Death announced of beloved Laois community hero

Mountmellick in Laois has lost one of the pillars of the community, a man who made Christmas magic for generations of local children.

Brian Lynch of 32 Chapel Street, Mountmellick died on Wednesday March 19 in his 95th year.

Deeply committed to community work all his life, his involvements were many, right up to officially switching on the Christmas tree lights with his brother Ger last November. 

Mr Lynch was a former Sinn Fein Town Councillor, a founder member of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Commitee and Mountmellick Credit Union, a life long member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, a member of Mountmellick Active Retirement Group, Mountmellick Gun Club, Mountmellick Angling Club, the Irish Camping and Caravan Club, and an associate member Mountmellick Macra.

For thousands of locals he made Christmas special, as he was the man behind 'Santy in the hall', buying and wrapping gifts with the help of his family all year round, to ensure every child in the town got a present from Santy at Christmas. A talented painter, he also created the famed crib under the tree and lovingly hand painted each nativity statue which he kept stored in his house.

Not only that, but Mr Lynch oversaw the collection and distribution of free fuel at Christmas to elderly people in need. Read his interview with the Leinster Express back in 2018. 

Mountmellick Christmas Tree committee has written a beautiful tribute to Brian.

"Words like ‘gentleman’ and ‘legend’ can sometimes lose their impact by being bandied about too much. However, in the case of Brian Lynch, they barely begin to capture the measure of the man. The words that we find coming to our mind are ‘laoch den scoth’—a hero of the highest caliber. We, the members of the Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee believe that is what is most fitting to say of Brian as we remember him. His passing marks not only the loss of a beloved friend and mentor but also the loss of a hero of our town and our time.

"Brian was a man of Mountmellick, through and through. He gave more than he got, punched above his weight, and never sought recognition for the countless ways he enriched our community. He had no desire for fanfare or fireworks, nor did he ever expect it. His humble and quiet dedication spoke for itself. He was a classy character!

"Even in his later years, when many might have chosen to relegate their volunteer bib to the back of the wardrobe, Brian remained ever-present, as a font of knowledge to many, ensuring that our town thrived. One of his greatest passions was the preservation of our crib’s beloved statues, which he protected with the same devotion one reserves for family! He ensured they were safely housed and cared for until December each year.

"The time would come for them to get their TLC which Brian did himself, year after year. His attention to detail and his unwavering commitment to tradition made all the difference, and we cherished the way he still took such interest in the work he did. We were in awe of him, to a certain extent.

"For Brian, volunteering was not just something he did—it was who he was; because for him, the betterment of his town was always a priority. And yet, alongside his dedication to serious community development, he had a lighter side, a spirit of fun and creativity that shone through in unexpected ways. Few may know that he even entered creations he dreamed up and constructed in the Durrow Scarecrow Festival—just for the craic! That was Brian: a man who understood that life was about both purpose and play.

"He was a thinker, an innovator, and a man ahead of his time. From the earliest days of the tree in the 1950s to the remarkable evolution of its structure and lighting in the modern era, Brian—alongside his beloved brother, Ger—was at the heart of its story. He embraced progress, always looking forward to the future, knowing that change was a part of life. His intelligence, quiet determination, and unwavering work ethic ensured that our town would always be moving ahead, and we, who stand on the shoulders of giants like him, will do our best to honour his legacy.

"Brian’s impact on our committee, our town, and our county is immeasurable, but his absence will be felt most keenly by his family, to whom we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam."

Brian Lynch was predeceased by his dear wife Angela and his brothers Tony, Austin, Sam and Oliver. Deeply regretted by his sons Stephen, Brian and Liam and their wives Mary, Ann and Deirdre, his five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, brother Ger and sister Margaret, nieces nephews, sister- in-law Sheila, brother-in-law Hubert, neighbours l, relatives and his many friends.

Reposing in his home (R32T6R7) on Thursday from 5pm. Recital of The Rosary at 7pm. Reposing Moloney’s Funeral Home on Friday from 5pm. Recital of The Rosary at 6.30pm. Reposing in The Funeral Home Saturday from 2pm. Removal at 3.15pm to St Joseph’s Church Mountmellick for Requiem Mass at 3.30pm.Burial afterwards in St Joseph’s Cemetery.

Funeral Mass can be viewed live on the parish webcam. https://www.mountmellickparish.ie/web-cam/

Family flowers only. Donations if desired to Patient Benefit Fund Saint Vincents Nursing Community Unit Mountmellick.