Tribute: Noreen Lynch, RIP

Please find message below from Professor Eugene Wall, President of Mary Immaculate College, about the sad passing of former colleague Noreen Lynch.

A chairde,

It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that our dear friend and former colleague Noreen Lynch has passed away. Noreen died suddenly at home earlier today. I know that this will come as a great shock to many of you, as it has to me.

Very recently, on the 27 September, Noreen was honoured at a Mayoral Reception given by the Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler. The purpose of this event was to honour Noreen’s outstanding contribution to education, to sport and to Mary Immaculate College.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Noreen’s devoted children, Mark, Mike, Paul, and Kate and her adored grandchildren.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hAnam Dílis.

Funeral arrangements will be circulated as soon as they are announced. 

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The following tribute via Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of our dear friend and former colleague, Noreen Lynch, who passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday 9 October 2018.

Noreen joined Mary Immaculate College as a lecturer in Physical Education in the early 70s and during her 35 year career with MIC she established and coordinated all of the sport and recreation programmes at the College.

Noreen helped to establish the O’Connor Cup, the Ladies Football equivalent to the Fitzgibbon Cup, which was inaugurated in 1987.  She also played a pivotal role in the organisation of the hosting of the Fitzgibbon Cup and the Purcell Cup in MIC in 1998 to mark the centenary year of the College. MIC won the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2016 and again in 2017 – a feat that could never have been achieved without the foundations that were put in place by Noreen.

In addition to her commitment to Gaelic Games Noreen was instrumental in promoting a wide range of sports at MIC, placing a great emphasis on student participation within a very positive, supportive environment. She promoted positive attitudes towards physical education amongst MIC students and with teachers, through in-service CPD courses.

Noreen also made an extensive contribution to sport at local, regional and national levels. She was involved in the establishment of national Third Level Ladies’ football competitions in the mid-1980s; indeed the Lynch Cup, inaugurated in 1992, is called after her.

Picture caption: 10 March 2018; UUJ captain Racheal Jordan celebrates with the trophy following their side’s victory in the Gourmet Food Parlour HEC Lynch Cup Final match between University of Ulster Jordanstown and Institute of Technology Sligo at IT Blanchardstown in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 

Such was the growth in participation in Ladies Football in recent years there are now six divisions in this field. She was appointed Limerick Men’s Senior Football Team coach in 1984 and coached the team for 3 years while Raymond O’Hagan was Manager.

She laid the foundations of the Football team that played in the Munster GAA football final in 1991. She helped to found the Munster Third level Colleges committee in 1988, and gained the support of the Munster Council.  This committee was responsible for supporting and promoting Gaelic games, both male and female, throughout the third level institutes in Munster.  It is still going strong 30 years later, a testament to the structures and vision of those involved.

Noreen was honoured with a GAA President’s Award in 2014 by Liam Ó Neill at a ceremony in Croke Park in recognition of her outstanding voluntary contribution to the GAA, particularly for her contribution to the development of Gaelic games at third level from the early 1970’s onwards.

Two weeks ago she was honoured at a Mayoral Reception, given by the Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler, in recognition of her significant contribution to education, to sport and to Mary Immaculate College.

Remembering Noreen, Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC, said: “I am honoured to have called Noreen a friend for 38 years. She was a warm and caring person and always had the best interests of students at heart. Noreen was deeply committed; fiercely loyal; and always set the highest standards.  She was always formidable in her pursuit of doing what was right, with unflinching integrity. She was a consummate educational professional and an inspirational educator. Noreen will live on in the affections of our staff and the many, many graduates who will attest to her unwavering and selfless commitment to student welfare over a career of more than 30 years.” 

We extend our deepest sympathies to Noreen’s children, Mark, Mike, Paul, and Kate and her adored grandchildren.