James Lynch Fitz Stephen
James Lynch Fitz Stephen was elected mayor of Galway in 1493. It is unfortunate that he is associated with a tale based more on myth than fact. According to legend, he hanged his own son for the murder of a young Spaniard. However, the story has been debunked. Despite this, the Lynch memorial window remains a popular tourist attraction. This nineteenth century monument to the supposed event is situated on Market Street, beside the graveyard at St Nicholas’ Church.
Stained-glass
Evidence suggests that James Lynch Fitz Stephen endowed the church with stained glass which adorned the east end window of the chancel for many years. The practice of donating stained glass began in Ireland in the fourteenth century. It was also common for patrons to provide the cut-stone framework for the window and James Lynch may well have done so. Unfortunately the original glass no longer remains, but the stone work of this large five-light window is still in situ. The stained glass we see in the window today was erected by Henry Sadlier Persse and his wife Eleanor, in memory of their daughter Matilda Theodora who died in 1881, aged fifteen years.
The Lynch Tomb
Located on the east corner of the south transept is a tomb, believed to be that of James Lynch Fitz Stephen. Above this is ‘the empty frame’ which may have originally contained an inscription or picture (another picture has been placed there in more recent times) On the frame are shields bearing the Lynch coat of arms and some merchants’ marks.