The Amazing Lee Lynch

Lee Lynch and his Band pictured in O’Connell St. in Dublin with the old Nelson’s Pillar in the background.

From St. Brendan’s Terrace in Ballinasloe to representing Great Britain in an international song contest in Belgium, was only one of the achievements of the late Liam (Lee) Lynch during an amazing singing career. Arriving in London in 1956, Liam hit up with old school pal Dessie Dolan, formerly from St. Michael’s Square, who introduced him to the music business. He toured around England as a solo singer before joining the James Tate Agency in 1960 where he was soon performing under his new stage name of Lee Lynch.

​A year later he landed a two-year contract at the Nuffield Centre in Trafalgar Square with his first band “The Heartbreakers” and later with his new band “The Lynchmen.” But on Monday nights he had a regular gig with another Ballinasloe man, the late Pearse Courtney in his pub “The Black Swan” in Fulham. Joining “The Tropical Showband” in 1963 at The 32 Club in Harlesden, Lee appeared, with among others Tom Jones, Van Morrison and Jim Reeves. Two years later he formed his own band “The Blue Angels” and their debut single was released in 1966 on the Decca label, the Lennon and McCartney song “You Won’t See Me.”

Then in 1969, Lee represented Great Britain in an international song contest in Belgium, with a song called “Stay Awhile” which soon went to the top of the Belgian charts and was a huge success in several countries. Such was the Ballinasloe man’s popularity in Belgium that 28 years later, in 1997, contestant Win Van Coren appeared as Lee Lynch on the VTM Soundmix Show singing “Stay Awhile” finishing third in the annual competition. But the St. Brendan’s man never forgot his roots.

He was a regular visitor back home and performed at his friend’s (Pearse Courtney) East County Hotel each October Fair week. In the early seventies, Lee joined the Premier Aces Showband from Roscommon before replacing the great Brendan Bowyer as lead singer with the Royal Showband. And in 1973 he represented Ireland in a song contest in Bulgaria with his own composition of “The Love in My Woman’s Eyes.” A year later he made the first of his two appearances at the Royal Albert Hall on a bill packed with Irish talent.

Having survived a serious illness in 1976, he was voted London’s Favourite Irish Vocalist in 1980, appeared on another star-studded bill at the Royal Albert Hall and released one of his best known singles “Paddy’s On The Move Again” followed later by “Famous Shamus.” Lee continued to write, record and perform throughout the eighties and early nineties and in all, recorded over one hundred songs throughout a career spanning thirty-five years. A serious illness brought an end to his career in 1994 and he lived a peaceful retirement in the English countryside until his sad passing in July 2012. He is remembered in his native St. Brendan’s, where he was born in 1937, with a commemorative wall plaque. A fitting tribute to the modest Ballinasloe songster who represented his town, his country as well as Great Britain in worldwide competitions with pride and dignity.