Seamus Lynch
Encyclopedia
Seamus Lynch is a former Irish republican and socialist politician
.
Born in North Belfast
, Lynch became a republican activist around the start of The Troubles
, and sided with the Official wing of Sinn Féin
in the split of 1970. He was imprisoned from October 1971 until the following year. He was a strong supporter of the Official IRA
's ceasefire in 1972 and Official Sinn Féin's vocal socialism
. As a result, he became active in the Republican Clubs movement, and stood for the organisation in Belfast North
at the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. He received only 1.7% of the first preference votes cast and was not elected. He stood again for the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
, but his vote dropped to just 1.3%. He was elected to Belfast City Council
in 1977
, representing the G district, but lost his seat in 1981
.
Lynch next stood in the Westminster
seat of Belfast North
at the 1979 general election
, increasing his vote to 4.5%, the best result for Republican Clubs in Northern Ireland
, and at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982, he increased his share to 7.1%.
and Lynch became its Northern Chairman and national Vice-President He then stood in the 1983 general election
, receiving 5.7% of the vote, but did less well in the Northern Ireland
-wide European Parliament election in 1984, taking only 1.3% and seventh position of eight candidates. He was re-elected to Belfast City Council in 1985
, representing Oldpark, and held his seat in 1989
.
Lynch's best result in a Westminster election came when he took 11.8% of the vote in a three-way contest in the Belfast North by-election, 1986. At the following year's general election
, he dropped back to 8.3%. He also stood in the 1989 European election, placing eighth out of ten candidates.
, and he became the new group's main figure in Northern Ireland. Standing for the new organisation, at the 1992 UK general election
his vote fell to 3.7% and he lost his council seat the following year. His last contest for the party was heading its North Belfast list for the Northern Ireland Assembly
election in 1996, but the list took only 123 votes. Democratic Left dissolved in 1998, its members invited to join the Irish Labour Party but not permitted to organise in Northern Ireland.
In 2003, Lynch was elected Chairman of the North Belfast sub-group of the Belfast District Policing Partnership. He is a Public Affairs Officer with Age NI.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in North Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Lynch became a republican activist around the start of The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, and sided with the Official wing of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
in the split of 1970. He was imprisoned from October 1971 until the following year. He was a strong supporter of the Official IRA
Official IRA
The Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA is an Irish republican paramilitary group whose goal was to create a "32-county workers' republic" in Ireland. It emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in December 1969, shortly after the beginning of "The Troubles"...
's ceasefire in 1972 and Official Sinn Féin's vocal socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. As a result, he became active in the Republican Clubs movement, and stood for the organisation in Belfast North
Belfast North (Assembly constituency)
Belfast North is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
at the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. He received only 1.7% of the first preference votes cast and was not elected. He stood again for the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
, but his vote dropped to just 1.3%. He was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
in 1977
Northern Ireland local elections, 1977
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in May 1977.The elections saw good performances by the four largest parties: the Ulster Unionist Party , Social Democratic and Labour Party , Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and Democratic Unionist Party , while smaller parties failed...
, representing the G district, but lost his seat in 1981
Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1981.-Overall:-Belfast:...
.
Lynch next stood in the Westminster
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
seat of Belfast North
Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
at the 1979 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
, increasing his vote to 4.5%, the best result for Republican Clubs in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982, he increased his share to 7.1%.
Workers' Party
In 1982, Republican Clubs was renamed the Workers' Party of IrelandWorkers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
and Lynch became its Northern Chairman and national Vice-President He then stood in the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, receiving 5.7% of the vote, but did less well in the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)
Northern Ireland is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects three MEPs using the Single Transferable Vote, the only United Kingdom constituency to do so.- Members of the European Parliament :- 2009 :...
-wide European Parliament election in 1984, taking only 1.3% and seventh position of eight candidates. He was re-elected to Belfast City Council in 1985
Northern Ireland local elections, 1985
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 15 May 1985.-1981 elections:The previous elections had been fought in the middle of the hunger strike and the H-Block Prison Protest...
, representing Oldpark, and held his seat in 1989
Northern Ireland local elections, 1989
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1989.-Background:The elections took place after a turbulent period in Northern Irish politics. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985 had been followed by widespread protests by those in the Unionist community...
.
Lynch's best result in a Westminster election came when he took 11.8% of the vote in a three-way contest in the Belfast North by-election, 1986. At the following year's general election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
, he dropped back to 8.3%. He also stood in the 1989 European election, placing eighth out of ten candidates.
Democratic Left
In 1992, Lynch sided with the split from the Workers' Party which produced Democratic LeftDemocratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
, and he became the new group's main figure in Northern Ireland. Standing for the new organisation, at the 1992 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
his vote fell to 3.7% and he lost his council seat the following year. His last contest for the party was heading its North Belfast list for the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
election in 1996, but the list took only 123 votes. Democratic Left dissolved in 1998, its members invited to join the Irish Labour Party but not permitted to organise in Northern Ireland.
In 2003, Lynch was elected Chairman of the North Belfast sub-group of the Belfast District Policing Partnership. He is a Public Affairs Officer with Age NI.