Patricia Lynch

Patricia Lynch (c. 1894–1972) was an Irish writer of children's literature and journalist. She was the author of some 48 novels and 200 short stories. She is best known for blending Irish rural life and fantasy fiction as in The Turf-Cutter's Donkey which was illustrated by Jack B. Yeats.

Patricia Lynch was born in Cork, Ireland to Thomas, a stockbroker and journalist, and Nora Lynch, both of Cork. She had one brother, Henry Patrick and two sisters, Laura and Winifred. As a result of her father's death she received her education at schools in Ireland, England, Scotland and Belgium. She became a journalist and in 1916 was sent to Dublin by Sylvia Pankhurst to report on the Easter Rising for The Workers' Dreadnought. Although a committed Irish nationalist, she retained a London accent to the end of her life. She made and remained friends with several notable nationalists including Maud Gonne and Constance Markievicz. She was an activist in achieving votes for women. In 1948 Irish Playwright Teresa Deevy published an essay on Patricia Lynch entitled 'A Study' .

Lynch married socialist historian R. M. Fox in Dublin on 31 October 1922 and they settled in Glasnevin. She died in Monkstown, County Dublin on 1 September 1972 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery with her husband. Her semi-autobiographical A Story-Teller's Childhood was published in 1947.

Patricia Lynch is best known for The Turf-Cutter's Donkey, first published in 1934. This story concerns Seamus and Eileen, an enchanted teapot and the little grey donkey, Long Ears. The children meet a leprechaun, a golden eagle, the Salmon of Knowledge and Finn on their adventure. A few sequels followed.

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