lynch to his brother are to feature a key role in a new exhibition, ‘To The Letter’ debuting at The Coal Shed located in the Blackwater Shopping Centre, Fermoy.

Killarney native, Dolores Lyne, who is a grand-niece of Liam Lynch, the Chief of Staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA, is the artist behind the new exhibition, coming to Fermoy in April.

Dolores, an award-winning artist and theatre designer, is marking the centenary of Liam Lynch's death, with an exhibition in three parts and speaking with TheAvondhu, she noted that it was via the letters that she drew inspiration.

According to Dolores, Liam’s brother Tom, who was a priest in Australia, died in the 1950s and a trunk filled with his possessions was sent to Ireland. It was here that a bundle of letters between Liam and

Tom were uncovered, dating from 1917 to 1923.

“I wanted to do my response to the letters. The letters came from places all over Ireland and I thought I’d follow them back to where they were written,” Dolores said.

Following the letters back to the locations where they were written, she visited the remote and beautiful hill farms and the safe houses that provided sanctuary where Liam was protected and cherished. She met the descendants of those who had sheltered him, and they shared their stories with her; retracing his steps brought her closer to understanding him.

TRAVELLING BACK IN TIME

Around two years ago, Dolores began the research for her project, giving a deep insight into the person that Liam Lynch was and the times that he lived through.

Many of the works Dolores has created feature local settings and tales of those who would have been local. Using large creased, foldable canvases, the format of the letter is mimicked in much of Dolores's work which will be on display in The Coal Shed, a unique setting which dates back to the time of the railway in Fermoy, thus offering a deep connection with the era.

One piece, expected to be included in the display, is a letter to Mrs Lynch of Anglesboro from a captain in Mitchelstown, informing her that she is ‘at liberty to remove’ the body of Liam Lynch for burial.

Another, is a request from Liam Lynch to have his bicycle sent to him by passenger train to Glanworth station in which his signature is disguised - as he was a wanted man at the time - dated 19/8/1920.

In the artwork relating to the letter requesting his bicycle, Dolores has incorporated a painting of a bicycle. This was inspired by an event in Fermoy in which people were asked to bring their memorabilia of Liam Lynch and things related to him, with one man bringing the bike of a dispatch carrier.

“The works are on canvas and folded. The letters would have been carried by women on bicycles and hidden in jackets and I wanted the artworks to represent this so they are folded and creased and mobile things," she outlined.

“It’s interesting, I felt like I was going back in time travelling the roads and meeting people. Liam Lynch’s uniform, which is in Dublin now, it’s almost like civilian clothing but when you look at the landscape and the colours, it makes perfect sense. While he disappeared into the landscape, I don’t want him to disappear from history and from people’s memories,” Dolores explained.

'THE DYING DAYS'

During her research, Dolores also became involved with ‘The Dying Days’, a film by John Foley following the final journey of General Liam Lynch.

“I ended up working on the film, which was shot across several locations in Munster. I’m actually in it as Mrs Houlihan, who poured Liam his last cup of tea before he died. I made two maps for the film using AA guides and old route maps of Ireland,” Dolores said.

Maps created for the film are also expected to feature among the works exhibited in Fermoy, which runs from April 2nd to 12th (11am to 6pm) and coincides with the Liam Lynch commemorations in the town.

A tour of the exhibition with historian Neil Donovan and artist Dolores Lyne will also take place on Thursday, April 6, at 6pm, while a tour with the artist will be held on Tuesday, April 11 at 12 noon.

Exhibitions will also run in Mitchelstown and Fermoy libraries for the month of April, being free and accessible.

ASSISTANCE

Dolores is very grateful to John Finucane for making the stunning building available for the upcoming exhibition and to volunteers from the Liam Lynch Fermoy Commemoration Committee who will be on hand with invigilation and information.

In her research visits, Dolores was greatly assisted by local communities and expert historians across Cork, Waterford and Tipperary, who generously gave their time to show her the secret places of the struggle.

“The author, Gerard Shannon who has written a new book about Liam Lynch, will speak at the opening. His research was invaluable when I came to a dead end or had a query. I also wouldn’t have found many of the houses without the help of Donie O’Sullivan in Lombardstown or Michael Twomey in Coolea and Ballyvourney, or Michael Desmond in the borderlands between Tipperary, Waterford and North Cork,” she said.