Mary Concepta Lynch

Mary Concepta Lynch (1874 – 1939), was an Irish nun and skilled artist, illuminator and calligrapher, who spent 16 years ornately decorating the Oratory of the Sacred Heart at St. Mary's Dominican Convent in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland.[1]

Mary Concepta Lynch
Born
Lilly Lynch

1874
Dublin, Ireland
Died1939
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
OccupationNun, teacher, artist

Life and career

Lynch was born in Dublin to Thomas Joseph Lynch who was a renowned Dublin illuminator with studios in the city centre. He trained her in his trade and when he died in 1889 she left the school she was in, in Dun Laoghaire, to keep his studio going. However she decided to become a nun and on 3 July 1896 she entered the Dominican Order in St Mary's convent, the school where she had been educated. She took the name Sr. Mary Concepta. Since the order was a teaching order, Lynch worked there as a teacher. She taught art and illustrated the school magazine. She had musical ability as well and she wrote hymns. Lynch was one of the early devotees in Ireland to St Thérèse of Lisieux. Many of the hymns Lynch wrote were to honour this saint.[1][2][3]

To commemorate the end of the First World War, a small oratory was built at the convent, to house a statue sent to thank the men of the area who died in Belgium.[4] Beginning the next year, in 1920 and continuing until ill health forced her to stop in 1936 Lynch decorated the walls of the oratory. The project was funded by her cousin Shaun Glenville and his wife Dorothy Ward. The couple were actors and raised funds through benefit concerts. A young Harry Clarke created the seven stained-glass windows.[1][2]

Criticism

Etienne Rynne wrote

‘her work is ever mouvementé, vibrant with life; her birds squawk, bite and even dance, her serpents wriggle and knot themselves, as do her quadrupeds’

Two books were published about her works by the Order, the illustrated A shrine of Celtic art (1977) and The Lynch method of Celtic illumination (1986). Funds were provided in 1996 by the Department of Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht to renovate the oratory.[1][2]

References
  1. "The Dictionary of Irish Biography".
  2. MACDUBHGHAILL, UINSIONN (20 January 1996). "Sister's miracle". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. "The Oratory Art of Sister Concepta Lynch".
  4. "The Oratory of the Sacred Heart: Inventory No. 35" (PDF).

Further reading
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